Utah Women's Basketball Beats Colorado State 72-63

Utah women’s basketball ground out a hard-fought 72-63 victory over Colorado State through a dramatic momentum shift.

The hard-earned win required overcoming a frigid first-half shooting performance where the Utes managed just 4-of-18 from beyond the arc, which was the strength of Utah’s team last season, according to The Daily Utah Chronicle.

Guards Lena Girardi and Laia Conesa anchored the early minutes, combining for seven of Utah’s 13 first-quarter points to secure a narrow 13-9 lead after ten minutes of play. True freshman guard Peyton Jones also contributed early stability by creating her own shot on a clean 17-foot mid-range pull-up.

The momentum flipped abruptly in the second quarter as Colorado State surged ahead on an aggressive 12-2 run. The Rams rattled off six straight points to grab a 15-13 lead and eventually extended their advantage to 11 points at 27-16 with just three minutes remaining before halftime.

Colorado State vs. Utah Highlights — Big 12 Conference

Utah answered the threat before the break by clawing back 10 points in the final minutes of the half. Girardi and Jones added five points apiece during that critical stretch to narrow the deficit to 32-26 by intermission.

Head Coach Gavin Petersen delivered a straightforward directive to settle his squad during the halftime break.

Colorado State vs. Utah Extended Highlights — Big 12 Conference

“Don’t freak out and just trust each other, trust what we’re trying to do and then play together, and we did that,” Petersen told The Daily Utah Chronicle.

The Utes answered immediately in the third quarter by attacking the basket and outscoring the Rams 23-14 to reclaim a 49-46 lead. Conesa ignited that surge by scoring seven of her 11 total points in the period, while transfer forward Olivia Bradley added all five of her points during the same run to balance the offense.

Girardi took control down the stretch, scoring 16 of her game-high 26 points in the fourth quarter alone. She shot a flawless 8-of-8 from the free-throw line by relentlessly driving downhill, while also pacing the team with eight rebounds to cap off her leading the Utes in both points and boards in both games this season.

Complementary contributions proved decisive as Utah’s bench outproduced Colorado State’s reserves 22-5. Conesa and Jones each finished with 11 points, while transfer guard Filipa Barros filled the box score with six rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one block despite taking only four shots.

Defensively, the Utes clamped down outside of the second quarter, limiting the Rams to 39 percent shooting from the field and 29 percent from deep. Reflecting on the gritty contest, Petersen emphasized its long-term value.