Utah Utes Fall to Baylor in Texas Showdown: Turnovers and Post Struggles Tell the Story
The No. 23 Utah Utes faced a tough challenge in their Texas road trip opener, falling to the Baylor Bears 70-61 on Tuesday night at Foster Pavilion in Waco. Despite moments of promise, the Utes couldn’t shake off their turnover woes or overcome Baylor’s dominance in the paint, leading to a disappointing result.
A Night of Turnover Troubles
One of the biggest takeaways from the game was Utah’s battle with turnovers. The Utes were far too careless with the ball, tying their season-high with a staggering 21 giveaways. Those mistakes cost them dearly, allowing Baylor to capitalize with 25 points off turnovers.
The first half was particularly rough, as Utah turned the ball over 15 times, directly leading to 17 points for the Bears. By halftime, Baylor had built a nine-point cushion that the Utes would struggle to overcome.
Gianna Kneepkens, while tying for the team lead with 17 points, also accounted for seven turnovers—nearly a third of the team’s total. Other Utah starters weren’t immune either, with every one of them committing at least two turnovers. Kneepkens’ final turnover late in the game set up a key Baylor jumper, extending the Bears’ lead to 66-59 with just over two minutes left.
Reflecting on the game, head coach Gavin Petersen didn’t hold back:
“When you have almost the same amount of turnovers as field goals made, you’re not going to win at any level.”
Struggles in the Post: Utah’s Achilles Heel
Utah’s performance in the post was another sore spot. Despite a solid showing off the bench from Reese Ross, who contributed 12 points, seven rebounds, and three assists, the Utes struggled to find consistent production inside.
Jenna Johnson, plagued by foul trouble, had another disappointing outing, going scoreless on just two shot attempts. This marked her ninth consecutive game scoring in single digits and her first scoreless game of the season. Petersen was candid about the need for improvement:
“We need to get Jenna going. She cannot let foul trouble dictate her aggressiveness on offense.”
Maye Toure, a key player for Utah averaging 14 points in Big 12 play, managed only six points on 3-of-8 shooting. While she contributed in other areas with seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals, Toure didn’t score at all in the first half.
Meanwhile, Baylor’s Aaronette Vonleh dominated the paint. The 6-foot-3 center was nearly unstoppable, shooting 9-of-12 from the field and finishing with a game-high 19 points. Vonleh’s ability to establish deep post position led to easy buckets and contributed to Baylor’s overwhelming 44-28 advantage in points in the paint. Petersen summed it up best:
“We can’t allow her to get so low inside. It was like shooting fish in a barrel.”
A Game of Runs and Missed Opportunities
The Utes spent much of the night playing from behind, trailing for all but 27 seconds of the game. Their struggles began early, with seven turnovers in the first quarter alone putting them in a 16-13 hole after one.
Despite these setbacks, Utah showed resilience. Late in the third quarter, the Utes mounted an impressive 11-0 run, sparked by two Maty Wilke 3-pointers and another from Ines Vieira. This surge gave Utah a brief 48-47 lead, their first since the opening quarter.
Wilke was a bright spot for the Utes, finishing with a season-high 17 points, including three triples in the third quarter. However, Baylor quickly regained the lead and held Utah at bay for the rest of the game.
The Utes tied the game at 53-53 in the fourth quarter but couldn’t sustain their momentum. Baylor responded with a decisive 10-0 run, fueled by timely shots and Utah’s missed opportunities. By the final buzzer, Baylor had sealed the win, shooting an impressive 72.7% in the fourth quarter and 53.7% for the game. In contrast, Utah managed just 33.3% shooting in the final period.
Coach Petersen reflected on the missed opportunities:
“We left a lot of open 3s out there tonight.”
What’s Next for the Utes?
The road ahead doesn’t get any easier for Utah. Next up, the Utes (13-4, 4-2 Big 12) travel to Fort Worth to take on the No. 10 TCU Horned Frogs on Friday. The game tips off at 5:30 p.m. MST at Schollmaier Arena and will be streamed on ESPN+. Fans can also tune in to the action on 700 AM radio.
TCU (18-1, 6-0 Big 12) is riding high after a 90-81 win over UCF earlier this week. For Utah, it’s a chance to regroup, address their turnover issues, and prove they can hang with the Big 12’s best.
Final Thoughts
While the loss to Baylor stings, it also highlights areas for growth. Cleaning up turnovers and finding consistency in the post will be crucial as the Utes navigate the challenging Big 12 schedule. If they can address these issues, there’s still plenty of time to make noise in the conference.
For now, all eyes are on Friday’s clash with TCU. Can the Utes bounce back and deliver a statement win? Stay tuned!
This version is more conversational and engaging, with key points highlighted through quotes, exciting elements, and strategic use of headers and formatting.
Login