Whipple lifts Ute women over South Dakota State

Kalee Whipple lifted Utah to a 62-58 victory over a stubborn South Dakota State team Saturday afternoon in the Huntsman Center. She took matters into her own hands down the stretch, hitting four consecutive free throws to seal the game.

She also swiped the ball from a Jackrabbit guard and drove the length of the court and converted to put the Utes up by nine.

"I'm lucky I got that steal," she said.

Whipple finished with 25 points, four rebounds and 11-15 free-throw shooting as the Utes upped their record to 6-4.

"That is a very good team," said coach Elaine Elliott about South Dakota State. "We made enough plays (to win)."

It wasn't until the final eight minutes that the Utes had a double-digit lead after Halie Sawyer hit two free throws. The Jackrabbits quickly knocked that lead back down to three points before Whipple's heroics.

The game saw nine ties and nine lead changes. The first half was especially tense with neither team holding more than a three-point lead.

"We would get the lead," said Elliott, "and then turn the ball over two or three times."

The halftime score was Utah 26-25. Both teams showed identical field goal stats: 10-24 and 41.7 percent.

At halftime Elliott talked rebounds as the Utes were down by four boards.

"Our guards were the problem," said Elliott, referring to how many rebounds caromed long and the guards had left early for the fast break.

They ended up outrebounding the Jackrabbits by one.

Whipple said at halftime they also talked about her playing inside. In the second half, the Utes played with four guards and one forward.

It worked well, giving the Utes some breathing room, but in the end they still had to make foul shots.

Taryn Wicijowski was the only other Ute in double figures with 10 points. She sustained a shoulder injury late in the game and her status will have to be evaluated.

Matchups looked out of whack at times for Utah.

"The trouble was communicating about the matchups," said Elliott, "but we are going to get better."

Next up for the Utes is Oregon at home Tuesday at 7 p.m.

e-mail: wjewkes@desnews.com