SALT LAKE CITY — Maye Toure delivered an impressive performance, scoring 22 points and securing 12 rebounds, as the 22nd-ranked Utah Utes pulled away in the second half to claim a decisive 69-42 victory against the Houston Cougars on Saturday.

Supporting Toure, Gianna Kneepkens contributed significantly with 15 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists. Maty Wilke also added 11 points to the mix for the Utes, who now stand at 13-3 overall and 4-1 within the Big 12 Conference. Meanwhile, Laila Blair put forth a strong effort for Houston, leading her team with 16 points, but the Cougars fell to 4-12, suffering their fifth consecutive defeat.

The Utes demonstrated their dominance on the boards with a remarkable 56-26 rebounding advantage, converting 19 offensive rebounds into 12 crucial second-chance points. In the paint, they overpowered Houston, outscoring them 48-12.

Utah took control of the game early on, with Toure scoring the first five points. From that moment, the Utes held the lead throughout, extending it to a double-digit margin when Kneepkens nailed a 3-pointer late in the third quarter, bringing the score to 44-34. Toure’s subsequent free throw capped an 8-0 run that pushed Utah’s advantage to 45-34 as they entered the final quarter.

In the fourth, Houston managed to score a point from free throw just nine seconds in, but the Utes responded with an impressive 13-point run. Ultimately, Utah dominated the final period, outscoring the Cougars 24-8.

Houston struggled offensively, shooting only 2 of 17 during the fourth quarter, which left their overall shooting percentage at a mere 26% for the game. They did, however, find some success from beyond the arc, making 7 of 16 attempts (43.8%), but struggled inside, shooting just 8 of 42 (19%).

The Utes are set to continue their season on Tuesday with an away game against Baylor, while Oklahoma State will visit Houston.