{"id":491616,"date":"2026-01-04T11:18:42","date_gmt":"2026-01-04T11:18:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/491616\/"},"modified":"2026-01-04T11:18:42","modified_gmt":"2026-01-04T11:18:42","slug":"utah-beats-no-8-tcu-handing-horned-frogs-their-first-loss-deseret-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/491616\/","title":{"rendered":"Utah beats No. 8 TCU, handing Horned Frogs their first loss \u2013 Deseret News"},"content":{"rendered":"

The tandem of Lynne Roberts and her Utah women\u2019s basketball head coach successor, Gavin Petersen, have earned plenty of memorable wins over the past several seasons.<\/p>\n

Count the Utes\u2019 87-77 overtime victory over No. 8 TCU Saturday night in that category, as the 2,731 fans who showed up at the Huntsman Center were treated to an unforgettable night.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat a game. So proud of our team rising to the occasion, putting together another game in terms of intensity, and focusing for 40 minutes,\u201d Petersen said. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m really proud of us fully buying into the process of putting a team together, and we\u2019re starting to get there. I\u2019m so extremely proud of them.\u201d <\/p>\n

Lani White, the fan-favorite senior guard, had a signature moment when her team needed it most. <\/p>\n

With the Utes trailing by three late in the fourth quarter after TCU had scored seven straight points to regain momentum and the lead, White came off a screen and hit a 3 to tie the contest at 67-67.<\/p>\n

The shot didn\u2019t swish \u2014 rather, it kind of rattled around the inside of the rim before going down.<\/p>\n

Doesn\u2019t matter. The points counted the same either way.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo be quite honest, I was confident in the shot. I felt the seams of the ball in the right spots on my hands and I just let that thing fly,\u201d White said. <\/p>\n

\u201cI heard all of my teammates saying, \u2018Shoot it,\u2019 so I didn\u2019t hesitate. I just let it go. Regardless of how it fell on the rim, I\u2019m just happy how we ended the game.\u201d<\/p>\n

TCU couldn\u2019t win it on the other end with 10 seconds to get a game-winning shot to fall, and the teams headed to overtime, where Utah made the plays \u2014 including another big White 3-pointer \u2014 to earn the victory.<\/p>\n

It capped a wildly entertaining, if not rollercoaster week for the Utes, who fell by a point in a thriller Wednesday to an Arizona State team that entered that contest unbeaten on the season. <\/p>\n

This time, Utah found a way to deliver a highly regarded team its first loss.<\/p>\n

In the process, the Utes (11-4, 2-1 Big 12) made history. It was the 11th time in school history that Utah has beaten a top 10 team, and it\u2019s the fourth straight season the Utes have beaten a top 10 program.<\/p>\n

