Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
Utah
Wildcats fall to Utes in home opener
11/17/2010 6:01:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Trailing by 24 points with 8:47 remaining, the Weber State University women's basketball team staged a furious rally, outscoring in-state rival Utah 21-3 to end the game, cutting the lead into six in the final minute, but couldn't quite come all the way back in falling 62-56 on Tuesday night at the Dee Events Center.
The Utes' Michelle Harrison scored a layup to put her team ahead 59-35 with 8:47 left and the Wildcats still trailed 60-40 with 5:05 remaining, but scored 14 straight points -- including 12 from sophomore forward Amanda Hughes to cut the deficit to 60-54 with 54 seconds remaining.
Weber State missed two shots, a layup and a 3-pointer that would have cut even further into the deficit and Utah's Michelle Plouffe made a pair of free-throws with seven seconds left to seal the victory.
Hughes finished the game with a career-high 16 points, including the final 12 points of the game for the Wildcats. She was 4-of-9 from the field, hit a rattling 3-pointer and drained 7-of-9 free throws, collecting a team-high five rebounds in just 18 minutes.
Senior forward Caitlin Anderson had nine points and three rebounds, while junior guard Caela Mohre added eight points and five rebounds for the Wildcats.
Sophomore Megan Patterson added seven points for Weber State, which dropped to 1-1 on the young season.
Utah held a 36-22 advantage in points in the paint, with the Wildcats converting 21 Ute turnovers into 21 points -- including 13 in the second half.
Next up for Weber State is the second of three straight games against in-state competition on Tuesday when the Wildcats travel to the UCCU Center in Orem to face Utah Valley.
