This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Time and again this season, Taryn Wicijowski has walked off the court feeling that little separated Utah from stunning the conference's elite.
On Friday night, she learned she wasn't wrong.
For the second time since the start of Pac-12 play, the Utes hit 50 percent of their shots, and the result was a conference win.
Only Washington, entering the game at 18-6 and having just been named an early three seed in the 2015 NCAA tournament, is a different animal than last-place Arizona.
"Today just felt like it all came together," said Wicijowski, who finished with 20 points, nine rebounds and five assists in a 69-61 victory over the Huskies.
Washington crowded Utah's post players and dared them to attempt open jumpers — a recipe for success for past Utah opponents.
On this night, it was a recipe for disaster.
Head coach Anthony Levrets has said that this year's bunch shoots as well in practice as any he's coached, and Friday's performance lent credence to that claim.
Six of the seven Utes who played hit 3-pointers, including a 3-for-3 effort from junior point guard Danielle Rodriguez and 2 for 4 from sophomore forward Nakia Arquette, whose 10 points were a season high.
It may have helped that Utah had a score to settle against Washington after losing by 12 in Seattle without Rodriguez, who sat with a sprained ankle.
Said Arquette: "I think our prep for this game was really good — the atmosphere this week, in the locker room, on the court and off the court."
The Utes (8-16, 2-11 Pac-12) drained 5 of 9 from deep in the first half, including a halftime buzzer-beater from Wicijowski, who went into the break with 16.
The two teams had been tied at 20 before Utah's surge, which culminated in an 18-point advantage with little more than five minutes remaining in the game.
Then, briefly, they seemed to forget the scouting report on Washington's Kelsey Plum, the Pac-12's leading scorer.
Plum — who reminds Levrets of former Utah standout Morgan Warburton for her silent success — drained three straight 3-pointers, and the Huskies drew within four with under two minutes left.
The Huskies had to foul, however, and Arquette and freshman Tanaeya Boclair made them pay at the charity stripe.
"This is a really good basketball team we beat here tonight," Levrets said. "The kids in [our locker] room feel like there's not a team in this league we can't beat."
Utah hosts Washington State at noon Sunday, seeking another dose of vengeance after losing a lead against the Cougars' pressure after Rodriguez and sophomore forward Paige Crozon left the game due to injury in a 63-54 loss last month.
"I think we all feel like we kind of owe them one, and we can definitely go get them," Wicijowski said.
Utah wore pink for cancer awareness and granted free admission to fans who donated blankets to Huntsman Cancer Institute.
Twitter: @matthew_piper —
Storylines
R Taryn Wicijowski earns 20 points, nine rebounds and five assists.
• Danielle Rodriguez hits all three of her 3s.
• The Pac-12's leading scorer, Kelsey Plum, drains three straight from downtown for the Huskies.