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Maxwell scores career-best 24 points as Utah women crush Colorado 84-69

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Utes guard/forward Daneesha Provo (23) battlesArizona State Sun Devils forward Sophia Elenga (21) in Utes' Pac-12 home opener at the Jon M Huntsman Center on Friday, Jan. 4, 2019. They're off to one of their best starts in team history.

The Utah women’s basketball team knocked down a school record 16 3-pointers on the way to an 84-69 win over Colorado on Friday night at the CU Events Center in Boulder, Colo.

The Utes, who trailed by four points at halftime, improved to 9-8 on the season and 2-4 in Pac-12 play with their second consecutive victory.

“I am proud of our team. Shooting like that and making 16 threes, it shows confidence,” Utah coach Lynne Roberts said. “I thought everyone was engaged with it.”

Freshman Brynna Maxwell scored 19 of her career-high 24 points in the second half to lead the Utes. Maxwell, one of four Utah players to score in double figures, was 9 of 12 shooting, including 6 of 8 on 3-pointers. It was the second time this season that Maxwell topped the 20-point mark.

“Brynna had a great game,” Roberts said. “I thought in the second half we did a much better job of finding the kick-outs. Someone like Brynna, you just can’t leave her open.”

Kiana Moore contributing a season-high 16 points on 6-for-9 shooting, including four 3-pointers for the Utes. Moore also contributed three assists and two steals to Utah’s cause.

Daneesha Provo had 14 points, including four 3-pointers, while adding four rebounds, one assist and two steals. Lola Pendande rounded out Utah’s double-digit scorers with 11 points, while also recording a team-high seven rebounds.

Dru Gylten had 10 assists for the Utes, her second consecutive game with double-digit assists.

Utah’s bench outscored Colorado’s 29-11 — the 13th time this season that the Utes’ bench has outscored an opponent’s bench