The University of Arizona women’s basketball team (14-9, 5-5 in Big 12) suffered a heartbreaking 67-58 defeat to the University of Utah (16-5, 7-3 in Big 12), snapping the Wildcats’ three-game win streak on Friday, Jan. 31 at 6:30 p.m. in Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Jada Williams secured a career-high 25 points while leading the Wildcats with seven rebounds and five steals on 45 shooting percentage from the floor. Isis Beh and Skylar Jones each contributed 11 points, with Beh finishing with three assists and three steals while going 4-for-7 on shooting for the night. Jones had three assists of her own, shooting an efficient 5-for-8 from the field. Utah guard Gianna Kneepkens led the game with 28 points, hauling in 7 boards going 8-for-15 from the floor.
Both programs traded buckets to open the game, with Beh scoring 6 points in the first nine minutes, shooting an impressive 3-of-4 from the field. Williams managed to tie the game, draining both free throw attempts to end the quarter at 13 apiece.
In the second period the game remained neck-and-neck before Utah guard Matyson Wilke and Kneepkens drilled back-to-back 3-pointers, prompting an 11-0 scoring run for the Utes. Arizona ended up shooting 28.6 percent in the quarter compared to Utah’s impressive 72.7 percent, putting the Wildcats down 34-24 at the halftime break.
Utah’s bench outscored Arizona 13-2 and dominated in the paint with 22 points in the first half. Adding to the Wildcats’ struggles, the Utes had 7 fastbreak points while Arizona had none.
Utah kept its foot on the gas as the Utes opened the third quarter on an 8-0 scoring run to extend their lead 42-24 before Arizona head coach Adia Barnes called timeout to try and stop the bleeding. Out of the timeout, Arizona came out dominant and responded with an 11-0 scoring run to cut the deficit to single digits. The Wildcats continued to chip away at the Utah lead as Williams finished the quarter with 7 points, leaving the team within striking distance being down 46-39 heading into the final quarter.
Arizona opened the final quarter on a 13-0 scoring run after Williams converted a jumper to give the Wildcats their first lead of the game at 46-41. However, Utah fought back as both teams went back-and-forth midway through the period.
The Utes wound up running away with the lead after forward Jenna Johnson made a 3-point shot with a minute remaining, putting the Wildcats out of reach to give Arizona its fifth conference loss in a tough 67-58 defeat.
Williams scored 10 points in the fourth quarter with Jones following, scoring 7 points of her own on 3-of-4 shooting from the field. With Breya Cunningham shooting 2-7 finishing with 4 points, the Wildcats were missing that extra offensive boost to give the team one last chance at redemption.
Despite the Wildcats strong effort, outscoring the Utes in points in the paint 22-8 and shooting 42 percent from the field compared to their 38 percent, it was not enough to overcome the deficit. Utah managed to hold on to the game, ultimately securing the win.
Looking ahead
Arizona will remain on the road as the Wildcats prepare to face the University of Colorado Boulder, hoping to get back in the win column on Wednesday, Feb. 5 at 7 p.m. in CU Events Center.
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