MWC women's championship: Utes fall in overtime to Aztecs

LAS VEGAS — The Utah women's basketball team was this close to completing an improbable run through the Mountain West Conference Tournament but came up short in a 70-60 overtime loss to San Diego State Saturday at the Thomas & Mack Center.

The Utes led throughout most of the second half and even held an eight-point lead with four minutes left, only to falter down the stretch and in overtime when the Aztecs outscored them 12-2.

"We fought hard, but we just didn't hit a shot," said Kalee Whipple of the Utes' struggles down the stretch. "They're just a great defensive team."

The loss dropped the Utes to 22-11 on the season, and with an NCAA at-large berth unlikely, the Utes will await a probable bid to the WNIT next week.

Freshman Taryn Wicijowski scored 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds, Whipple had 15 points and nine rebounds, while Halie Sawyer had 11 rebounds to go with six points for the Utes.

San Diego State was led by senior guard Quenese Davis — named the tournament MVP — with 22 points, while Jene Morris added 21 and Paris Johnson 10. The win avenged a 63-58 loss to Utah in the finals of last year's MWC Tournament.

"We played at a very high level all week long," said San Diego State coach Beth Burns. "We came in with the eye of the tiger, and I'm thrilled with the outcome."

The Aztecs, who were preseason picks to win the MWC before finishing in a tie for third with the Utes, came out fast, saw Utah catch them and go ahead, before they rallied in the final five minutes and dominated the overtime.

Utah led 34-33 at halftime after Whipple sank a long 3-pointer at the buzzer and took control midway through the half when it pushed its advantage to 56-48.

However, Halie Sawyer's inside basket with 5:20 left was the Utes' last field goal of the game as they missed their final nine shots and turned the ball over four times the rest of the way.

Perhaps the turning point of the game came with just under four minutes remaining when, after a timeout, Ute freshman Iwalani Rodrigues got behind the defense for an apparent breakaway layup. But she got pressure at the last second, and the ball rolled around the rim and out. Then the Utes didn't cover at the other end and Quenese Davis got loose for a layup to cut the lead to four at 56-52.