Utah Women Play Hard In Top-10 Showdown With UCLA, Come Up With Incredible Win
Jan 29, 2023, 2:06 PM | Updated: 4:22 pm
The game was fast-paced and physical from the start with neither side relenting till the very end. Ultimately, Utah prevailed, 71 – 69 after Alissa Pili hit a clutch three to tie the game with 33 seconds on the clock. Pili followed up that shot with the go-ahead layup with just 8 seconds left to play.
Utah’s efforts from the three raised an additional $ 600 for Show Up Utah Special Olympics to add on to the $700 raised against USC on Friday night.
INCREDIBLE sequence of events here at the Huntsman Center! #LightTheU@UTAHWBB beats UCLA 71-69 in a thriller of a game. #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/uoWNRTiJjM
— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) January 29, 2023
UCLA At Utah Quarter One
The Utes got off to a slow start against the Bruins early in the game struggling to get the shots to fall. UCLA got up 8-0 quickly, but a trip to the line for Jenna Johnson put point on the board for Utah with seven minutes to play, 8-2.
#Utes in an 8-0 hole early in this game. Bruins have come out firing.
— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) January 29, 2023
With about five minutes to play in the first quarter Alissa Pili landed a layup further cutting UCLA’s lead, 8-4. She followed it up with another and a trip to the line cutting the Bruin’s lead to one.
After appearing a little shellshocked to start, the #Utes have gotten back on track. Johnson and Pili have been the players so far putting up points and cutting UCLA's lead.
Utah trails by one, 8-7 with under five in the first quarter.#GoUtes
— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) January 29, 2023
Dasia Young hits a layup and gives the Utes their first lead of the afternoon, 9-8 with under four to play in the first quarter, but UCLA answers right back with a three making the score 11-9. Issy Palmer hits Utah’s first three of the game, but the Bruins respond, and the score sits at 13-12 in favor of UCLA.
#Utes looking alive now. Have been trading shots with UCLA the past few minutes. Pili's trip to the line ties the game up at 13.#GoUtes
— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) January 29, 2023
Utah and UCLA end the first quarter tied at 16 after continuing to trade shots back and forth as the quarter wound down.
Utes, Bruins Quarter Two
The Bruins started the second quarter on a 6-0 run, but Young put an end to that sinking her own three-point shot. Utah trailed 26-21 by the time the first media timeout of the quarter took place.
Young sinks another three, but UCLA came out hot of the quarter break. The Bruins currently lead 26-21 at the media timeout.
The #Utes have now raise $300 for the SO. #GoUtes #UteProud #BeyondThePaint
— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) January 29, 2023
Teya Sidberry entered the game and not only had a great defensive stop at the basketball, but a cleanup of her own shot to put Utah within three. Palmer later took care of it with a three tying the game at 28 with under four to play.
$400 thanks to Kennady McQueen. #Utes trail 39-36 at the half. This game is incredibly physical and fast-paced. #GoUtes #UteProud #BeyondThePaint
— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) January 29, 2023
Utah, UCLA Third Quarter
Utah came out of the halftime break with energy and regained the lead, 42-41, quickly over the Bruins. Later, Palmer threw an assist to Kneepkens who put the bucket away and built the Utes’ lead up to 44-41 at the seven-minute mark.
#Utes came out of the half hot and have built up a 44-41 lead over UCLA after trailing them heading into halftime. #GoUtes #UteProud
— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) January 29, 2023
Pili continued the points pile up bullying in for a layup that extended Utah’s lead 48-43. UCLA answered back shortly with a three-point shot cutting the score down 48-46. The Bruins then regained the lead with another three-point shot, 49-48.
UCLA back in control of this game with a 54-48. #Utes have been a little dry on the shots as of late going on a nearly three-minute drought.
— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) January 29, 2023
Ines Viera went to the line and alleviated some of the scoring woes for the Utes cutting UCLA’s lead to 56-50, but the Bruins turned right around and made it a six-point game again. A foul by the Bruins sent Palmer to the line and whittling down UCLA’s lead, 58-52.
Utah's been having issues getting points from the field, but fouls keep sending to the line and they have been taking advantage. Kneepkens makes it a four-point game, 58-54 in favor of UCLA.#GoUtes
— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) January 29, 2023
Utes, Bruins Quarter Four
Young wakes the crowd up with a three-point shot, but the Utes still had some work left to do to clean up the 62-57 deficit they faced.
Young has been so clutch with the three today for the #Utes. They have currently raised $600 for the Special Olympics. Utah trails 62-57 with 7:31 left to play.#GoUtes #UteProud #BeyondThePaint
— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) January 29, 2023
UCLA extended their lead with a three-point shot, but Palmer answered with a layup and free-throw shot to make it a 65-60 contest with six left to play. Pili further cut the UCLA lead with another layup making it a three-point game, 65-62.
UCLA takes a trip to the line making it a four-point game, 66-62. The #Utes have under five to figure out how to bring this home.#GoUtes
— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) January 29, 2023
UCLA took another trip to the line and missed both shots with under five minutes left to play keeping the score at 66-62. Pili gets a trip to the line that cuts the score down to 66-64 with under four to play.
Alissa Pili with the clutch three that sends this place into pandemonium. Game is tied at 69 with 33 seconds left to play. #GoUtes #UteProud
— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) January 29, 2023
Michelle Bodkin is the Utah Utes Insider for KSLsports.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
