Women's basketball: Utes hope defense slows the Cougars

PROVO — Heading south, the Utah women's basketball team will take on BYU today .

Utah defeated Idaho State Tuesday in its best defensive performance of the year. It held the Bengals to a mere 31 points and 22 percent shooting.

The Utes hope to see similar success against the Cougars.

"BYU has a lot of talented offensive players, inside and out," Utah head coach Anthony Levrets said. "They can score from the perimeter and post, and we will have to have great team defense."

The Cougars boast a 7-2 record on the year and are currently enjoying a six-game winning streak. They defeated Utah in both regular-season games last season, but the Utes sent them packing in the MWC Tournament with a Michelle Plouffe buzzer-beater. Utah leads 62-35 in the overall series.

"Even though we are not in the same league, it still feels to us like a rivalry," Levrets said. "We respect their program a lot and we're excited that we're playing them."

Rivalry game

Utah (4-3) at BYU (7-2)

Today, 3 p.m.

Marriott Center, Provo

TV: BYUtv

Radio: 700 AM

email: jwilde@desnews.com