The Utes apparently enjoy an encore.
After blowing out No. 6 USC over the weekend, Utah earned one more signature win Monday, beating No. 2 UCLA in overtime, 94-81.
Guard Kennady McQueen scored a game-high 21 points to go along with nine rebounds and four assists, as the No. 16 Utes upset the highest-ranked opponent they’d beaten in program history.
“UCLA has what it takes to be at the end of season, the last man standing,” head coach Lynne Roberts said. “I think we do too. … What a weekend for us.”
The massive night came on an evening when Utah star Alissa Pili wasn’t at her best. The forward had just two points and halftime. She managed to finish with 16 points but did it on 4-of-15 shooting.
Her teammates’ hot hands more than made up the difference.
In the strongest showing from Utah’s supporting case, five Utes scored in double digits, led by 21 points from McQueen. Pili, forward Jenna Johnson and guard Matty Wilke each scored 16. And point guard Ines Vieira scored 12 points.
The Utes made 13 triples and out-rebounded the Bruins 38-35. But UCLA, which feasted from the line in regulation, made a late push in the fourth.
Camryn Brown scored a breakaway layup to make it 71-70 with 54 seconds left in the fourth — just UCLA’s second lead of the night.
With the Utes trailing by two at the end of regulation and the defense’s focus on Pili, Vieira peeled away and scored a tying layup with 1.5 seconds left to force overtime.
“It would have been easy there to fold,” Roberts said. “But the execution at the end.”
In overtime, Utah’s defense clamped down and the Utes were spectacular from the line, connecting on 15 of 16 free throws in the extra frame.