TicketsSALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The University of Cincinnati women’s basketball team fell to Utah, 67-59, on Saturday afternoon in Salt Lake City.
Cincinnati trimmed a double-digit deficit to five with 4:12 remaining, but Utah answered down the stretch to hold off the comeback attempt.
The Bearcats moved to 9-17 overall and 4-10 in Big 12 play, while the Utes improved to 17-9 and 8-6 in conference action.
Three Bearcats scored in double figures. Caliyah DeVillasee led the way with 13 points, while Kylie Torrence and Reagan Jackson each added 10. Destiny Thomas paced Cincinnati on the glass with eight rebounds.
Cincinnati shot 38% from the field and 18% from three-point range. The Bearcats also went 9-of-17 from the free throw line (.529). Utah shot 41% from the floor and knocked down eight three-pointers.
The teams traded baskets throughout the opening quarter. Back-to-back baskets from Carden and DeVillasee gave Cincinnati the lead late, and a Reagan Jackson jumper put UC back in front, 12-11.
Utah used a 4-0 spurt to take a five-point edge at the second quarter media timeout (22-17). Cincinnati answered with a pair of free throws to cut the deficit to three, but Utah connected on back-to-back threes to stretch its lead to eight at halftime (30-22).
Thomas converted a layup to trim the deficit to nine with 6:46 remaining in the third quarter. Utah responded with a 7-0 run and extended its lead to 16 entering the fourth quarter (51-35).
The Bearcats opened the fourth on an 8-0 run to pull within single digits at 51-43. Ndiba finished through contact to make it 53-45 at the media timeout. A Perry three-pointer brought Cincinnati within five with 4:12 to play, but Utah secured the 67-59 victory.