The Canadian national junior team Utah Utes got past Boston College.

Kim Smith had an off night, but Shona Thorburn and unheralded frosh post Joh-Teena Felipe made up for it, countering BC's physicality with patience and passing.

Neither team shot well: with four minutes left, BC trailed by just three, but nobody scored after that. Superb from long range against Ohio State, the Eagles finished this one 0-for-7 from downtown.

Altitude and fatigue were factors: BC had to fly from Tucson to Boston, then to ABQ, in the space of four days. Brooke Queenan led BC with 21 points and 9 boards.

UNM fans ordinarily hate Utah, but many supported the Mountain West last night. Thorburn, before the game: "You don't always like to play in The Pit. But you respect what the Lobos have there... I'm doing a shout-out now to say, `Please, Lobos, cheer for us or at least don't boo us.' "