Utah knew it might be a frightening activity in the event that they had been to get previous the primary spherical of the Pac-12 ladies’s basketball event.

For the primary quarter, the Utes seemed to be as much as the problem after taking a one level lead within the second quarter.

However then the offense turned chilly for the final half-hour of play, and Utah noticed their season come to an finish after dropping 58-47 to Washington State within the first spherical of the Pac-12 event.

“We simply could not rating,” Utah head coach Lynne Roberts stated after the sport. “We had a really, superb look across the basket. We missed so many pictures, and it was a particularly bodily sport, so possibly in different video games we get a bit extra on the pitch line. frank. we requested them to do it. We had been doing the stuff we needed to run, go to color, get some good pictures, we simply missed baskets. “

Sophomores Brynna Maxwell and Kemery Martin – each of whom had been named to the Honorable Point out All-Pac-12 squad on Tuesday – completed with 15 and 13 factors respectively whereas including six rebounds every.

Regardless of the factors, they struggled to shoot the ball. They mixed to go 9 for 27 from the sphere and 4 for 15 from past the arc.

Sadly, they did not obtain a lot assist as their teammates mixed for simply 18 factors, none of which had multiple shot within the sport.

As a crew, the Utes shot 23.3% (14v60) from the ground and 22.7% (5v22) from three-point territory.

Whereas the Utes had been in a position to get virtually any shot they needed on offense, the protection greater than did its job.

They stored Washington State 33.3% (18 for 54) from the sphere and 33.3% (6 for 18) from the three-point territory.

Pac-12 freshman Charlisse Leger-Walker led the Cougars with 15 factors whereas Belle Murekatete and Krystal Leger-Walker added 13 and 12 factors respectively. Murekatete added 12 rebounds whereas Krystal added eight rebounds and 4 assists.

Utah got here out sturdy within the opening quarter as Martin had a scorching hand from the beginning.

With the Cougars over Maxwell, Martin was capable of finding his rhythm by a spread of jumpers and head to the rim, ending with eight factors because the Utes took a 17-16 benefit.

Washington State slowly pulled away over the subsequent two quarters, taking a 39-31 lead into the final 10 minutes of play. The Utes mixed for simply 14 factors within the second and third quarters.

Utah had one final run to get again into the sport, lowering the deficit to 3 after a three-point Maxwell with 6:15 left. However the Cougars responded with a 9-0 run over the subsequent three minutes to place the sport apart.

“There’s at all times a optimistic facet,” stated Roberts. “What do they are saying, ‘it is at all times the darkest earlier than daybreak.’ I feel now we have an excellent guard sport, and now we have nice guards coming in. We’re actually younger. I like this crew and I like this program. I do not like how we have accomplished this 12 months when it comes to the outcome, however I like and imagine in them. There isn’t a secret sauce, you simply must work onerous and get higher and that is what now we have to get again to. “

Utah completed the season 5-16 total and 4-15 in convention. However the report does not inform the entire story as Utah have performed plenty of tight video games all through the season, and ideally these video games will flip into wins subsequent season.

“It’s extremely shiny. … They’re a really gifted crew,” Maxwell stated after the sport of Utah’s future. “We have barely touched that this season. There are practices, instances in video games the place you’re taking a step again, it is like, Wow, that is what we are able to do. I feel this offseason, Like, we simply received from I’ve to make use of the season, like I stated, as motivation, to maneuver it ahead. There’s a lot expertise on this crew. The sky is the restrict for this crew. in video games. “

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