Pullman, Wash. • Kennady McQueen scored 20 points, Alissa Pili added 18 and No. 11 Utah held off Washington State 71-66 on Friday night after blowing a 16-point halftime lead.
Utah’s 38-22 halftime lead was erased with 2:22 remaining in the game when Washington State’s Ula Motuga hit a pair of free throws to cap a 16-5 run that tied the score at 62. Pili made two free throws for a 68-66 lead with 35 seconds remaining, then WSU missed a 3-pointer, Utah’s Isabel Palmer made one of two from the line and Motuga missed a potential tying 3-pointer with three seconds left. McQueen added two free throws for the final margin.
“We got lucky tonight, and we’re not going to win many games if we have 24 turnovers. But it’s nice to have to learn this lesson and still get away with a win,” Utah head coach Lynne Roberts said. “I think we stole one a little bit. We’re going to have to watch film and play much better. It doesn’t get any easier. Washington is improved. This was actually good for us, playing in a tight game where we weren’t playing very well, and to still find a way.”
Bella Murekatete led Washington State with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Astera Tuhina scored 12 points and Motuga had 11.
“I thought Washington State did a good job. You have to give them credit. They played harder than we did, and they were disruptive,” Roberts said. “They were without their best player (Charlisse Leger-Walker), and sometimes when you’re without your best player everybody rallies behind and maybe plays a little more inspired. I thought we played a little casual, and just lacking some cohesion. We were very rushed and sloppy.”
Utah led 19-15 after the first quarter in which the Utes shot 57% and the Cougars 54%. In the second quarter, the Cougars had seven turnovers, shot 2-for-14 from the field and missed all seven of their 3-point tries. Utah outscored WSU 19-7.
McQueen was a standout for the Utes on the night.
“She was just playing her tail off. I had to have her in the game,” Roberts said. “And she was doing a good job defensively. She’s just so active and she never stops playing. She was really good tonight.”
The nation’s second-highest scoring team, the Utes (13-0, 2-0 Pac-12) are one of six undefeated teams in the nation and have established their best start since joining the Pac-12. At No. 11 in the AP poll, Utah has matched the best ranking in program history, last reaching No. 11 on Jan. 26, 1998.
The Cougars (10-3, 0-2) saw their eight-game home winning streak come to an end.