That is a school record streak.<\/p>\n

\"\"The Utah bench celebrates a made 3-pointer during the first half of a women\u2019s basketball game against the TCU Horned Frogs at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"Utah forward Alyssa Blanck (15) celebrates after Utah defeated the No. 8 TCU Horned Frogs 87-77 in overtime at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"Utah guard Lani White (0) is doused by her teammates during an interview after Utah defeated the No. 8 TCU Horned Frogs 87-77 in overtime at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"Utah forward Reese Ross (20) drives past TCU Horned Frogs forward Marta Su\u00e1rez (7) during the second half of a women\u2019s basketball game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"Utah forward Reese Ross (20) lays on the court after being fouled during the second half of a women\u2019s basketball game against the TCU Horned Frogs at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"Utah guard Lani White (0) reacts after being fouled during the second half of a women\u2019s basketball game against the TCU Horned Frogs at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"TCU Horned Frogs guard Olivia Miles (5) reacts to a call during overtime of a women\u2019s basketball game against Utah at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"TCU Horned Frogs guard Olivia Miles (5) pulls in a rebound against Utah forward Evelina Otto (6) during the second half of a women\u2019s basketball game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"Utah guard LA Sneed (2) drives past TCU Horned Frogs guard Donovyn Hunter (4) during the second half of a women\u2019s basketball game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"Utah guard Lani White (0) drives to the basket against TCU Horned Frogs guard Olivia Miles (5) during the second half of a women\u2019s basketball game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"Utah guard LA Sneed (2) drives to the basket past TCU Horned Frogs guard Donovyn Hunter (4) for a layup during the second half of a women\u2019s basketball game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"Utah guard Maty Wilke (23) drives to the basket for a layup during the first half of a women\u2019s basketball game against the TCU Horned Frogs at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"Utah guard Grace Foster (10), forward Sam Crispe (44), forward Kamryn Mafua (14) and forward Alyssa Blanck (15) celebrate a made 3-pointer from the bench during the second half of a women\u2019s basketball game against Utah at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"TCU Horned Frogs guard Olivia Miles (5) looks on during the first half of a women\u2019s basketball game against Utah at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"Utah guard Lani White (0) drives past TCU Horned Frogs guard Olivia Miles (5) during the first half of a women\u2019s basketball game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"TCU Horned Frogs center Kennedy Basham (0) grabs a rebound during the first half of a women\u2019s basketball game against Utah at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"Utah forward Evelina Otto (6) celebrates after making a 3-pointer during the first half of a women\u2019s basketball game against the TCU Horned Frogs at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"TCU Horned Frogs guard Olivia Miles (5) shoots a 3-pointer during the first half of a women\u2019s basketball game against Utah at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"TCU Horned Frogs head coach Mark Campbell looks on during the first half of a women\u2019s basketball game against Utah at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"Utah guard Lani White (0) celebrates after Utah defeated the No. 8 TCU Horned Frogs 87-77 in overtime at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"TCU Horned Frogs guard Olivia Miles (5) looks on after grabbing a rebound during the second half of a women\u2019s basketball game against Utah at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"Utah guard Lani White (0) puts her hand to her ear after making the game-tying 3-pointer with 12 seconds left in the fourth quarter of a women\u2019s basketball game against the TCU Horned Frogs at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"Utah forward Reese Ross (20) points to guard Lani White (0) after White hit a 3-pointer during the second half of a women\u2019s basketball game against the TCU Horned Frogs at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"Utah forward Reese Ross (20) is fouled by TCU Horned Frogs center Clara Silva (17) while driving to the basket for a layup during the second half of a women\u2019s basketball game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"Utah head coach Gavin Petersen looks on during the second half of a women\u2019s basketball game against the TCU Horned Frogs at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"Utah guard Brooke Walker (3) shoots over TCU Horned Frogs guard Donovyn Hunter (4) during the second half of a women\u2019s basketball game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"TCU Horned Frogs center Clara Silva (17) watches the ball go out of play after blocking Utah guard Lani White (0) on a layup attempt during the second half of a women\u2019s basketball game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"Utah forward Reese Ross (20) drives to the basket against TCU Horned Frogs guard Olivia Miles (5) during the second half of a women\u2019s basketball game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"Utah forward Chyra Evans (12) drives to the basket for a layup against TCU Horned Frogs center Clara Silva (17) during the first half of a women\u2019s basketball game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"Utah guard Lani White (0) moves the ball against TCU Horned Frogs guard Maddie Scherr (22) during the first half of a women\u2019s basketball game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"Utah guard Maty Wilke (23) moves the ball upcourt against TCU Horned Frogs guard Donovyn Hunter (4) during the first half of a women\u2019s basketball game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"Utah head coach Gavin Petersen looks on during the first half of a women\u2019s basketball game against the TCU Horned Frogs at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"Utah guard Lani White (0) moves the ball during the first half of a women\u2019s basketball game against the TCU Horned Frogs at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"Utah guard Lani White (0) shoots a 3-pointer over TCU Horned Frogs guard Olivia Miles (5) during the first half of a women\u2019s basketball game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"Utah forward Chyra Evans (12) shoots a 3-pointer during the first half of a women\u2019s basketball game against the TCU Horned Frogs at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News <\/p>\n

