LAS VEGAS -- Michelle Plouffe's 15-footer at the buzzer gave fifth-seeded Utah a 50-49 win over top-seeded BYU in the Mountain West Conference semifinals Friday.
Plouffe grabbed Janita Badon's bounced inbounds pass with 1.5 seconds left and sank the shot that completed a comeback from a 46-39 deficit fueled by Iwalani Rodrigues' back-to-back 3-pointers.
With their third victory in four days, the Utes (17-16) advanced to their third straight title game. They lost last year to San Diego State.
Kristen Riley led BYU (23-8) with 15 points. Mindy Bonham added 13.Rodrigues' 3-pointer brought Utah to 49-48 with 47 seconds left. After BYU came up empty, the Utes called time out with 8.6 seconds left. Badon nearly threw away the inbounds pass, but BYU's Jazmine Foreman touched it, and Utah kept possession. Rodrigues' jumper was short, but the ball went off BYU again, setting up Plouffe's game-winner.
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