Utah Drops 73-60 Decision at Washington
2/25/2016 12:00 AM | Women's Basketball
SEATTLE -- Redshirt sophomore forward Emily Potter posted her 14th double-double of the season, but the University of Utah women's basketball team could not avoid a 73-60 loss at Washington on Thursday in Alaska Airlines Arena.
Utah (15-13, 7-10 Pac-12) out-rebounded Washington, 42-39, and the Utes held a 17-0 edge in bench points over the Huskies.
Potter's 14th double-double of the season, and the 18th of her career, came after a 17-point, 11-rebound effort against the Huskies, both team-high marks. She made seven of her 15 field goal attempts to record double-digits in points for the 26th time this season and the 44th time in her career. Her 11-rebound performance was her 14th game with 10 or more boards in 2015-16 and the 20th of her career. Potter, a Winnipeg, Manitoba native, also had two blocks to extend her school single-season record total to 74.
Three other Utes scored in double figures against the Huskies as senior guard Katie Kuklok buried five 3-pointers on just eight attempts from distance. This performance tied for her second most this season and was her 10th game of the season in double-figures.
Junior wing Paige Crozon finished one rebound shy of her 11th double-double of the season with 11 points and nine rebounds. She has turned in 19 double-figure scoring games in the 2015-16 season and 28 over her career and was just one board shy of her 11th career double-figure rebound effort. The Humboldt, Saskatchewan native also distributed a pair of assists.
Senior point guard Danielle Rodriguez was the fourth Ute in double-digit points as she poured in 10 points to go along with six rebounds and three assists.
Utah scored on three of its first four possessions as Potter converted a lay-in on Utah's first trip of the game and Crozon swished a 3-pointer and Rodriguez scored on a transition lay-in to give the Utes an early 7-2 lead. Utah made six of its first 11 field attempts to stretch its lead to eight (17-9). The Utes out-rebounded the Huskies 14-8 in the opening frame and were 33.3% from 3-point range (3-9). Crozon scored a team-high five points in the quarter, while Potter grabbed four boards.
A Crozon jumper snapped was the lone Ute score during a 12-2 Washington run to start the second quarter that gave the Huskies a 26-19 advantage. The Utes hung around and were able to cut their deficit to four at halftime after Rodriguez beat the buzzer with a pullup jumper to bring Utah within five, 36-31. Utah did manage to out-rebounded UW in the quarter, 12-10.
The Huskies were able to extend their lead to 16 by the end of the third quarter (54-38). The Utes scored six of the first eight fourth-quarter points to pull within 10 (59-49, 64-54) on a pair of occasions but could get no closer before UW came away with the 73-60 victory. Utah outscored Washington 22-19 in the final frame while shooting 42.9% (6-14) from the floor.
Washington (19-9, 10-7 Pac-12) was led by 26 points from Kelsey Plum and 20 from Talia Walton with 18 from Chantel Osahor.
The Utes close out their regular season on Saturday at Washington State. The game in Pullman will be televised live on Pac-12 Networks with Greg Heister (PBP) and Elise Woodward (Analyst) on the call. Rick Bouillon will have the radio play-by-play call on 105.1 FM.