Utah Defeats Weber State, 77-56

Saturday, December 15

Salt Lake City, UT

2:00 PM

University of Utah

Weber State

Weber St.

Utah

Photo by: Steve C. Wilson

12/15/2018 4:43 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

SALT LAKE CITY – It was another second half surge that pushed the Utah women's basketball team past the Weber State Wildcats, posting a 77-56 victory at home. Utah improved to 9-0 on the season with two non-conference games remaining.

Despite shooting just 35-percent from the floor in the first quarter and 42-percent for the game, the Utes were able to out-rebound the Wildcats 42-24 and control the game. Utah's bench scored 20 of its 77 points with the Utes also outscoring Weber State 44-26 in the paint.

"I thought the first half we looked uninspired and a little too casual," head coach Lynne Roberts said. "We were either trying to do too much or trying to be too cool with the ball. Every time you put the uniform on you need to respect what you are doing, and I didn't feel we were respectful of the uniform in the first half."

"But, we are not graded on 20 minute games, we are graded on 40 minute games and we were much better in the second half. The players responded and I am proud of that."

The Utes were once again led by senior Megan Huff who poured in 23 points, her fourth straight game in the 20-point range. True freshman Dre'Una Edwards chipped in 19 points and 12 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season while Kiana Moore came off the bench to provide 10 points, two assists and a steal.

It was a tough start for the Utes as Weber State went on an 8-0 run in the first quarter to make it 10-3 in their favor. The Wildcats shot 56-percent from the floor in the first quarter with Utah committing five turnovers in the quarter.

The Utes entered the second quarter down two, but quickly got the offense rolling on a 9-0 run, sparked by six points from Edwards to take a 23-20 lead with 6:14 on the clock. Weber State cut the Utah lead to three points again with less than two minutes to go, but a free throw from Erika Bean and a bucket from Moore with 16 seconds on the clock sent the Utes into halftime up five.

Utah's offense continued to roll in the third quarter, shooting a smothering 62-percent from the floor with Huff and Edwards scoring 11 and 10 points in the quarter. The Utes outscored the Wildcats 28-12 in the third, taking a 22-point lead into the fourth quarter.

Utah's first three field goals of the fourth quarter were from the arc with Jordan Cruz and Moore heating things up from the three. The Utes led by as many as 26 in the fourth quarter despite only shooting 29-percent from the floor, but were able to keep a steady hand on the game and pull away for the victory.

The Utes return to action when they head to sunny Las Vegas for the Duel in the Desert Tournament, Dec. 20-21. Utah will take on Florida first on Dec. 20 followed by a game against either UNLV or Hawaii on Dec. 21. Both games will be streamed on FloHoops.com.