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3:00 PM (MT)
Women's Basketball
vs Syracuse
The University of Utah Athletics
Friday, January 12
Salt Lake City, UT
6:00 PM
University of Utah
11-5,1-3Pac-12
64
vs
66
Stanford
15-1,4-0Pac-12
1
2
3
4
F
Stanford
17
23
15
11
66
Utah
19
14
16
15
64
No. 19 Utah Narrowly Falls 66-64 to No. 8 Stanford
1/12/2024 10:12 PM | Women's Basketball
SALT LAKE CITY – The No. 19 Utah Utes battled through the home stretch but fell 66-64 to No. 8 Stanford in the Jon M. Huntsman Center Friday night.
Utah trailed by five points with just under three minutes remaining. Alissa Pili knocked down a pair of free throws and executed a second chance driving layup to bring the score within one point with just under a minute remaining. Pili put up a three point attempt with two seconds on the clock that fell short for the chance to win.
Utah is now 11-5 overall on the season and 1-3 in Pac-12 play. Utah had three Utes score in double figures and were led by Pili who had 16 points. Jenna Johnson also had an impressive game with 15 points going 6-8 from the field including 3-3 from beyond the arc. Utah's loss snapped a 22-game win streak in the Huntsman.
GAME SUMMARY
The game started off with the teams playing leapfrog on the scoreboard. Stanford was the first to get on the board but halfway through the initial quarter of play the score was tied at 11-11. Both teams went on a two minute scoring drought with the Cardinal breaking the drought first however, Johnson quickly answered with a made three ball.
To end the first quarter, Lani White attacked the hoop and executed a take and make to give Utah a 19-17 edge over Stanford.
Johnson started the second half hitting nothing but net from beyond the arc to cut the Cardinal's lead to just four. Stanford pushed back, answering with a 6-0 run to take a 10-point lead, the largest of the game. Utah found momentum as Dasia Young made a layup drawing a foul for an extra point to spark an 8-0 run for the Utes. Utah brought the score within one point with just over a minute remaining in the third quarter but the Cardinal got hot in the final minute pushing out for a 55-49 lead.
Early in the final quarter of play, Utah went on another 8-0 run to bring the score to 61-60 with 3:49 left on the game clock. Utah kept the score within one point and trailed 65-64 with under a minute left. Despite a last second attempt for the win, Utah fell 66-64 to Stanford.
Utah had four Utes in double figures and were led by Pili's 16 points. Johnson tied her season high with 15 points going 6-8 from the field and 3-3 from beyond the arc. Ines Vieira and Matyson Wilke each had 11 points for Utah each sinking three from deep.
Reese Ross came off the bench and dominated the boards for the Utes pulling down eight. Kennady McQueen led the Utes in assists dropping five.
COMPARISON
Utah ended the game shooting 39 percent from the field while Stanford shot 44.8 percent. Utah found its groove from beyond the arc knocking down 13 while Stanford hit six. Utah shot 83.3 percent from the line while Stanford shot 66.7 percent.
Stanford out rebounded the Utes 40-32. Utah capitalized on turnovers scoring 14 points while Stanford only scored five.
HEAR FROM THE UTES
Lynne Roberts, Head Coach
Overall thoughts
"I thought both teams played their guts out. I'm incredibly proud of my team. I thought we left it all out there on the court. We played together, we played connected, we played hard. It didn't happen for us in the last couple minutes. We will bounce back. We've had so much adversity this season with things not bouncing our way. I believe firmly that if you just keep showing up and swinging they will. That's my job to get them to continue to show up and do that and we're going to come out on top. Doing great things is hard and we're close. We're right there. Our crowd was great tonight. In all kinds of ways, the last minute didn't go our way."
On the teams progress
"It took us a month to get comfortable in the new system we were forced into. And when you get comfortable you'll get confident. There were a lot of positives in this game and I think that's why it hurts so much that we got the short end of the stick. It can either make us feel bad for ourselves or it can motivate us."
