Oregon WBB: Ducks Fall to Utah, 70-52

EUGENE, Ore. -- The University of Oregon women’s basketball team lost to the Utah Utes 70-52 Sunday afternoon at Matthew Knight Arena in the final home game of the season. The Ducks fall to 4-26 overall and 2-16 in Pac-12 play, while the Utes move to 17-12 overall and 8-10 in conference play.

Leading the Ducks offensively were Jillian Alleyne and Ariel Thomas with 13 and 12 points, respectively. Alleyne also led UO in rebounds with eight. Defensively, Liz Brenner played hard and recorded three steals.

The Utes had four players score in double figures, led by Taryn Wicijowski and Iwalani Rodriguez with 18 and 17, respectively.

Utah hit three early three-point baskets to jump out to an early 13-4 lead before Alleyne broke an 8-0 Utah run with a layup at the 15:55 mark. Utah’s hot three-point shooting continued throughout the first half as they finished 6-of-12 from beyond the arc in the first period.

Alleyne led UO with eight hard-fought points in the first half, and Oregon’s strong free throw shooting (11-of-13) kept the Ducks in the game. Utah closed the half on a 17-9 run, however, and held a 41-25 advantage at the break.

Michelle Plouffe contributed five points in an 8-0 Utah run to start the second half to help the Utes pull away. After trading baskets and playing some very physical basketball in the paint, Oregon came alive and went on a 14-4 run in the middle of the second half to come within 15 points with four minutes left to play.

Wicijowski had a big second half for the Utes, however, scoring 10 points to help Utah put the Ducks away.

As a team, the Ducks were outshot 35.6 percent (16-of-45) to 48.1 percent (25-of-52) from the field and 14.3 percent (1-of-7) to 50 percent (9-of-18) from beyond the arc. While the Ducks shot well from the free throw line (19-of-24, 79.2 percent), Utah still held the advantage, as they were a perfect 11-of-11. Oregon held the advantage in fast break points 9-2.

Next up for the Ducks is the Pac-12 Conference Tournament in Seattle, Wash. on March 7-10.