Dec. 2, 2003

Box Score

Salt Lake City, UT - The Saint Mary's women's basketball team suffered a 69-40 loss to the No. 22-ranked Utah Utes on Tuesday night in Salt Lake City, UT. The Gaels fell behind early and could not catch up to the Utes on their home floor, the Huntsman Center, in front of 1,083 fans. With the loss the Gaels drop to 3-2 overall, while Utah improved to 4-1 on the season.

Saint Mary's started the game slow, ending the first half trailing 38-11, but played the Utes close in the second half, finishing the final 20 minutes trailing 31-29. The Gaels' slow start came when the Utes went on a 9-0 run to start the game.

The Gaels got on the board on a Lindsay Lopez layup and cut the Utes' lead to 11-7 after a Triola Jackson jumper at the 13:06 mark in the first half. But that was as close as the Gaels would get.

Saint Mary's had 12-of-13 players score in Tuesday's game, including six points off the bench from Katie Ludwick. Ludwick hit two quick 3-pointers to start the second half. Jackson added five points and four rebounds and Savannah Williams, Eghosa Obaiza, Lindsay Lopez and Erika Urmonaite each had four points. Urmonaite also added a team-high five rebounds.

Utah opened the game shooting well and continued to shoot well in the second half. The Utes shot 49 percent from the field and 41 percent from the 3-point line. Saint Mary's struggled offensively, shooting 28 percent from the floor and 23 percent from the 3-point line.

Saint Mary's returns to action on Saturday when it hosts UCLA at 2 p.m. at McKeon Pavilion. The women's game will be followed by the men's game at 7 p.m. against USC.