Second Half Explosion Sends Utah Past UVU, 85-47

Saturday, December 1

Salt Lake City, UT

5:30 PM

University of Utah

Utah Valley

Utah

Photo by: Steve C. Wilson

Second Half Explosion Sends Utah Past UVU, 85-47

12/1/2018 8:41 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

SALT LAKE CITY – After only leading by 11 points at halftime, the Utah women's basketball team exploded for 43 points in the second half to record an 85-47 win over Utah Valley. The Utes improved to 7-0 on the season.

Utah shot 48-percent from the field and 54-percent from the three against the Wolverines, holding Utah Valley to just 32-percent shooting along with 16-percent from the arc. Utah also had a strong game on defense, forcing 28 turnovers and scoring 32 of its 85 points off those mistakes.

"I think when we are in the transition game and our defense gets our offense going, we are pretty good," head coach Lynne Roberts said. "We are pretty fast and we have five players on the floor at any time that can score, and that is fun. I think our half court execution needs to get better though. I think we need to work the shot clock a little better. We need to learn to settle down."

Three of Utah's four seniors finished the game in double figures with Sarah Porter and Megan Huff scoring 20 each to lead the way. Huff was 5-of-12 shooting, including going 8-for-8 from the free throw line, adding eight rebounds to her fourth 20-point outing this season.

"We didn't have a great first half, but had a great second half," Roberts said. "It was fun to see Sarah get going. That is why we recruited her. It just takes some time to get your sea legs and learn a new system and a new defense. I thought defensively she did a great job too. That was her best game with us and those are confidence builders."

Porter was lethal from the three-point line tonight, going 6-of-7 from deep and 7-of-8 overall, just one three-pointer shy from tying the school record for threes made in a game. Daneesha Provo rounded out Utah's double-digit scorers with 15 points, adding two assists and four steals.

Thirteen of Utah's 23 points in the first quarter were off turnovers after forcing eight, heading into the second quarter with a seven-point lead. UVU cut the Utah lead to six with 2:41 to go in the first, but sharp shooting from Porter and Moore kept the Utes at a safe distance.

The Utes struggled offensively in the second quarter, only shooting 27-percent from the floor, allowing Utah Valley to get within eight points late in the quarter. Utah kept its composure though with Huff hitting a key three with a minute to go to give Utah a 42-31 lead at half.

Utah got back on track in the second half, outscoring Utah Valley 43-16 between the third and fourth quarters. The Utes held them to just seven points in the third after forcing another eight turnovers while shooting 57-percent from the floor.

Porter went off in the fourth quarter, scoring 14 of her 20 points and hadn't missed a shot in the game until the 1:28 mark. She was 4-of-5 from the three in the fourth, with the Utes going 6-of-9 from deep with two more threes from Jordan Cruz.

The Utes led by as many as 40 late in the game after a 14-1 run sparked by falling threes put Utah up big. Utah ended the game with 13 made three-pointers for the 85-47 win.

Utah returns to action on Saturday, Dec. 8 when they host BYU. The game is set for a 7 p.m. MT tip on Pac-12 Networks.