Fourth-seeded Utes rip Falcons in opener
Taryn Wicijowski scored 24 points on 11-for-14 shooting to lead Utah to a 63-40 victory over Air Force in the first round of the Mountain West Conference women’s basketball tournament Tuesday at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Pahranagat Valley High School graduate Kalee Whipple had 16 points and 12 rebounds for the Utes.
No. 4 seed Utah (20-10) will play fifth-seeded New Mexico (18-11) in the quarterfinals at 4:30 p.m. today.
The Utes won for the eighth time in 10 games.
“We had some struggles in the beginning,” Whipple said. “We’re here now and we’re ready to play. I think we’re peaking at the right time.”
Kathleen Schjodt led No. 9 seed Air Force (3-27) with 12 points, and Kelsey Berger and Raimee Beck each scored 10.
■ New Mexico 67, Colorado State 54 — Sara Halasz scored 20 points and Amy Beggin 18 to lead the Lobos past the eighth-seeded Rams.
Beggin did all the scoring in a 7-0 run that put New Mexico back in control after the Rams (13-17) pulled within 56-54 with 6:41 left.
“I do like to make something happen when things aren’t going right,” Beggin said. “In that case, it was my teammates setting me up.”
Three Colorado State players scored in double figures: Chatil Van Grinsven (16), Kim Mestdagh (13) and Meghan Heimstra (11).