The Lady Frogs will have a first-round bye when the Mountain West Conference Women’s Basketball Championships kick off Tuesday in Las Vegas. And judging from their performance against the University of Utah on Saturday, they’ve earned it.
The team earned its 20th win of the season by knocking off the Mountain West Conference-leading Utah Utes on Saturday in Daniel-Meyer Coliseum.
Despite trailing by as many as 13 points early in the game, the team bounced back to win 53-47.
The Utes took a three-point lead into the locker room at halftime thanks to a layup made on the last shot of the half, but the Lady Frogs began the second half on an 8-2 run to take the lead for the first time.
“I thought we were able to impose our will a little bit in the second half,” head basketball coach Jeff Mittie said. “We were able to play a little more physical, get to the rim and get to the free-throw line.”
The second half featured four ties and nine lead changes.
Despite being outrebounded 51-38, Mittie said there was one aspect of the game that kept his team in the match up.
“Only seven turnovers helps us stay in the game because we got pounded on the glass again,” Mittie said. “Seven turnovers is the only reason we are standing here with a win. We could not afford to turn it over today.”
Sophomore Helena Sverrisdottir led all scorers with 20 points and also pulled down 10 rebounds.
The victory was also the last home game for senior center Micaela Younger.
“Micki Younger was huge for us today,” Mittie said. “She gave us energy.”
Younger finished out her career at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum with one point and four rebounds while playing in foul trouble.
This win put the team at the 20-win plateau for the eighth time in the last nine seasons.
“That says you had a solid year,” Mittie said. “In basketball that is kind of the benchmark number. We have been fortunate here to have good players that have played well.”
The Lady Frogs will play the winner of Tuesday’s matchup between Brigham Young University and University of Nevada, Las Vegas. That game is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday.
