Women's Basketball's Smothering Defense Gets 58-43 Win Over Washington

Sunday, January 13

Seattle, WA

3:00 PM

University of Utah

Washington

Utah

Washington

Women's Basketball's Smothering Defense Gets 58-43 Win Over Washington

1/13/2019 5:23 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

SEATTLE, Wash. – The University of Utah women's basketball program came away with a 58-43 win on the road today against the Washington Huskies, improving to 15-1 overall and 4-1 in Pac-12 play.

Despite only scoring six points in the fourth quarter, the Utah defense was smothering the entire game, holding Washington to just 34-percent shooting while forcing 20 turnovers. Utah shot 51-percent for the game, the fourth straight game shooting 50-percent or higher, with two players reaching double-doubles.

"We kind of took our foot off the gas and we weren't shooting well tonight from the three," head coach Lynne Roberts said. "We shot 1-of-17 from the three today, which hasn't happened all season and not even a day in practice. So, for us to win and win convincingly without shooting well speaks to our defense."

"I thought defense was the difference today and I thought we did a great job taking away what they like to do. We defended the three-point line, we didn't foul. We got some steals, so we were able to get out and run and score in the paint."

Senior Megan Huff led the Utes with 25 points including 15 in the second half, her second straight game with 20-plus points, adding 12 rebounds and two blocks. Freshman Dre'Una Edwards also put up 14 points and 10 rebounds along with a career-high four assists while Dru Gylten scored eight points and had five assists.

It was a hot start for the Utes as they shot 57-percent from the floor in the first quarter, beginning with a 10-0 run to take a 10-2 lead after holding the Huskies scoreless for over three minutes. The Huskies answered with a run of their own though, going on an 8-0 scoring streak to cut the Utah lead to three before Andrea Torres knocked in a key three to end Utah's drought with 44 seconds on the clock.

The Utes entered the second quarter with a seven-point lead, immediately going on a 6-0 run to take a 27-18 advantage. The runs continued for Utah as Huff scored back-to-back buckets followed by a reverse layup from Edwards all while keeping the Huskies off the scoreboard for the final three minutes of the quarter to take a 39-24 lead into halftime.

Utah opened the third quarter shooting 4-of-4 from the floor, including three straight baskets from Huff with two no-look assists from Edwards to give the Utes a 49-30 lead with 5:00 on the clock. The Utes hit some scoring woes down the stretch in the third, but held Washington to just two made field goals in the final five minutes of the quarter to give Utah a 17-point advantage.

The Utes were held scoreless until 4:23 on the clock in the fourth with Washington cutting the Utah lead to 52-41, but Utah's defense continued to make a stand, transitioning into offense. Utah went on a 6-0 run late in the quarter that included four points from Huff, eventually sending the Utes to its 58-43 victory.

Utah returns to action on Friday, Jan. 18 when they host Colorado. The game is set for a 7 p.m. MT tip on the Pac-12 Networks.