Utah Women's Basketball Outlasted by USC

Thursday, February 27

Salt Lake City, UT

7:00 PM

University of Utah

11-17, 4-13

USC

17-12, 10-7

USC

Utah

2/27/2014 12:00 AM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Feb. 27, 2014

Box Score

SALT LAKE CITY - Despite a 27-point, 18-rebound effort by senior forward Michelle Plouffe, the University of Utah women's basketball team dropped a 67-57 decision to USC on Thursday in the Huntsman Center.

Utah (11-17, 4-13 Pac-12) had two players reach double-digits in points against the Women of Troy and went 20-of-26 from the free throw line.

With 27 points and a season-high 18 rebounds, Plouffe turned in her 14th double-double of the season, her 11th game with 20 or more points and her 14th with double-digits in rebounds. She finished just one rebound shy of tying her career high of 19, set against Pacific on Mar. 28, 2013. Plouffe went 11-of-17 from the free throw stripe and also added two blocks and two steals.

Senior guard Ciera Dunbar set a career high with 14 points, including a flawless 9-for-9 effort at the foul line. Dunbar has turned in five double-digit-point games this season and she also grabbed four rebounds.

Junior guard Cheyenne Wilson registered eight points to go with two assists.

Sophomore guard Danielle Rodriguez handed out four assists, while freshman guard Malia Nawahine grabbed four boards and handed out three assists.

There were three ties early in the contest, the last coming at 8-8, before an 8-1 USC run gave the Women of Troy a 16-9 lead. USC then built its lead to as many as eight (19-11), but Utah quickly pulled to within six (19-13) after a jumper and lay-in by Plouffe. An old-fashioned 3-point play by Dunbar brought the Utes to a five-point margin (21-16). Unfortunately, the Women of Troy put together a 9-2 stretch to build a 12-point edge (30-18) and would take a 32-22 lead into halftime. Plouffe registered her 14th double-double of the season with 12 points and 11 rebounds in the first half. Dunbar connected on two of her three shots for six points in the first 20 minutes.

USC took the first four points of the second half before Utah responded with a 13-3 spurt capped by three straight free throws by Dunbar brought the home team back to a three-point deficit (39-36). Unfortunately, the Women of Troy countered with nine straight scores to make the game 48-36 and would lead by at least seven (62-55) on the way to the 67-57 victory.

USC (17-12, 10-7 Pac-12) was led by 16 points and seven rebounds by Kiki Alofaituli.

The Utes will host their Senior Day on Sunday at 2 p.m. MT against UCLA. The regular-season finale will be televised live on Pac-12 Networks with Brian Webber (PBP) and Cindy Brunson (Analyst) calling the action between the Utes and the Bruins.