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The Utes dropped their first game of the Nugget Classic against Ole Miss on Friday night 52-38. The loss drops the Utes to 1-3 on the season and keeps them winless on the road.
The Utes were lead by freshman Tanaeya Boclair with 15 points and 8 rebounds. Boclair continues to develop nicely, each performance being better than her last. She looks to have a bright future ahead with the Utes and is turning into a key cog as early as this season it appears. Sixth year senior Taryn Wicijowski also had another nice game. The veteran forward had 9 points to go with 13 rebounds.
Despite the good performances by Wicijowski and Boclair, the Utes were no match for the Rebels of Ole Miss. Rebel Toree Thompson scored 23 points, 12 of those points coming from behind the arc. Kelsey Briggs came off the bench for the Rebels to score 12 points to go with 3 rebounds and a block for the rebels.
Toree Thompson kicked off the scoring with a three pointer to put Ole Miss in front and the rebels outpaced the Utes to go one a 17-7 to open the game. Boclair would hit a three and Wicijowski would make a free throw, but the Rebels continued to outscore the Utes going into half up 24-11.
The Utes went on a run of their own to start the second half. Utah held Ole Miss scoreless for the first 6:48 to start the second half, while the Utes chipped away at the defecit. Cheyenne Wilson made a big 3 point number to pull the Utes within four points and Boclair and Wicijowski both scored to tie it up.
The Utes and Rebels went back and forth for the next six minutes, the Utes taking the lead 30-29 with 8:44 left in the game. That would be the last time the Utes held the lead, as Toree Thompson hit two free throws and a three pointer to put the Rebels back up by four. The rebels continued to gradually pull ahead, ending the scoring on yet anther Thompson three pointer for the final 52-38 score.
The Utes get one more chance for a road win before returning home. The Utes take on the winless University of Portland at 3pm today.