For better or worse, the Pac-12 Conference presents multiple chances to test yourself against — and potentially upset — top 25-caliber opponents.
Utah women’s basketball coach Lynne Roberts this season saw her team come up just short in the final minutes at home against nationally-ranked UCLA, but she also celebrated a road win against a ranked Arizona State squad last week.
The Utes (14-5, 5-3) get two chances this weekend to serve notice to the rest of the conference and cement themselves as a program on the rise when they host No. 17 Oregon State (14-5, 5-3) at 6 p.m. Friday and No. 7 Oregon (18-3, 7-1) at noon Sunday. Both games will take place in the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City.
Last Friday’s win at ASU came as part of the Utes’ weekend sweep of the Arizona schools, the second conference road sweep of the season. The Utes already have equaled their conference win total (five) from all last season.
“The fact that we have gotten two road sweeps, I am really proud of that,” said Roberts, now in her third season with the Utes. “It just speaks to the fact that we are making progress, but I am not naive. This league is tough, and it doesn’t get any tougher than what we are going to get this weekend. We have to be confident in who we are and what we have done. We are a legitimately good team when we do the things we are good at.”
The Utes have the third-highest scoring offense in the Pac-12 behind Oregon (first) and Oregon State (second). Oregon ranks ninth in NCAA Division I in scoring (84.2 ppg), while Oregon sophomore Sabrina Ionescu leads the conference in individual scoring (19.8 ppg).
The Utes enter the weekend with three players averaging more than 10 points per game, led by redshirt junior forward Megan Huff (13.7 ppg). Junior wing Daneesha Provo (13.3 ppg) and senior forward Emily Potter (11.8 ppg) have provided scoring balance.
Freshman guard Tori Williams averaged 12.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists last week on her way to earning the conference’s freshman of the week honor. Williams has averaged 9.1 points per game.
Despite the Utes’ offensive efficiency this season, defense has been a defining characteristic for the Utes. Utah has gone 25-2 under Roberts when opponents score 60 points or less. It has held its past three opponents below that benchmark, including ASU. The Utes scored just 25 points in the first half against ASU but rallied to score 26 in the fourth quarter alone.
“I just thought we had a great fourth quarter, but I’m most proud of our team in that game for not buckling,” Roberts said. “It is really hard when you are playing a team that no one has circled you to beat. They were ‘suppose’ to beat us, especially at their place. It was their kids day, so there were thousands of screaming kids there and it was a tough environment. So the fact that we just didn’t buckle is what I am most proud of, and I think it shows maturity, growth and progress as a program.”
