Upcoming Event: Women's Basketball versus Western Colorado (EXHIBITION) on October 27, 2025 at TBD
TBD
Women's Basketball
vs Western Colorado (EXHIBITION)
Thursday, November 28
Georgetown, Grand Cayman Islands
5:30 PM (MT)
University of Utah
vs
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Mississippi State
Utah to Take on Mississippi State in First Game of Cayman Island Classic
11/25/2024 7:42 PM | Women's Basketball
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Utes women's basketball team will continue the 2024-25 season by heading to the Cayman Island Classic in Georgetown, Grand Cayman Islands. Utah will take on Mississippi State on Thursday, Nov. 28 at 5:30 p.m. (MT) before taking on No. 3 Notre Dame Saturday, Nov. 30 at 3 p.m. (MT).
The Utes are currently 5-1 on the season after picking up a 72-53 win over Montana State on Sunday, Nov. 24.
GAME INFORMATION
Utah (5-1, 0-0 Big 12) vs. Mississippi State (6-0, 0-0 SEC)
DATE | TIME: Thursday, Nov. 28 | 5:30 p.m. (MT)
LOCATION: Georgetown, Grand Cayman Islands | John Gray Gymnasium
TV: FloCollege | Watch
LISTEN: Click Here
LIVE STATS: Click Here
TWITTER UPDATES: @UtahWBB
HOW TO TUNE IN
Fans can watch the match up on FloCollege. Matt Martucci will be handling the play-by-play for FloSports with Anne O'Neil as analyst. The radio call will be on ESPN 700 and can be found on the TuneIn app, with Tyson Ewing calling the action.
LAST TIME OUT
Utah picked up a 72-53 win over Montana State on Sunday, Nov. 24. The Utes were led by Gianna Kneepkens' 19 points and Reese Ross' eight rebounds. Utah's Inês Vieira recorded her 400th assist and made it into Utah's all-time top 10 in that statistic with her eight in the game.
THE UTES
Utah returns four starters from last year's squad including 2022-23 All-American Gianna Kneepkens. Kneepkens returns after suffering a season ending injury early in the 2023-24 season. Utah also brought back starters Jenna Johnson, Kennady McQueen and Inês Vieira. Other key players returning are Matyson Wilke, Samantha Crispe and Reese Ross. The Utes welcome two transfers in Chyra Evans and Mayé Touré and three true freshmen in Grace Foster, Kylie Ray and Brooke Walker.
KNOWING KNEEPKENS
Kneepkens is currently averaging 17.3 points per game and shooting 51.6 percent from the field, 50.0 percent from the three and 90.5 from the free throw line going 19-of-21. She is averaging 3.5 rebounds per game. She leads the Utes from beyond the arc knocking down 19 total so far on the year.
Prior to her injury in 2023-24, Kneepkens played just eight games and was averaging 17.8 points per game while shooting 63.3 percent from the field and 54.0 percent from beyond the arc. She averaged 5.5 rebounds and four assists per game.
Kneepkens has knocked down three or more three-pointers in all but one game this season with a season-high of four made three times with the last time coming against Montana State (11/24/24). She is a 1,000 point scorer as she broke the 1,000-point milestone last season when she put up 19 against Carroll College (Nov. 28, 2023).
She averages 14.3 points per game throughout her career and has career shooting averages of 49.3 percent from the field, 43.0 percent from the three and 84.6 percent from the line. She has 173 total made three pointers and sits at No. 9 in Utah's all-time threes made list.
She was named to both the Naismith Player of the Year and Cheryl Miller Award Preseason Watchlists. Kneepkens was also placed on the Big 12 Preseason All-Conference team.
IN THE RANKS
Utah received votes in the AP Top 25 Poll after the first week of the season on Nov. 11. During the 2023-24 season the Utes' were ranked in the Top 25 for 20 consecutive weeks.
HEAD COACH GAVIN PETERSEN
Petersen was named the head coach of the Utah women's basketball team on Nov. 19, 2024 just four games into the 2024-25 season. He brings 23 seasons of college coaching experience to the role, he is in his 10th season overall with the Utes and spent the previous five years as associate head coach under Lynne Roberts.
Petersen has been a part of the staff that has led the Utes to six postseason appearances—including three NCAA tournaments and a trip to the Sweet Sixteen—and four 20-win seasons, as well as regular appearances in the AP Top 25.
SCOUTING MISSISSIPPI STATE
The Mississippi State Bulldogs are currently 6-0 on the season. The Bulldogs are coming off an 80-35 win over Jacksonville and are on a six-game winning streak.
MSU has three Bulldogs averaging double figures and are led by Eniya Russell who averages 14.8 points per game shooting for 53.2 percent from the field.
This is the fourth time the two programs have matched up with the previous matchup coming In December of 2010 where the Utes fell 61-52.
Utah has a 1-2 record with Mississippi State and are 1-0 when playing at a neutral sight.
Mississippi State is led by head coach Sam Purcell who is in his third season. He has a 50-23 record at the helm of the Bulldogs.
QUICK NOTES
The official mobile app of Utah Athletics is Utah 360. Download it today to unlock exclusive video content, news and information, schedules, rosters, stats, and access to buy and manage tickets. The app is available in both the Apple Store (download) and Google Play (download). Add it today, access your game tickets and download them to your smartphone's wallet to make yourself game-day ready.
