Upcoming Event: Women's Basketball versus Western Colorado (EXHIBITION) on October 27, 2025 at TBD
TBD
Women's Basketball
vs Western Colorado (EXHIBITION)
Friday, February 17
Tucson, AZ
7:00 PM
University of Utah
22-3,11-3Pac-12
72
at
82
Arizona
20-6,10-5Pac-12
1
2
3
4
F
Utah
17
23
13
19
72
Arizona
22
22
19
19
82
Photo by: ©2022 Nate Peterson/University of Utah
Utes Fight Through Physical 82-72 Loss to Wildcats
2/17/2023 10:55 PM | Women's Basketball
TUCSON, Ariz. – The No. 4/5 Utah Utes fought hard in a physical battle with No. 18 Arizona Friday night and fell 82-72.
Utah falls to 22-3 overall and 12-3 in the Pac-12. Arizona now sits at 20-6 overall and 10-5 in Pac-12 action.
Arizona jumped out to a 13-5 lead early in the first quarter. Utah ended the first quarter on a 7-2 run and kept the Wildcats to just two free throws in the final two minutes of the quarter. Utah trailed 22-17 going into the second quarter.
Alissa Pili scored nine points in the initial two minutes of the second quarter to help bring the score deficit within one point at 26-25. Gianna Kneepkens hit a three with 5:33 in the second to give Utah the lead. As the second quarter ended Utah trailed 44-40.
The Wildcats captured the momentum early in the third quarter and pushed out for a 13 point lead. Jenna Johnson sunk a free throw and a layup to end the quarter to put the Utes behind by 10.
Utah brought the game within two possessions four different times throughout the fourth quarter but the Utes couldn't finish as the Wildcats stepped away with an 82-72 win.
LEADERS
Utah had three Utes score in double figures and were led by Alissa Pili who had 26 points. Jenna Johnson put up 19 points for Utah while Gianna Kneepkens had 13 points and led the team with seven rebounds. Issy Palmer led the team in assists with six on the night.
COMPARISON
Utah ended the game shooting 46 percent from the field, 21 percent from beyond the arc, and 16 percent. Utah ended the game with 15 assists.
Arizona finished the game shooting 51 percent from the field, 21 from the three and 77 from the line.
The Wildcats outrebounded The Utes 33-30. The Utes ended the game with 16 turnovers to the Wildcats' 14. Arizona capitalized by scoring 19 points from the Utes' turnovers.
Utah excelled with points in the paint with 42 while Arizona only had 30.
TALKING ABOUT THE GAME – HEAD COACH LYNNE ROBERTS:
"I thought it was an incredibly physical game. Our offense is based off ball and player movement and it was hard to do tonight having to fight through everything. We got good shots, hit good looks, they just didn't fall for us tonight. Our kids played their guts out. It was just an incredibly physical game. We have to maintain perspective, stay connected, re-group and be ready to go on Sunday."
UP NEXT
The Utes hit the road for the last away game of the regular season at Arizona State on Sunday, Feb. 19 at noon (MT). Tyson Ewing and Milee Enger will have the Utah radio call on ESPN 700 and live stats can be found at UtahUtes.com.
Follow the Utes!
Fans can follow along during the 2022-23 season on social media (Twitter: @UtahWBB | Instagram: @UtahWBB | Facebook: Facebook.com/UtahWBB).
Utah falls to 22-3 overall and 12-3 in the Pac-12. Arizona now sits at 20-6 overall and 10-5 in Pac-12 action.
Arizona jumped out to a 13-5 lead early in the first quarter. Utah ended the first quarter on a 7-2 run and kept the Wildcats to just two free throws in the final two minutes of the quarter. Utah trailed 22-17 going into the second quarter.
Alissa Pili scored nine points in the initial two minutes of the second quarter to help bring the score deficit within one point at 26-25. Gianna Kneepkens hit a three with 5:33 in the second to give Utah the lead. As the second quarter ended Utah trailed 44-40.
The Wildcats captured the momentum early in the third quarter and pushed out for a 13 point lead. Jenna Johnson sunk a free throw and a layup to end the quarter to put the Utes behind by 10.
Utah brought the game within two possessions four different times throughout the fourth quarter but the Utes couldn't finish as the Wildcats stepped away with an 82-72 win.
LEADERS
Utah had three Utes score in double figures and were led by Alissa Pili who had 26 points. Jenna Johnson put up 19 points for Utah while Gianna Kneepkens had 13 points and led the team with seven rebounds. Issy Palmer led the team in assists with six on the night.
COMPARISON
Utah ended the game shooting 46 percent from the field, 21 percent from beyond the arc, and 16 percent. Utah ended the game with 15 assists.
Arizona finished the game shooting 51 percent from the field, 21 from the three and 77 from the line.
The Wildcats outrebounded The Utes 33-30. The Utes ended the game with 16 turnovers to the Wildcats' 14. Arizona capitalized by scoring 19 points from the Utes' turnovers.
Utah excelled with points in the paint with 42 while Arizona only had 30.
TALKING ABOUT THE GAME – HEAD COACH LYNNE ROBERTS:
"I thought it was an incredibly physical game. Our offense is based off ball and player movement and it was hard to do tonight having to fight through everything. We got good shots, hit good looks, they just didn't fall for us tonight. Our kids played their guts out. It was just an incredibly physical game. We have to maintain perspective, stay connected, re-group and be ready to go on Sunday."
UP NEXT
The Utes hit the road for the last away game of the regular season at Arizona State on Sunday, Feb. 19 at noon (MT). Tyson Ewing and Milee Enger will have the Utah radio call on ESPN 700 and live stats can be found at UtahUtes.com.
Follow the Utes!
Fans can follow along during the 2022-23 season on social media (Twitter: @UtahWBB | Instagram: @UtahWBB | Facebook: Facebook.com/UtahWBB).
Team Stats
Utah
UA
FG%
.463
.509
3FG%
.211
.214
FT%
.643
.767
RB
30
33
TO
16
14
STL
4
10
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
26
FGM
11
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
19
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
6
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
6
FGM
0
3FGM
0
FTM
6
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballF
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