OVIEDO, Fla. (Interstat) — In a defensive struggle defined by missed shots and forced turnovers, the Utah Utes used a decisive third-quarter surge to pull away from the UCF Knights and secure a 67-57 victory in a Big 12 Conference women’s basketball game Wednesday night at CFE Arena.

The Utes, improving to 16-7 overall, leaned heavily on the scoring of guards Lani White and Maty Wilke to overcome a sluggish offensive night for both teams. Utah shot just 42.1% from the field and committed 17 turnovers, but its defense was more disruptive, forcing 15 UCF turnovers and converting them into 15 points. The Knights, who fell to 10-12, shot a frigid 33.9% from the floor and managed only five made three-pointers.

The game’s pivotal stretch arrived in the third quarter. Utah entered halftime with a 29-22 lead after a low-scoring first half where neither team could find an offensive rhythm. The Utes then opened the second half with increased defensive intensity, holding UCF to just one field goal over the first six minutes of the third period. During that span, Utah engineered a 12-2 run, extending a seven-point advantage to a commanding 17-point lead at 41-24.

The run was fueled by White, who finished with a game-high 22 points, and Wilke, who added 18, with both hitting critical three-pointers to stretch the UCF defense. Wilke’s three-pointer with 4:35 left in the third quarter capped the run and forced a UCF timeout, effectively creating a margin the Knights could not overcome.

UCF mounted a late challenge in the fourth quarter, outscoring Utah 20-18 behind the efforts of Summer Yancy and Mahogany Chandler-Roberts. The Knights trimmed the deficit to single digits several times in the final minutes, closing to within 56-50 after a pair of free throws from Jacorriah Bracey with 5:25 remaining. Each time, however, Utah had an answer, often from White. Her traditional three-point play with 6:14 left halted one UCF push, and her assist on a LA Sneed three-pointer with 2:34 to play pushed the lead back to 11 and effectively sealed the outcome.

Chandler-Roberts led UCF with 13 points, while Yancy contributed 12 points, four assists and a block. The Knights dominated the interior defensively, blocking seven Utah shots, with Khyala Ngodu recording three of them. UCF also won the battle on the offensive glass, grabbing 11 rebounds to Utah’s six, which led to a 30-28 edge in points in the paint. But their 15 turnovers and poor shooting from the perimeter proved too much to offset.

Utah’s supporting cast provided key moments. Evelina Otto, a reserve from Riga, Latvia, chipped in six points and two assists, while the Utes’ bench out-hustled UCF’s, contributing crucial steals and defensive stops. Utah’s ball movement, evidenced by 10 assists to UCF’s six, and their efficiency at the free-throw line, where they made nine of 10 attempts, provided just enough offensive cohesion on a night where points were at a premium.

The win gives Utah a positive start to a critical February stretch as they continue conference play. The loss extends a difficult run for UCF, which has now dropped three of its last four games.

The announced attendance was 1,053.