TCU, meanwhile, was chasing history going into the game. The Horned Frogs were seeking the school\u2019s longest single-season win streak and best start to a season when they arrived in Salt Lake City.<\/p>\n

TCU (14-1, 2-1 Big 12) also had a 12-game win streak against Big 12 competition that dated back to last season, and the Horned Frogs had won by an average of 17 points in that stretch.<\/p>\n

TCU\u2019s closest win of the season going into Saturday was a 10-point victory over then-No. 10 NC State back in November.<\/p>\n

The Utes spoiled the Horned Frogs\u2019 fun \u2014 and won \u2014 to snap those streaks.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a critical Quad 1 victory for Utah, which appears to be building momentum and confidence as it enters the teeth of league play.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe only have room to go forward. We can only go up, and it takes 1 through 13, and I think tonight proved that it takes everyone,\u201d White said. <\/p>\n

\u201cBut this team has bought in. We all have to buy in constantly, and we have to indulge and sacrifice for play like this. So it was a good night, it was a team win, but yeah, we can only go forward. That\u2019s what we do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Saturday\u2019s contest was a battle as neither team led by more than six points in regulation, and they both took turns making key plays.<\/p>\n

TCU, despite shooting under 30% in the second quarter, had just one turnover in the period and used that to push to a 38-33 halftime lead.<\/p>\n

Utah fought back, holding the Horned Frogs\u2019 offense in check in the third quarter. The Utes outscored their visitors 18-11 in the period to go into the final stanza with a two-point lead. <\/p>\n

Two 3-pointers by Reese Ross and another from Maty Wilke in the third flipped momentum and were part of a solid 3-point shooting night for the Utes, who were 13 of 23 from outside. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n

It looked like Utah was on its way to winning in regulation when Ross\u2019 third 3 of the night made it 63-58 with just over four minutes to play, but to TCU\u2019s credit, it kept fighting. <\/p>\n

After the game went two and a half minutes with neither team scoring, TCU\u2019s Marta Suarez hit a 3 to make it 64-63 Utes. Then, after a Utah turnover, Donovyn Hunter drained a 3 to give TCU the lead back.<\/p>\n

Ross had a chance to tie the game at the free-throw line, but she missed two free throws, and Horned Frogs star Olivia Miles went to the line with 22.3 seconds to play with the opportunity to make it a two-score game.<\/p>\n

She missed the first, then hit the second \u2014 and Utah still had a chance.<\/p>\n

That set up the White heroics, as she made the game-tying 3 and forced an extra session.<\/p>\n

Utah, playing in front of an energized crowd, owned the overtime period, going up seven when White hit a 3-pointer with 2:47 to play in OT.<\/p>\n

That was the Utes\u2019 last field goal of the game, and while Utah missed a handful of free throws down the stretch, it made enough (22 of 33 on the night) to fend off the Horned Frogs.<\/p>\n

It spoiled the efforts from TCU stars Miles (31 points, seven rebounds, seven assists) and Suarez (23 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, two steals).<\/p>\n

TCU coach Mark Campbell, though, made his feelings clear \u2014 Utah earned this win.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had a chance to steal this game. We didn\u2019t deserve this game,\u201d he said. \u201cThey outplayed us.\u201d<\/p>\n

White just missed a career high by scoring 25 points on 9 of 17 from the field and 4 of 6 from 3. She added five rebounds, two assists and a block.<\/p>\n

That was just one of several highlight efforts from a true team win, from seniors such as White and Maty Wilke to freshmen such as Evelina Otto and LA Sneed.<\/p>\n

