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SALT LAKE CITY — Maty Wilke proved to be the difference maker Sunday.
Utah women's basketball started off slow against a defensive-minded Princeton, struggling to get much of anything it wanted on the offensive side of the ball. But Wilke changed the game.
After a locked first quarter, Wilke hit back-to-back 3-pointers to relax Utah's offense, and then hit a third to separate from the Tigers. It all helped jumpstart a Utah offense that used the Wilke momentum and then outscored Princeton 24-17 in the third quarter to build up a game-high 18-point lead.
Princeton didn't just give up, though, and tied up the game with a transition 3-pointer with just over two minutes left to play.
After a back-and-forth finish, Princeton had a chance to take the lead with 11.3 seconds left in the game and Utah holding onto a 77-76 lead. Ines Vieira was called for a foul, sending Princeton's Skye Belker to the line.
Belker, though, missed both free throws, and Utah collected the rebound with 7.0 seconds left to play before calling a timeout. Princeton then sent Gianna Kneepkens to the free-throw line, where she drained both attempts to give Utah some breathing room.
But Princeton's last-second heave went long and Utah held on to claim a 79-76 win at home.
Kneepkens finshed the day for Utah (8-2) with a team-high 19 points, four assists and three rebounds; and Wilke added 14 points, including going 4-of-5 from 3-point range, and two rebounds in the win.
Maye Toure added to the total with 15 points, five rebounds and two assists.
Princeton (5-4) had three players score in double figures, with Belker scoring a game-high 24 points, three assists and two rebounds. Fadima Tall finished with 13 points and Ashley Chea added 11 points, seven rebounds and five assists in the loss.
