In a thrilling showdown in Boulder, the Utah women's basketball team overcame a five-point halftime deficit and foul trouble to secure a gritty 67-64 victory over Colorado. This win was crucial for Utah, who had been on a two-game losing streak heading into their final road game of the regular season.
The third quarter was pivotal as Utah outscored Colorado 23-15, flipping the script and taking a narrow one-point lead into the final quarter. Maty Wilke and Grace Foster ignited the charge with back-to-back three-pointers, helping Utah build a seven-point cushion.
Despite the lead, Utah had to dig deep to fend off a determined Colorado squad. With just under three minutes left, Colorado's Desiree Wooten nailed a three-pointer, cutting Utah's lead to one. The two teams then engaged in a tense scoreless stretch until Lani White's crucial second-chance layup with 33 seconds remaining extended Utah's lead back to three.
Both teams exchanged free throws, with Colorado closing the gap to a single point once more. In the final moments, Wilke was fouled and, after splitting her free throws, gave Utah a slim advantage. A critical turnover by Colorado on the inbound pass allowed Utah's Chyra Evans to recover the ball and secure the win, despite missing her first free throw attempt.
Lani White was the standout performer, leading all scorers with 21 points, including three from beyond the arc, and grabbing four rebounds. Reese Ross also made a significant impact with 10 points and seven rebounds before fouling out late in the game. LA Sneed, limited by foul trouble, contributed two clutch free throws in the closing seconds to help seal the victory.
For Colorado, Wooten was a spark off the bench with 16 points, while Zyanna Walker and Jade Masogayo each added 10 points. Despite their efforts, Colorado struggled with shooting, hitting only 34% from the field, though their bench provided a solid 34 points.
Utah now heads home to face Arizona in their season finale before gearing up for the Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City. With momentum on their side, the Utes are poised to make a strong push in the postseason.