On what's upcoming
"These situations make you better for March. You don't win conference championships in January. It's going to make us tougher. It's going to make me a better coach and the we're going to be a better team. I'm here for that."
#22 Jenna Johnson, forward
On Utah's strength
"We keep showing up every day and giving our all. I thought we were locked in tonight on the game plan. We played together and a lot of people stepped up. We played tough up the stretch and I know my tank was empty, everyone's was. It was frustrating at the end coming up short but we're going to come back tomorrow and get right back to it. Our team is so talented and even though we've lost more games then we expected this year I see how strong our mentality is. We aren't being discouraged. I know we're going to keep bringing it and we're going to be scary in March."
#35, Alissa Pili, forward
On Utah's overall performance
"This is first time we've lost at home in a while and it hurts. It's frustrating when we play so hard and put it all out there. I feel for this team and our coaches who put so much into this. It sucks when we get the short end of the stick time and time again. We're going to keep swinging and we're going to come out on top."
NOTABLES
The Utes are now 11-5 overall on the season and 1-3 in Pac-12. This was Utah's first loss at home since the 2021-22 season when the Utes fell 80-73 to Oregon on Feb. 26, 2022.
Including Pili's 16 points, the forward now sits at 997 points as a Ute and is just three points away from becoming the fastest Ute to hit 1,000 points.
Utah will have three straight home games hosting Cal on Jan. 14 followed by USC paying a visit to the Huntsman Center on Jan. 19 and UCLA on Jan. 22.
FOLLOW THE UTES
Fans can follow along on social media (Twitter: @UtahWBB | Instagram: @UtahWBB | Facebook: Facebook.com/UtahWBB).
Utah trailed by five points with just under three minutes remaining. Alissa Pili knocked down a pair of free throws and executed a second chance driving layup to bring the score within one point with just under a minute remaining. Pili put up a three point attempt with two seconds on the clock that fell short for the chance to win.
Utah is now 11-5 overall on the season and 1-3 in Pac-12 play. Utah had three Utes score in double figures and were led by Pili who had 16 points. Jenna Johnson also had an impressive game with 15 points going 6-8 from the field including 3-3 from beyond the arc. Utah's loss snapped a 22-game win streak in the Huntsman.
GAME SUMMARY
The game started off with the teams playing leapfrog on the scoreboard. Stanford was the first to get on the board but halfway through the initial quarter of play the score was tied at 11-11. Both teams went on a two minute scoring drought with the Cardinal breaking the drought first however, Johnson quickly answered with a made three ball.
To end the first quarter, Lani White attacked the hoop and executed a take and make to give Utah a 19-17 edge over Stanford.
Stanford was able to get a 9-0 run in the second quarter and held Utah scoreless for nearly three minutes. Pili made a layup in the paint to break the drought but Stanford stood with a 40-33 edge over Utah at the half.To take the lead . . . @laniwhitee #GoUtes
— Utah Women's Basketball (@UTAHWBB) January 13, 2024
?? https://t.co/pIS3p9Ug48 pic.twitter.com/CYjQiUnZod
Johnson started the second half hitting nothing but net from beyond the arc to cut the Cardinal's lead to just four. Stanford pushed back, answering with a 6-0 run to take a 10-point lead, the largest of the game. Utah found momentum as Dasia Young made a layup drawing a foul for an extra point to spark an 8-0 run for the Utes. Utah brought the score within one point with just over a minute remaining in the third quarter but the Cardinal got hot in the final minute pushing out for a 55-49 lead.
Early in the final quarter of play, Utah went on another 8-0 run to bring the score to 61-60 with 3:49 left on the game clock. Utah kept the score within one point and trailed 65-64 with under a minute left. Despite a last second attempt for the win, Utah fell 66-64 to Stanford.
