Utes, Wildcats Set For Big Pac-12 Showdown
Jan 5, 2019, 4:06 PM | Updated: 4:15 pm
The Utah bench celebrates a basket during the Arizona State versus University of Utah women's basketball game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Jan. 4, 2019.(Steve Griffin, Deseret News)
(Steve Griffin, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Two squads with excellent 12-1 records will meet at the Huntsman Center this weekend when the Utah women’s basketball team hosts Arizona.
Had it not been for a game-winning buzzer beater by Arizona State Friday night, the Utes might have an undefeated 13-0 record going into the game against Arizona on Sunday.
We host Arizona TOMORROW at 12 p.m. MT in the Huntsman Center! #GoUtes #Elevate
Preview: https://t.co/V9sWmUojLf pic.twitter.com/mZijisQjZv
— Utah Basketball (@UTAHWBB) January 5, 2019
Utes Suffer Heartbreak At The Buzzer
The Utes were up on the Sun Devils by six with about a minute and half to go in their Pac-12 Conference opener. ASU hit back-to-back 3-pointers, got a stop on defense and then hit the game winning bank shot as time expired to snap the Utes’ 12-game season opening winning streak.
“We are going to lose tough ones and we are going to win great ones this season, you have to just keep going.” #GoUtes #Elevate
Recap: https://t.co/8mP1LChTD3 pic.twitter.com/lf1mtWQ86c
— Utah Basketball (@UTAHWBB) January 5, 2019
“They scored eight points in 38 seconds,” head coach Lynne Roberts said after the loss. “I feel like we did what we needed to do to win, they just made the last play, so you have to tip your hat to them. It was disappointing, a heartbreaker and it stings, but it is just one game. I think it shows we are right there and we are as tough as anybody, we just have to learn to finish games.”
Arizona Stumble Against LMU
The Wildcats’ lone loss this season was also a close one, as they fell 66-64 to Loyola Marymount at home.
Arizona’s Aari McDonald tied the single game school record with 39 points, but it wasn’t to overcome a slow start by her whole team, which shot just eight percent from the field in the first quarter of that game.
Players To Watch
McDonald currently leads the conference in scoring, averaging 24.8 points per game.
Utah is led by Megan Huff, who has registered a double-double in seven games this season, including three straight. Against Arizona State, she had 17 points to go along with 10 rebounds.
Q2 | That’s a nice looking shot. Want to see more? Watch @Pac12Network! #GoUtes #Elevate pic.twitter.com/DAF77EBHVg
— Utah Basketball (@UTAHWBB) January 5, 2019
Broadcast Info
The game will tip off Sunday at noon and be broadcast on the Pac-12 Network.
