SALT LAKE CITY — The University of Utah celebrated the legacy of former women’s basketball coach Elaine Elliott by honoring her as the all-time winningest coach with a ceremonial banner depicting her impressive 582 wins. On this memorable night, the Utes showcased their distinct style of basketball at the Huntsman Center, defeating Cincinnati 67-59.
With a standout performance, the Utes exhibited strong teamwork, tallying 22 assists on 24 field goals. Head coach Gavin Petersen expressed pride in his team’s ball movement, stating, “To have 22 assists on 24 made baskets, like that’s Utah basketball. Really proud of our kids for moving the ball, sharing the ball.”
Senior player Lani White was a key contributor, scoring 23 points with 8-of-14 shooting and grabbing six rebounds. Her prowess from beyond the arc was evident as she knocked down six three-pointers out of ten attempts, helping the Utes build an 18-point lead by the third quarter. White attributed her shooting confidence to sticking to the team’s offensive strategy, noting, “The rim looked a lot bigger after the first one.”
Cincinnati’s head coach Katrina Merriweather acknowledged the impact of White’s early three-pointers, recognizing the psychological boost they provided her. “When you have really good players like her, the rim just gets so wide,” she remarked. “That’s what really good players do.”
Utah also benefited from contributions by Maty Wilke, who added 12 points along with two three-pointers, four rebounds, and four assists. The Bearcats found their scoring from Caliyah DeVillasee, who led her team with 13 points and five assists, while Reagan Jackson and Kylie Torrence contributed ten points each.
The matchup was initially competitive, with both teams engaged in a low-scoring first quarter. Utah then surged ahead, establishing an 11-point lead that expanded to 18 points by the third quarter. However, Cincinnati fought back, narrowing the gap to five midway through the fourth quarter. White reflected on the Utes’ occasional lapses in focus, attributing the late-game pressure to their tendency to become too comfortable with their lead.
“Our team gets ‘comfortable’ and ‘casual’ at times,” White said. “We see the scoreboard and we’re like, ‘We’re good.’ But we know the Big 12 is not a conference where you can take any night off.”
Coach Petersen echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the need for his players to shift their mindset from “playing to win to playing not to lose.” He urged them to maintain a winning mentality regardless of the score or remaining time.
Ultimately, Utah’s ability to capitalize on Cincinnati’s mistakes and their fast-paced offensive strategy led to their success, generating 17 fast-break points that applied pressure on the Bearcats. As the season unfolds, the Utes are looking to carry this momentum forward, maintaining focus and determination on their path in the Big 12 Conference.