SALT LAKE CITY (Interstat) — Utah used a dominant inside game and a balanced scoring effort to defeat Bethune-Cookman 65-47 on Monday at Jon M. Huntsman Center in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game. The Utes improved to 3-0, while the Wildcats dropped to 2-1. Attendance was 1,467.

Utah established its advantage early with layups from Laia Conesa and Rylee Little, and Filipa Barros added a 3-pointer as the Utes attacked the paint. Bethune-Cookman responded behind Amiyah Ferguson’s driving layup and 3-pointers from Akilah Shelton and Keiara Gregory, keeping the Wildcats within striking distance in the opening quarter. Utah’s size, however, created consistent problems. The Utes scored 20 points in the first quarter, then added 16 in the second and 16 in the third, building a lead that held up through the final 10 minutes. Bethune-Cookman scored eight in the first quarter, 14 in the second, 15 in the third and 10 in the fourth.

The decisive stretch came in the second quarter after Bethune-Cookman briefly tied the score at 15 on Shelton’s second 3-pointer. Utah answered with a run that changed the game. Lena Girardi made consecutive layups, then connected on a 3-pointer, and Rylee Little converted two layups as the Utes pulled away. Evelina Otto also scored inside during the surge, and Utah’s defense forced Bethune-Cookman into contested shots. Mya Johnson had a tip-in and a free throw for the Wildcats, and Marley Bell added a jumper, but Utah’s response was too strong. By the time the run ended, Utah had turned a tie into a comfortable lead and never let the Wildcats back within single digits. The Utes’ paint dominance was the central theme: they finished with 38 points in the paint compared with 16 for Bethune-Cookman.

Bethune-Cookman kept competing in the third quarter. Marley Bell made free throws, Shelton scored a layup, and Ferguson hit a 3-pointer to help the Wildcats stay active. Kiera Neal added two free throws, and Alannah Nerocker made a floating jump shot as Bethune-Cookman scored 15 points in the third. Utah answered each time, getting layups from Girardi and Chyra Evans, free throws from Otto and Conesa, and a 3-pointer from Emma Petrie. The Utes took a 15-point lead into the fourth quarter and maintained control. In the final period, Nerocker scored on a pair of driving layups and Ferguson made a 3-pointer, but Utah responded with layups from Girardi and Otto and 3-pointers from Petrie and Barros. Kayla Lee closed the scoring for Bethune-Cookman with a layup and a free throw.

Utah finished with 65 points on 67 possessions, an offensive rating of 97.5. Bethune-Cookman finished with 47 points on 67 possessions, an offensive rating of 70.5. The Utes shot 26 of 60 from the field, 5 of 24 from 3-point range and 8 of 12 from the free throw line. The Wildcats shot 15 of 61 overall, 6 of 25 from beyond the arc and 11 of 14 at the line. Utah held a 38-16 advantage in points in the paint, while Bethune-Cookman had 16 points in the paint. Utah grabbed 11 offensive rebounds to Bethune-Cookman’s 10. Both teams recorded six assists and five blocks. Utah committed 12 turnovers and scored 10 points off them; Bethune-Cookman committed nine turnovers and scored eight points off them.

Utah’s defense tightened after Bethune-Cookman’s early shooting. The Wildcats made only 15 of 61 shots overall and 6 of 25 from 3-point range, while Utah shot 26 of 60 from the floor. Bethune-Cookman’s 10 offensive rebounds helped create extra chances, but the Wildcats could not convert consistently. Utah’s 11 offensive rebounds and 12 turnovers did not prevent the Utes from controlling the game. Conesa’s all-around line and the interior play of Evans and Little allowed Utah to answer every Bethune-Cookman push.

Laia Conesa led Utah with 9 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 blocks in 32 minutes. Evelina Otto added 10 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 block in 21 minutes. Lena Girardi contributed 14 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 block in 30 minutes. Filipa Barros finished with 6 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists in 26 minutes, and Chyra Evans had 6 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 block in 26 minutes. Akilah Shelton of Bethune-Cookman recorded 8 points, 3 rebounds and 4 blocks in 26 minutes. Rylee Little scored 10 points and added 2 rebounds and 1 assist in 18 minutes for Utah. Marley Bell had 4 points and 4 rebounds in 14 minutes for the Wildcats. Alannah Nerocker added 8 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists in 28 minutes, and Amiyah Ferguson scored 10 points with 1 rebound in 16 minutes.

Utah’s win came after earlier victories over Eastern Washington and Colorado State, keeping the Utes unbeaten early in the season. Bethune-Cookman had opened the season with wins over Florida Memorial and South Carolina State before falling to the Utes. The Wildcats are scheduled to visit BYU next, while Utah is set to visit Boise State. Utah’s next home game is against Houston Christian, and Bethune-Cookman will continue its road swing at Utah State after the BYU game. The Wildcats also have upcoming home games against North Florida, Wright State, Webber International and New Orleans, while Utah has home dates ahead against Utah Valley, Miami, Utah State, Denver, Green Bay and Montana. Bethune-Cookman will then return home for a stretch that includes North Florida, Wright State, Webber International and New Orleans before another road game at Florida and a trip to Longwood. Utah’s upcoming schedule includes home games against Houston Christian, Utah Valley, Miami, Utah State, Denver, Green Bay and Montana, plus road games at Boise State, Iowa and Arizona State.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Utah 63, Bethune-Cookman 58. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Utah with a 99.7 percent probability to win. The Utes finished with a larger margin than the simulator’s projection.