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Early Struggles Doom Utah in 57-45 Loss at Gonzaga Utes can't climb out of 14-point first-half hole.
Nov. 10, 2006
SPOKANE, Wash. -- The University of Utah women's basketball team had as many turnovers as it did points in the first half Friday night at Gonzaga. The Utes trailed 28-14 at the intermission, after turning the ball over 14 times in the first 20 minutes. Utah (0-1) never recovered and Gonzaga (1-0) took a 57-45 victory in the season-opener for both squads. The Utes led 2-0 when Marie Warner (Jr., Hamilton, Ont.) scored less than one minute into the contest. But Utah would never lead again. Trailing 7-2, Utah got a three-pointer from Sasha McKinnon (So., Langley, B.C.) and a bucket from Joh-Teena Filipe (So., Salt Lake City) to make it 7-7. But the Utes wouldn't score again for seven minutes. By the time Camie Oakey (Sr., Flower Mound, Texas) broke the drought, Gonzaga had put together a 12-0 run. Stephanie Hawk scored seven of those 12 Bulldog points, en route to a 19-7 lead. Gonzaga extended that advantage to the 14-point halftime edge. The Bulldogs increased their lead to 18 points early in the second half when Heather Bowman scored on a fast break to make the score 34-16. Utah pulled back within 12 points, 37-25, two minutes later on a Morgan Warburton (So., Helper, Utah) three-point play. A steal and score by Kalee Whipple (Fr., Hiko, Nev.) pulled the Utes within 10, 47-37. But that's as close as they would get. Back-to-back three-pointers from Hawk and Jami Bjorklund gave Gonzaga a 16-point cushion, 45-29, with 12:41 left to play. The Utes never challenged again and the Bulldogs cruised to the 12-point victory.
Hawk scored 18 points for Gonzaga to lead all scorers. Two other Bulldogs -- Bjorklund and Heather Bowman -- each tallied 11 points. Hawk also tied for game-high honors with eight rebounds. Warburton was the only double-figure scorer for Utah, tallying 11 points. The Utes' Halie Sawyer (Fr., Panguitch, Utah) grabbed eight boards to tie for game-high honors. Utah will be back in action again Monday, playing its home opener against Fresno State. Tipoff with FSU is slated for 7 p.m. -UU- |
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