SALT LAKE CITY — A sing along of “Golden” by HUNTR/X and 6-7 hand gestures ran rampant at the Huntsman Center Monday afternoon to set the stage for the season-opener for Utah women’s basketball.
The thousands of elementary-aged children brought the energy and excitement, and Utah’s new-look roster brought the scoring split between 11 different players in the first official look of the team for the new season.
Freshman forward Evelina Otto led the charge for the Utes with 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting and nine rebounds to pace the team to a 88-62 win over the visiting Sioux Falls Cougars. Utah shot 45% from the field and controlled the post, outscoring the Cougars 36-18 down low.
Utah also converted 23 points off 14 turnovers by Sioux Falls in a solid opening defensive performance from the Utes, who held the Cougars to just 35% from the field. But it was the 21 assists on 28 made baskets that head coach Gavin Petersen was most pleased with in the first game.
“I’m really proud of that stat in terms of our program and our culture,” Petersen said.
The second-year head coach used a deep bench in the season-opener as he experimented with different lineups to see what his team can provide this season. Many lineups, he said, will not be utilized this season, but he wanted to give each player a chance to showcase their talent in a game setting.
“I think we’re still kind of a work in progress,” he said. “We haven’t had meetings individually about roles yet, because I feel that’s a work in progress. You don’t want to be too early with those. You want to make sure that you give everybody practice time and some game time to see what they have in those moments.”
Many of those lineups included several freshman players getting their first reps, such as Avery Hjelmstad, who finished with 14 points (4-of-9 from 3-point range) and four rebounds as Utah’s second-leading scorer Monday.
But for the freshmen, it was an opportunity to show they belong on the court with everyone else — veteran or newcomer alike.
“I personally don’t feel like a freshman,” Otto said. “I’m just there as any other player trying to give my best and play hard and do what the coach say, and do it correctly so the whole team benefits.”
“Gavin doesn’t want us to be role players,” Hjelmstad added. “He wants us to come out there like we are experienced, like this isn’t our first game. I feel like we don’t really have a freshman label on ourselves, and our teammates don’t have that on us, as well. So we come out there every single game and, nights like tonight, we can prove that we’re just as good as older players in the conference and in the country, as well.”
But the veteran players did their part, too. Veterans players Maty Wilke and Reese Ross combined 17 points in the win and helped contribute to a team who made 10 3-pointers on 31% shooting.
Petersen said he felt those numbers were low for a team that is known for hitting many 3-pointers during a game, but he was pleased with the 18 offensive rebounds that set up 11 second-chance points against Sioux Falls.
The Cougars had three players finish in double figures, with starting guard Anna Vaaler topping the scoreboard with 14 points on 5-of-11 shooting in the loss.
Sioux Falls kept the first few minutes of the game close, answering shot for shot with Utah, but the the home team quickly put some distance on the Cougars to control a 22-11 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Utah had some occasional lulls in the two middle quarters but continued to add to the margin, eventually taking a 26-point lead with three seconds left in the third quarter.
“We’re not exactly where we want to be, but that’s to be given this early in the game,” Petersen said. “But I’m excited about their coachability, their effort and just coming together and playing together.”
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