Utah Women Stop Colorado State, 64-49 - The Official Athletic Site of the University of Utah

Utah Women Stop Colorado State, 64-49
Former Ute Kim Smith's number retired during halftime ceremony

Kalee Whipple scored 14 points and grabbed eight boards Saturday.

Feb. 10, 2007

Box Score | Quotes

SALT LAKE CITY - Four University of Utah players scored in double figures, leading the Utes to a 64-49 win over Colorado State Saturday afternoon at the Jon M. Huntsman Center. The victory snapped a three-game skid for Utah.

Morgan Warburton (Soph., Helper, Utah) led all scorers with 16 points for Utah (15-9, 8-3 MWC). Kalee Whipple (Fr., Hiko, Nev.) added 14 points and a game-high eight rebounds. Marie Warner (Jr., Hamilton, Ont.) came off the bench to tally 12 for the Utes, while Heidi Carlsen (Sr., St. George, Utah) tacked on 10.

Colorado State (7-16, 2-9) was paced by Sara Hunter, who scored 15 points. Marilyn Moulton added 10 points and eight boards for the Rams.

It was also an historic day in the history of Utah women's basketball. At halftime, former Ute Kim Smith became the first Utah women's basketball player to have her number retired. Smith was a four-time Mountain West Conference Player of the Year, only the second woman to accomplish such a feat in NCAA Division I history. She was a Third-Team All-America selection by the Associated Press last season.

Utah never trailed in the contest, although it was tied four times in the first half. The last of those ties was 20-20 with less than two minutes remaining in the first half. Three Utah freshmen combined to score six straight. A Hennasea Tokumura (Honolulu, Hawaii) layup, and a pair of free throws each from Halie Sawyer (Panguitch, Utah) and Brette Ulsaker (McPherson, Kan.) gave Utah a 26-20 advantage. The Utes led 26-21 at halftime.

From there, it was all Utah. The Utes opened the second half with a 12-2 run to take control of the contest. Warburton (Soph., Helper, Utah) started the run with a pair of free throws and also hit a three-pointer during the spurt. Whipple scored four points and capped the run with a pair of free throws to give Utah a 15-point edge, 38-23.

The Utah lead never dipped into single digits again. A Whipple bucket with 7:42 remaining pushed the Utes to a 20-point advantage, 53-33. The lead grew to as many as 23, when Whipple buried a three-pointer with just less than six minutes remaining. From there, the Utes cruised to the 15-point victory.

Utah's 12 turnovers in the contest was the second-lowest total of the season. The Utes took advantage of 19 Colorado State giveaways, outscoring the Rams 25-10 in points off turnovers. Utah held a 38-34 advantage on the boards.

Utah is back in action again Thursday night at the Huntsman Center. The Utes will host UNLV in a 7 p.m. contest.

-UU-