Upcoming Event: Women's Basketball versus Western Colorado (EXHIBITION) on October 27, 2025 at TBD
TBD
Women's Basketball
vs Western Colorado (EXHIBITION)
Saturday, November 13
Salt Lake City, Utah
3:00 PM
University of Utah
99
vs
63
NWBL
Ute Women Hammer NWBL Elite Team in Exhibition Contest
11/13/2004 12:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 13, 2004
Salt Lake City -- university of Utah juniors Kim Smith and Shona Thorburn each scored 26 points to lead the Utes to a 99-63 blowout over the National Women's Basketball League Elite team Saturday at the Huntsman Center. In addition to Smith's 26 points, she also grabbed 11 rebounds to tally a double-double.
Smith was eight-of-10 from the field, including four-of-five from three-point range. Meanwhile, Thorburn was seven-of-11 from the field, including three-of-four from behind the arc. She also dished out six assists in the contest.
Utah was a little sluggish in the opening minutes of the contest and led just 17-16 midway through the first half. But the Utes finally hit their stride, putting together a 19-4 run over the next five minutes. Thorburn hit one of the Utes' eight three-pointers during the spurt. Utah used that spurt to take a 45-29 advantage into the intermission.
"I told them at halftime, I didn't think they were excited to play," Ute head coach Elaine Elliott said. "They had a less energized start to the game than I would have liked."
The Utes were energized by hot shooting in the second half, converting 60 percent from the field. Utah quickly pushed its lead to more than 20 points early in the second stanza. A pair of Shauna Brouillard free throws four minutes into the second half gave the Utes a 21-point lead, 56-35. The NWBL Elite never got any closer.
One of Smith's four three-pointers pushed Utah in front by 30 with 10 minutes remaining in the game. The Ute lead ballooned to as many as 39 points during the second half. By the final minutes, the only question was if Utah would reach 100 points for the first time in four years. The Utes fell just short of the century mark, but still cruised to the 36-point victory.
"We had a lot of easy opportunities," Elliott said of the 99-point output. "A lot more shots go down when it's easier and not forced into half court. It was nice to see that because we are trying to improve in that area."
Utah senior Lana Sitterud joined Smith and Thorburn in double figures, tallying 14. Three NWBL players were in double digits, led by Tysell Bozeman's 14.
The Utes open the regular season Friday night at 6 p.m. in the Huntsman Center, hosting the No. 7-ranked Stanford Cardinal.
-UU-
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballFan Fest 2025 Coaches and Players Interviews: Women's Basketball
Sunday, August 17
Utah Women's Basketball: 76 - BYU: 73 | Postgame Press Conference
Saturday, March 01
Utah vs BYU - The Rivalry Continues
Saturday, March 01
Utah Women's Basketball: 46 - West Virginia: 75 | Postgame Press Conference
Thursday, February 27