LEADERSToo strong AP!#GoUtes@alissa_pili
— Utah Women's Basketball (@UTAHWBB) January 13, 2024
?? https://t.co/pIS3p9Ug48 pic.twitter.com/Lg4v7lGLvu
Utah had four Utes in double figures and were led by Pili's 16 points. Johnson tied her season high with 15 points going 6-8 from the field and 3-3 from beyond the arc. Ines Vieira and Matyson Wilke each had 11 points for Utah each sinking three from deep.
Reese Ross came off the bench and dominated the boards for the Utes pulling down eight. Kennady McQueen led the Utes in assists dropping five.
COMPARISON
Utah ended the game shooting 39 percent from the field while Stanford shot 44.8 percent. Utah found its groove from beyond the arc knocking down 13 while Stanford hit six. Utah shot 83.3 percent from the line while Stanford shot 66.7 percent.
Stanford out rebounded the Utes 40-32. Utah capitalized on turnovers scoring 14 points while Stanford only scored five.
HEAR FROM THE UTES
Lynne Roberts, Head Coach
Overall thoughts
"I thought both teams played their guts out. I'm incredibly proud of my team. I thought we left it all out there on the court. We played together, we played connected, we played hard. It didn't happen for us in the last couple minutes. We will bounce back. We've had so much adversity this season with things not bouncing our way. I believe firmly that if you just keep showing up and swinging they will. That's my job to get them to continue to show up and do that and we're going to come out on top. Doing great things is hard and we're close. We're right there. Our crowd was great tonight. In all kinds of ways, the last minute didn't go our way."
On the teams progress
"It took us a month to get comfortable in the new system we were forced into. And when you get comfortable you'll get confident. There were a lot of positives in this game and I think that's why it hurts so much that we got the short end of the stick. It can either make us feel bad for ourselves or it can motivate us."
On what's upcoming
"These situations make you better for March. You don't win conference championships in January. It's going to make us tougher. It's going to make me a better coach and the we're going to be a better team. I'm here for that."
#22 Jenna Johnson, forward
On Utah's strength
"We keep showing up every day and giving our all. I thought we were locked in tonight on the game plan. We played together and a lot of people stepped up. We played tough up the stretch and I know my tank was empty, everyone's was. It was frustrating at the end coming up short but we're going to come back tomorrow and get right back to it. Our team is so talented and even though we've lost more games then we expected this year I see how strong our mentality is. We aren't being discouraged. I know we're going to keep bringing it and we're going to be scary in March."
#35, Alissa Pili, forward
On Utah's overall performance
"This is first time we've lost at home in a while and it hurts. It's frustrating when we play so hard and put it all out there. I feel for this team and our coaches who put so much into this. It sucks when we get the short end of the stick time and time again. We're going to keep swinging and we're going to come out on top."
NOTABLES
The Utes are now 11-5 overall on the season and 1-3 in Pac-12. This was Utah's first loss at home since the 2021-22 season when the Utes fell 80-73 to Oregon on Feb. 26, 2022.
Including Pili's 16 points, the forward now sits at 997 points as a Ute and is just three points away from becoming the fastest Ute to hit 1,000 points.
UP NEXTWhat a dime and finish!#GoUtes @alissa_pili @jenna_johnson22
— Utah Women's Basketball (@UTAHWBB) January 13, 2024
?? https://t.co/pIS3p9Ug48 pic.twitter.com/21ur9dnVhc
Utah will have three straight home games hosting Cal on Jan. 14 followed by USC paying a visit to the Huntsman Center on Jan. 19 and UCLA on Jan. 22.
FOLLOW THE UTES
Fans can follow along on social media (Twitter: @UtahWBB | Instagram: @UtahWBB | Facebook: Facebook.com/UtahWBB).
Team Stats
Stan
Utah
FG%
.448
.390
3FG%
.500
.406
FT%
.667
.833
RB
40
32
TO
14
13
STL
7
7
Game Leaders
Pts
16
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
F
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