Upcoming Event: Women's Basketball versus Western Colorado (EXHIBITION) on October 27, 2025 at TBD
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Women's Basketball
vs Western Colorado (EXHIBITION)
Saturday, February 15
Laramie, Wyo.
2:00 p.m.
University of Utah
70
at
59
*Wyoming
Utes Defeat Wyoming 70-59 on the Road
2/15/2003 12:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 15, 2003
LARAMIE, Wyo. - The University of Utah women's basketball team remained at least two games ahead of the competition in the Mountain West Conference with a 70-59 win over Wyoming in Laramie this afternoon. With the victory, the Utes improve to 18-4 overall and 8-1 in MWC play.
Utah shot 49 percent from the field on the game, while the Cowgirls connected on 20-of-47 (43 percent). The Utes also made an amazing 26-of-27 from the free throw line (96 percent), out-rebounded Wyoming 25-24 and forced 15 Cowgirl turnovers, including 12 in the second half.
Freshman Kim Smith led all scorers with 28 points. She also added three rebounds and two blocks. Sophomore Shona Thorburn added 14 points, while Carley Marshall finished with 11. Marshall also pulled down a team-high five rebounds, while junior point guard Kelsy Stireman dished out five assists.
"I was not happy with some of the calls, but I stressed to the team the need to keep their heads in the game," Head Coach Elaine Elliott said.
"We go dry sometimes," Elliott said of her team's nearly five minute period in the second half without a score. "When that happens, especially on the road, it puts a lot of pressure on your defense. When a team makes a run like they did, it's hard not to panic and act like there's one minute left in the game. But we stayed calm."
The first half started out close, with both teams exchanging baskets before Utah scored five straight points to take an 8-4 lead. After a pair of Wyoming free throws, Smith hit a three-pointer to put Utah up 11-6. The Cowgirls were able to close the gap to one after the Utes committed turnovers on three straight possessions. The game remained close, with Wyoming taking its first lead at 4:18 since scoring the first basket of the game.
However, after tying on two occasions, Utah pulled ahead when Thorburn hit a trey, was fouled and completed the four-point play. Junior Sarah Wobbe was then fouled and made both free throws, giving the Utes a six-point lead. It was part of a 10-4 Utah run to close out the half and head into the locker room with a 29-25 lead. Despite committing eight turnovers, compared to the three of the Cowgirls, Utah won the rebounding battle 16-10 and out-shot Wyoming 48 percent to 39 percent.
After a quick Smith score at the start of the second half, there were six turnovers (three apiece) in first five minutes of the half. The Utes held Wyoming scoreless for the first 4:18 of the half, then quickly built its lead to 10 (39-29). However, the Cowgirls then scored 13 unanswered points, taking a 42-39 advantage.
Utah then tied it at 42 when Marshall was fouled on a made jumper and hit the free throw. Both teams then traded baskets until there was another tie at 48. The Utes then scored six consecutive points pull ahead 54-48. After a Wyoming basket, Utah scored six more unanswered points for a 10-point lead and never looked back, winning by 11.
UP NEXT:
The Utes return home for a pair of games against San Diego State and UNLV. Utah faces the Aztecs at 7 p.m. next Thursday, Feb. 20, and the Rebels at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22.
Players Mentioned
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