Utah Utes, BYU women's basketball: First-place Utes face cold Cougars

As usual, when the women's basketball teams from BYU and Utah meet tonight at the Marriott Center, the outcome will have a big impact on the Mountain West Conference race.

And, of course, bragging rights will be on the line.

"As always, it's quite a matchup," said Utah coach Elaine Elliott, whose Utes (12-6, 5-0) are in first place in the league and riding an eight-game winning streak.

"It's just a good rivalry," said Utah guard Morgan Warburton. "You want to play your best game and do everything we can to beat them. So it's fun."

"It's an important game," said BYU coach Jeff Judkins. "Elaine's a great coach. Her teams are fun to play against. It will come down to who can make plays and hit shots. The thing about Utah is, they don't beat themselves."

The Cougars are coming off a humiliating 56-36 road loss at San Diego State, where they struggled offensively.

"We didn't shoot the ball very well," Judkins said. "We only shot 17 percent in the first half, and you can't win on the road when you shoot like that."

BYU (13-4, 3-2) enjoyed a 10-game winning streak earlier this month but has lost two of its last three contests. The Cougars are the second-youngest team in the nation, with just three seniors, one junior, five sophomores and four freshmen.

"They were extremely young last year," Elliott said. "Now those kids are a year older and it shows. They're a year better."

BYU is led by senior forward Shawnee Slade (10.8 points per game) and junior guard Mindy Nielson (11.5 ppg).

The Utes opened the season with a 1-4 record but are 11-2 in their last 13 games. They have won 21 consecutive regular-season conference contests.

Warburton (18.8 ppg), who has scored in double figures in an MWC-record 52 games, and junior forward Kalee Whipple (17.1 ppg) are the top two scorers in the MWC.

"They really execute their offense well," Judkins said of the Utes. "Whipple and Warburton are really good players."

Judkins added that the play of senior forward Katie King (11.6 ppg) and junior forward Halie Sawyer (9 ppg) have been key during Utah's winning streak.

"Their team has improved last month because of King and Sawyer," he said. "They've made their team more balanced."

The Utes rank No. 3 in the nation in free-throw percentage (80.3) and sixth in field-goal percentage (46.2). They are 6-0 this season when shooting 50 percent or better from the floor.

Utes-Cougars on the air

Utah (12-6, 5-0)

at BYU (13-4, 3-2)

Tonight, 7 p.m.; Marriott Center

TV: BYU-TV Radio: 700 AM

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Contributing: Dirk Facer

E-mail: jeffc@desnews.com