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For a team that was once 4-1 in the conference standings, a recent five-game Pac-12 slide for the Utah women's basketball team has been a tough stretch. But Utah finished a five-game homestand with a 71-55 victory against the Buffaloes on Thursday.

"We finished the game. That was the biggest difference," Utah coach Lynne Roberts said. "Against UCLA [on Sunday] we were up eight to start the fourth quarter — just like tonight — and we just kind of fell apart, played not to lose."

Utah (13-9, 5-6) started the first quarter with an 8-2 run marked by a 3-pointer from Dani Rodriguez, before the Utes' senior scored again on a steal and layup.

Rodriguez finished with a career-high 19 points while dishing out seven assists.

Colorado (6-16, 1-10) trimmed the margin to three in the second half and then Utah's Paige Crozon hit a 3-pointer and Rodriguez had a steal and layup for a 40-32 lead with 6:42 left in the third.

"Dani [Rodriguez] does a nice job of running their team. She's a senior point guard and she's gotten better every single year," said Colorado coach Linda Lappe. "She just finds ways to pick you apart and they're really patient when they need to be patient."

Malia Nawahine registered 15 points and Paige Crozon added 10 points for the Utes.

Utah starter Emily Potter sat for a chunk of the first half after drawing two fouls. Joeseta Fatuesi came off the bench and nearly got a double-double, scoring ten points and grabbing eight boards.

"We had five players in double figures and that's hard to beat, with that kind of balance," said Roberts, who had 11 points and eight rebounds from Potter. "In the first half, I thought Joeseta was great holding down the fort."

The Buffaloes were led by Kennedy Leonard's 14 points and Jamee Swan added 12.

It won't take long for either team to implement adjustments specific to the other as Utah plays at Colorado on Sunday.