No. 18 Utah falls to No. 12 UCLA 82-52

Thursday, February 22

Los Angeles, CA

7:30 PM

University of Utah

19-8,9-6Pac-12

UCLA

21-5,10-5Pac-12

Utah

UCLA

2/22/2024 9:56 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

LOS ANGELES – The No. 18 Utah Utes women's basketball team faced its 10th Top 25 opponent of the season in No. 12 UCLA and fell 82-52.

Utah was led by Alissa Pili who had her third double-double this season with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Pili's 18 points also propelled her over the 2,000 career point milestone as she now has 2,017 career points.

Utah is now 19-8 overall on the season and 9-6 in Pac-12 play.

GAME SUMMARY
Utah started the game slow as the Utes didn't score for the first two minutes and allowed UCLA to go on a 9-0 run. Alissa Pili was the first Ute to score as she slipped the defense up the lane for two. Pili's layup pushed her to the 2,000 career point milestone.

In the last two minutes of the first quarter Utah went on a 7-0 run that was sparked by a Kennady McQueen made three. As the first quarter ended the Utes trailed 25-15 to the Bruins.

Utah fought to cut the score deficit in the second quarter and killed some of the Bruins momentum holding them to 14 points. Utah was able to put together a 6-0 run in the midst of the second quarter and held UCLA scoreless for over four minutes. Despite the efforts, Utah trailed 39-25 at the end of the half.

UCLA came out of the half firing on all cylinders and forced the Utes into a five minute scoring drought while going on a 12-0 run. The final point in the third quarter was a made right elbow jumper by Pili. Utah trailed 59-34 going into the final quarter of play.

Utah wasn't able to spark any momentum in the fourth quarter and the Bruins ran away with a 30 point win and a 82-52 final score.

LEADERS
Utah had two Utes score in double figures and were led by Alissa Pili's double-double 20 points and 11 rebounds. Kennady McQueen knocked down 11 for the Utes.

COMPARISON
Utah ended the game shooting 32.1 percent from the field while UCLA shot 46.6 percent. Utah knocked down a season low of three made from beyond the arc for 20.0 percent while the Bruins hit nine from deep for 39.1 percent. Utah went 15-17 from the free throw line going 15-17 while UCLA shot 69.2 percent from the line. The Bruins out rebounded 36-31.

Utah had 20 turnovers while UCLA had just 12. UCLA was able to get 26 points off the Utes turnovers.

UP NEXT
The Utes will stay on the road to take on No. 7 USC on Feb. 25. Utah will return to the Jon M. Huntsman Center to take on Washington State (Feb. 29) and Washington (March 2) for Senior Weekend. Utah will honor the three seniors, Dasia Young, Isabel Palmer and Alissa Pili.

FOLLOW THE UTES
Fans can follow along on social media (Twitter: @UtahWBB | Instagram: @UtahWBB | Facebook: Facebook.com/UtahWBB).