(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Utes forward Megan Jacobs (13) brings the ball down court, in PAC-12 women's basketball action at the Jon M. Huntsman Center, Sunday, Feb. 18, 2018.
The day may have been special for three seniors on the court for the Utah women’s basketball team on Sunday, but through one half of basketball it seemed like the festivities might be tempered in a really sour way.
But that all changed when the clock started after intermission as Utah ended up storming past visiting Washington for an 81-46 victory.
The Utes, up only 24-23 at the midway point, outscored the Huskies 37-6 in the third quarter.
“We just weren’t playing with any passion or any sort of enthusiasm,” said Utah coach Lynne Roberts of the first two periods. “We were trying to make home run plays. We had 13 turnovers, which is inexcusable.
“We regrouped and I thought our defense did a real good job in the third quarter. We weren’t fouling, we weren’t turning the ball over and that allowed the game to be really uptempo, and that’s our strength.”
It was senior day for the Utes as Emily Potter, Tanaeya Boclair and Tilar Clark wore the uniform at the Huntsman Center for the last time. Senior Wendy Anae, who missed the season due to injury, was also honored in postgame ceremonies.
While the veterans were given the spotlight, a Utah freshman jumped into it a little herself.
Tori Williams easily surpassed her career high (18 points, in the season opener) as she pumped in 29 points and also dished out four assists.
“It helps to have your two-guard go 11 for 13, that doesn’t hurt,” Roberts said of Williams, who was 7 for 9 from beyond the three-point arc.
“I knew the seniors just had to have a good night to end,” Williams said. “I just had more fire, and getting those assists to Potter helped me get my shots up, too.”
Washington (7-20, 1-15 Pac-12), was led by Amber Melgoza’s 27 points.
Utah (17-10, 8-8) started the third quarter with a scoring flurry — one that lasted through the whole period. Megan Huff began with a bucket inside, which was followed by a 3-pointer and a driving layup by Williams.
The gap turned into a 10-point margin when Huff hit another shot for a 33-23 lead. Huff, who finished with 16 points, was later taken off the court with 42 seconds remaining with an injured right ankle.
“It’s a sprain, it’s such a bummer,” said Roberts, whose team will close the Pac-12 schedule with games at USC and UCLA. “She’s a tough kid and she’ll be back. ”The Utes, in one stretch, scored 19 straight points in the third quarter.
A 13-5 run to start the fourth quarter featured the 6-foot-6 Potter, who had 18 rebounds and 16 points, stepping out for a 3 from the top of the key. It was only her sixth long-range attempt for the season — and the second one she made.
“She was working on it earlier in shootaround, so I knew she was going to shoot one,” Williams said. “I was like, ‘Please go in’ and it did.”