Ross had 15 points to go with six rebounds, as the Utes outrebounded TCU, 43-39 \u2014 a significant stat, as the Horned Frogs entered the contest 12th in the nation in rebounding.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that\u2019s what makes our team so great, just the ability to be gritty and tough,\u201d Ross said. \u201cWe do rebounding drills every single day and we harp on it. We have this little box on our charts that we look back at every game and we have rebounding goals. We make rebounding a priority.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe talk about those opportunities to get extra chances and that comes from rebounding, whether that\u2019s on the offensive end giving us opportunities or on the defensive end limiting their opportunities. Rebounding is just as important as scoring to us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Campbell stressed that the loss is a learning opportunity for his team that is still getting to know each other\u2019s capabilities, and that the Horned Frogs know they\u2019re going to be getting everyone\u2019s best shot being the defending Big 12 champions.<\/p>\n

Added Campbell, \u201cThey just outtoughed us tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wilke had a loaded stat line, with 12 points, four assists, three rebounds and three steals, though she had six turnovers.<\/p>\n

Brooke Walker, in her second game back from injury, added 10 points, three assists and two rebounds, while Otto nearly had a double-double with 10 points and eight rebounds in one of her best \u2014 and perhaps most impactful \u2014 games of the year.<\/p>\n

She and Sneed, who had six points, five rebounds and three assists, played key moments down the stretch.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt starts at practice. It\u2019s just the culmination of practice. Playing in practice, being able to get game experience, and it\u2019s adding all those things up. Everyone who gets on the court, we have the utmost confidence in them being able to do their job and bring some kind of spark or energy coming off the bench,\u201d Petersen said. <\/p>\n

\u201cOur three freshmen have been thrown into the fire since Day 1, and just the way they respond and the way they are just attacking each and every moment, that\u2019s a great first year for them to continue to build on here at Utah.\u201d <\/p>\n

TCU was out of sorts offensively as well. The Horned Frogs came into the night 10th nationally in shooting, at 50% from the floor. Against Utah, though, TCU shot just 38% overall, 9 of 39 from 3-point range and had two quarters where it shot under 30%.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re a really good offensive team. They can really shoot it. Tonight was more we were just really sloppy and undisciplined,\u201d Campbell said of Utah. <\/p>\n

\u201cBut they share the ball, they move the ball, they play hard together, and so if you\u2019re not dialed in on all of those things, they can score a lot of points. They run a great system, and we were poor defensively.\u201d<\/p>\n

For the homestanding Utes, it was the kind of victory that sends a message to the rest of the Big 12 as Utah prepares to go on a two-game road trip to Kansas and Kansas State next week.<\/p>\n

\u201cTCU is a phenomenal team that people are still chasing. … They\u2019re still the team to beat, so yes, absolutely (it\u2019s a) staple win,\u201d Petersen said. <\/p>\n

\u201cBut for us, and because of the youthfulness you guys continue to talk about, which is very valid and true, we\u2019re just trying to win every practice. We want to go 1 and 0 every day in practice, and hopefully the good habits are outweighing the bad habits, and we\u2019re eliminating some of the bad habits, and we keep getting opportunities to go 1 and 0.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Utah forward Reese Ross (20) is fouled by TCU Horned Frogs center Clara Silva (17) while driving to the basket for a layup during the second half of a women\u2019s basketball game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The tandem of Lynne Roberts and her Utah women\u2019s basketball head coach successor, Gavin Petersen, have earned plenty…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":491617,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5138],"tags":[5229,7371,7372,974,358,3187,67,586,132,5230,68,2969],"class_list":{"0":"post-491616","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-fort-worth","8":"tag-america","9":"tag-fort-worth","10":"tag-fortworth","11":"tag-news-feed-national","12":"tag-texas","13":"tag-tx","14":"tag-united-states","15":"tag-united-states-of-america","16":"tag-unitedstates","17":"tag-unitedstatesofamerica","18":"tag-us","19":"tag-usa"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115836559240433753","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/491616","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=491616"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/491616\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/491617"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=491616"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=491616"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=491616"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}