BYU Falls to the Utes 68-58

SALT LAKE -- The Cougars fought back from a 18-point deficit in the second half Thursday night, before falling to the Utes 68-58 at the Huntsman Center and breaking their two-game winning streak.

Utah used a 14-2 run in the second half to extend their lead to 44-29. BYU answered a few minutes later with a 7-0 run to bring the score to 51-40.

Despite shooting 38 percent from the field in the game, the Cougars continued clawing their way back and made the game close following a pair of three-point baskets by Mallary Gillespie, pulling BYU to within seven points, down 62-55. But on the ensuing possession, a three-point shot by Ambrosia Anderson bounced off the front of the rim and Utah controlled the ball and closed out the game from the free-throw line.

"We cut it to within seven but we just didn't execute our offense like we needed to," said head coach Jeff Judkins. "In my opinion, Utah played its best game ever against us."

After defeating New Mexico at home on Saturday, the Cougars got off to a slow start against the Utes before hitting their first shot of the game, a three-point basket by Gillespie, with 16:19 to go in the half. Both teams warmed up from the field and Utah took a 30-24 lead into halftime.

Shona Thorburn led all scorers with 24 points and senior Julie Sullivan had a team-high 13 points for BYU. The Cougars did set a season high, making 10 three-point baskets in 27 attempts.

BYU (16-9, 7-5) will head to Las Vegas next Thursday to face UNLV for the second of three road games to finish the season.

Follow the women's basketball action live on BYU Radio. All of the women's basketball games can be heard live on BYU radio via the internet at www.byuradio.org or on the Dish Network. Veteran BYU broadcaster Jay Monsen calls the action.

Official Basketball Box Score
Brigham Young vs Utah
02/24/05 7:05 pm at Salt Lake City, UTAH (Huntsman Center)
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VISITORS: Brigham Young 16-9 Ov, 7-5 MWC
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
32 KOZLOWSKI, Kristen.. f  2-8    1-2    0-0    1  4  5   0   5  1  4  0  0  25
35 JOHNSEN, Melinda.... f  2-7    1-6    0-0    1  1  2   3   5  0  2  0  0  22
51 CHEESMAN, Danielle.. f  1-4    1-1    0-0    4  2  6   1   3  1  0  1  1  28
14 SULLIVAN, Julie..... g  6-12   1-2    0-0    1  2  3   3  13  1  4  0  1  31
30 GILLESPIE, Mallary.. g  4-10   4-7    0-0    2  3  5   3  12  2  4  0  2  29
13 GOOLD, Tiari........    2-3    1-2    0-0    2  1  3   2   5  5  2  0  0  18
21 COOK-TOWNER, Jenn...    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  0  0  0   1
25 TAYLOR, Kali........    0-1    0-1    0-0    0  0  0   1   0  1  1  0  1   4
33 ANDERSON, Ambrosia..    3-10   1-6    0-0    1  1  2   1   7  2  2  0  1  18
45 KUBIK, Dani.........    3-6    0-0    2-2    2  4  6   2   8  1  1  0  1  24
   TEAM................                         4  2  6
   Totals..............   23-61  10-27   2-2   18 20 38  16  58 14 20  1  7 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half:  9-33 27.3%   2nd Half: 14-28 50.0%   Game: 37.7%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  4-15 26.7%   2nd Half:  6-12 50.0%   Game: 37.0%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  2-2  100 %   2nd Half:  0-0   0.0%   Game: 100 %    0
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HOME TEAM: Utah 20-6 Ov, 9-2 MWC
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
04 SMITH, Kim.......... f  6-12   2-4    2-2    1  3  4   2  16  5  1  0  3  38
45 PERRY, Jessica...... f  3-6    2-3    0-0    0  6  6   2   8  1  4  0  2  34
23 HANCHETT, Deanne.... c  4-5    0-0    0-0    0  2  2   1   8  1  1  4  1  19
10 THORBURN, Shona..... g  6-14   3-6    9-11   0  2  2   1  24  4  2  0  5  40
32 SITTERUD, Lana...... g  2-5    1-2    0-0    0  4  4   0   5  3  4  0  3  38
05 CARLSEN, Heidi......    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  1  1   0   0  0  0  0  0   2
12 BROUILLARD, Shauna..    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  0  0  0   1
21 WOOD, Julie.........    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  0  0  0   4
24 ALLEN, Camie........    3-4    0-0    1-2    1  0  1   1   7  2  2  0  2  21
33 WARNER, Marie.......    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   1   0  1  0  0  0   3
   TEAM................                         1  2  3
   Totals..............   24-46   8-15  12-15   3 20 23   8  68 17 14  4 16 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 11-23 47.8%   2nd Half: 13-23 56.5%   Game: 52.2%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  4-10 40.0%   2nd Half:  4-5  80.0%   Game: 53.3%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  4-4  100 %   2nd Half:  8-11 72.7%   Game: 80.0%    2
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Officials: Jack JONES, Scotty HERMANN, Anita ORTEGA
Technical fouls: Brigham Young-None. Utah-None.
Attendance: 3017
Score by Periods                1st  2nd   Total
Brigham Young.................   24   34  -   58
Utah..........................   30   38  -   68
ID-282410