SALT LAKE CITY – The Arizona Wildcats (10-5, 1-3 Pac-12) left Salt Lake City with a victory as they defeated the Utah Utes (12-3, 1-3 Pac-12) by a score of 80-71 on Sunday afternoon in the Huntsman Center.
 
"I'm proud the way we responded after I challenged them," head coach Adia Barnes said. "It was a very good team win and we used our advantages like running the ball up the floor. Sometimes I think our focus is better on the road, but this is great momentum and gives our team some confidence."
 
LaBrittney Jones scored 24 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead the Wildcats. That is the fifth time this season that the senior has scored 20+ points in one game.
 
Destiny Graham scored a season-high 11 points and also added in three rebounds. Malena Washington was Arizona's third double-figure scorer as she poured in 11 points while dishing out five assists. Breanna Workman also added in 10 points and five rebounds.
 
As a team, Arizona shot 49% from the field and forced the Utes to shoot 36% from the field. Arizona took the lead at the 5:31 mark in the second quarter and would not look back. The Wildcats would eventually take an 18-point lead with just under nine minutes left in the fourth quarter.
 
It was a high-scoring first quarter as Utah took a 20-19 lead into the second, but Arizona would take control in the second quarter. The Wildcats outscored the Utes 20-11 in the second period to take a 39-31 lead into halftime. Arizona had six players score at least five points in the first half.
 
Arizona scored 27 points in the third quarter, which is the highest-scoring quarter for Arizona since Dec. 27 when the Wildcats scored 29 in the third quarter against Portland State. Heading into the fourth quarter, Arizona possessed a 66-52 lead. The Wildcats were outscored by the Utes by a score of 18-15 in the fourth quarter, but it was more than enough to preserve the victory.

Arizona will head back to Tucson tonight and will prepare for their game against the Washington Huskies on Friday, Jan. 13 in McKale Center. The game will be televised on the Pac-12 Networks.
 
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