Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
- Utah women's basketball lost 71-69 to Northwestern despite a 14-point lead.
- Utah struggled with shooting, hitting only 34% from the field and 27% from three.
- Northwestern's Melannie Daley led with 23 points, while Utah's Jenna Johnson had 15.
EVANSTON, Ill. — With a 14-point lead midway through the third quarter, Utah women's basketball was well on its way to its third win of the season and the first on the road against a Big Ten team.
But for the final 4:07 of the quarter — just after the Utes built up its game-high lead — Utah failed to make a field goal and was outscored in the quarter 25-17 as Northwestern cut the lead to 2 going into the final quarter.
Northwestern didn't quit there.
A minute into the fourth quarter, the Wildcats tied the game up with two made free throws — the team was a perfect 9-of-9 from the charity stripe at that point — and then turned over Utah to keep the momentum in the home team's favor.
But a sudden fire alarm in Welsh-Ryan Arena with 8:32 left in the game slowed the Northwestern run, but it didn't stop it — even with a 10-minute disruption.
Northwestern eventually built up a 6-point lead amid a nearly five minute scoring drought from the field from Utah, but the Utes fought back and tied the game up with 8.3 seconds left to play on 3 made free throws by Gianna Kneepkens, who was fouled on a deep 3-point attempt.
After Northwestern got a quick bucket on the other end, Utah had one final chance with 3.6 seconds left to play. A heaved pass to Reese Ross underneath the basket gave the Utes a chance, but Northwestern's defense held firm and prevented a missed shot to hold on for a 71-69 win at home.
Ross finished with 14 points and four rebounds off the bench, and brought an increased intensity to a game that lacked a general sense of rhythm for a Utah (2-1) team that shot just 34% from the field and just 27% from 3-point range.
And though Utah struggled to hit from behind 3-point range, it was the several missed shots around the rim and the team going a collective 16-of-26 from the free-throw line that doomed the team's chances.
Northwestern (1-2) brought a swarming defense that got Utah out of rhythm, speeding up shot attempts and limiting a usually free-flowing offense.
The Wildcats were led by Melannie Daley, who finished with a game-high 23 points, three rebounds and three assists; and Grace Sullivan added 16 points before fouling out of the game with just under two minutes left to play.
Northwestern shot 51% from the field and was 13-of-14 from the free-throw line to give the Wildcats their first win of the season.
Jenna Johnson led Utah with 15 points and 10 rebounds as Utah outrebounded Northwestern 37-34, and Kneepkens added 14 points and four rebounds in the loss.
Utah managed to turnover Northwestern 21 times, scoring 23 points in return, but the lack of consistent shooting from the field and the charity stripe kept Utah out of contention.
The Utes return to action on Monday at the Huntsman Center against McNeese (7 p.m. MST, ESPN+).
