Utah Women Battle For Their 22nd Win Against Washington State

SALT LAKE CITY – Utah women’s basketball had to battle hard for their 22nd win of the 2023 season against WSU Sunday afternoon in the Huntsman Center.

The Washington State Cougars didn’t make it easy on the Utes, but they eventually prevailed 73-59.

The Utes finished the day shooting 43% from the field, 32% from the three and being lights out off the boards with 34 rebounds that accounted for nine points. Utah’s 10 made three-point shots gave the Food Justice Coalition an additional $1000 to Friday night’s $1600 raised.

Ballgame.@UTAHWBB notch their 22nd win on the year and will be donating an additional $1000 to Friday’s $1600 total for the Food Justice Coalition.#GoUtes #UteProud #LightTheU pic.twitter.com/V7jb5LZFu9

— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) February 12, 2023

Washington State, Utah First Quarter

Washington State built up a 4-0 lead to start the game before Alissa Pili sank a three for the Utes making it a 4-3 game. Kennady McQueen followed things up with her own three and Pili a jumper to put the Utes up 8-6 with under seven minutes to play. McQueen hit her second three-pointer putting the Utes up 13-8.

Kennady 👏McQueen👏#GoUtes
📺 Pac-12 Network
📱https://t.co/VXfIPVOLmn pic.twitter.com/6s45M6zpyx

— Utah Women’s Basketball (@UTAHWBB) February 12, 2023

Issy Palmer helped further extend Utah’s lead, 20-15 with a layup with just under two minutes left in the first quarter. The quarter ended with the Utes in a narrow 20-19 lead after Wazzu made a last-second layup.

Wazzu, Utes Second Quarter

Jenna Johnson hits it off the board to start the second quarter after Pili lends her the assist, but WSU answered back making it a one-point game again, 22-21. Johnson came back around a few minutes later adding Utah’s fourth three-point shot of the night and making it a 29-23 contest in Utah’s favor. The Cougars were not deterred however and quickly tied the game up at 29 with under five minutes to play.

The last few minutes have been a bit of a grind. Washington State quickly closed the gap the #Utes created and have made it a tied game at 29 before the media break.#GoUtes

— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) February 12, 2023

Dasia Young sinks a three out of the media break putting Utah ahead, 32-29. Pili added two off the board making it a 37-32 affair with under two minutes to play in the half. Another quick strike by Pili along with Gianna Kneepkens hitting one off the board extended the score 41-32 as time expired in the half.

WSU, Utah Third Quarter

Johnson started the second half hot hitting a layup and a three-pointer to put Utah up 46-36 early on. Johnson came through later with the rebound bucket putting the Utes up 48-39 by the four-minute mark. Young hit Utah’s eight three-pointer of the afternoon putting the Utes up 51-40 with just under three left to play.

That was perhaps the longest quarter ever, lol.#Utes remain firmly in the lead at the end of three, 58-45.

Utah has raised $800 additional for the Food Justice Coalition with a quarter remaining to play.#GoUtes

— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) February 12, 2023

Washington State, Utah Final Quarter

Young got things started right for the Utes in the final quarter hitting a two-point shot to put Utah up 60-47 on the Cougars. McQueen followed it up with her third three-point shot of the night extending that lead 63-49 with under seven minutes to play.

McQueen has been absolute money hitting the three today according for four of Utah's 10 made threes.

Utah is up 68-52 on WSU and has raised $1000 additional for the Food Justice Coalition with 4:54 left to play.#GoUtes #UteProud

— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) February 12, 2023

Michelle Bodkin is the Utah Utes Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of both the Crimson Corner Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and The Saturday Show (Saturday from 10 a.m.–12 p.m.) on The KSL Sports Zone. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram: @BodkinKSLsports

Follow @bodkinkslsports