FOLLOW THE UTES!
Fans can follow along during the 2024-25 season on social media (Twitter: @UtahWBB | Instagram: @UtahWBB | Facebook: Facebook.com/UtahWBB).
The Utes are currently 5-1 on the season after picking up a 72-53 win over Montana State on Sunday, Nov. 24.
GAME INFORMATION
Utah (5-1, 0-0 Big 12) vs. Mississippi State (6-0, 0-0 SEC)
DATE | TIME: Thursday, Nov. 28 | 5:30 p.m. (MT)
LOCATION: Georgetown, Grand Cayman Islands | John Gray Gymnasium
TV: FloCollege | Watch
LISTEN: Click Here
LIVE STATS: Click Here
TWITTER UPDATES: @UtahWBB
HOW TO TUNE IN
Fans can watch the match up on FloCollege. Matt Martucci will be handling the play-by-play for FloSports with Anne O'Neil as analyst. The radio call will be on ESPN 700 and can be found on the TuneIn app, with Tyson Ewing calling the action.
LAST TIME OUT
Utah picked up a 72-53 win over Montana State on Sunday, Nov. 24. The Utes were led by Gianna Kneepkens' 19 points and Reese Ross' eight rebounds. Utah's Inês Vieira recorded her 400th assist and made it into Utah's all-time top 10 in that statistic with her eight in the game.
THE UTES
Utah returns four starters from last year's squad including 2022-23 All-American Gianna Kneepkens. Kneepkens returns after suffering a season ending injury early in the 2023-24 season. Utah also brought back starters Jenna Johnson, Kennady McQueen and Inês Vieira. Other key players returning are Matyson Wilke, Samantha Crispe and Reese Ross. The Utes welcome two transfers in Chyra Evans and Mayé Touré and three true freshmen in Grace Foster, Kylie Ray and Brooke Walker.
KNOWING KNEEPKENS
Kneepkens is currently averaging 17.3 points per game and shooting 51.6 percent from the field, 50.0 percent from the three and 90.5 from the free throw line going 19-of-21. She is averaging 3.5 rebounds per game. She leads the Utes from beyond the arc knocking down 19 total so far on the year.
Prior to her injury in 2023-24, Kneepkens played just eight games and was averaging 17.8 points per game while shooting 63.3 percent from the field and 54.0 percent from beyond the arc. She averaged 5.5 rebounds and four assists per game.
Kneepkens has knocked down three or more three-pointers in all but one game this season with a season-high of four made three times with the last time coming against Montana State (11/24/24). She is a 1,000 point scorer as she broke the 1,000-point milestone last season when she put up 19 against Carroll College (Nov. 28, 2023).
She averages 14.3 points per game throughout her career and has career shooting averages of 49.3 percent from the field, 43.0 percent from the three and 84.6 percent from the line. She has 173 total made three pointers and sits at No. 9 in Utah's all-time threes made list.
She was named to both the Naismith Player of the Year and Cheryl Miller Award Preseason Watchlists. Kneepkens was also placed on the Big 12 Preseason All-Conference team.
IN THE RANKS
Utah received votes in the AP Top 25 Poll after the first week of the season on Nov. 11. During the 2023-24 season the Utes' were ranked in the Top 25 for 20 consecutive weeks.
HEAD COACH GAVIN PETERSEN
Petersen was named the head coach of the Utah women's basketball team on Nov. 19, 2024 just four games into the 2024-25 season. He brings 23 seasons of college coaching experience to the role, he is in his 10th season overall with the Utes and spent the previous five years as associate head coach under Lynne Roberts.
Petersen has been a part of the staff that has led the Utes to six postseason appearances—including three NCAA tournaments and a trip to the Sweet Sixteen—and four 20-win seasons, as well as regular appearances in the AP Top 25.
SCOUTING MISSISSIPPI STATE
The Mississippi State Bulldogs are currently 6-0 on the season. The Bulldogs are coming off an 80-35 win over Jacksonville and are on a six-game winning streak.
MSU has three Bulldogs averaging double figures and are led by Eniya Russell who averages 14.8 points per game shooting for 53.2 percent from the field.
This is the fourth time the two programs have matched up with the previous matchup coming In December of 2010 where the Utes fell 61-52.
Utah has a 1-2 record with Mississippi State and are 1-0 when playing at a neutral sight.
Mississippi State is led by head coach Sam Purcell who is in his third season. He has a 50-23 record at the helm of the Bulldogs.
QUICK NOTES
- Gavin Petersen was named the sixth head coach for Utah Women's Basketball after former head coach Lynne Roberts was named as the new head coach of the L.A. Sparks in the WNBA.
- Petersen has a 2-0 record after the Utes downed the Saint Joseph's Hawks in overtime with a 72-71 score (11/22/24) and the Montana State Bobcats 72-53 (11/24/24).
- Mayé Touré hit the first three pointer of the game against Saint Joseph's (11/22/24) to push her past the 1,000 career-point milestone. She is now one of four 1,000 point scorers on Utah's roster and sits at 1,023 career-points.
- Jenna Johnson is just two rebounds shy of 500 career rebounds.
- Inês Vieria hit 400 career assists against Montana State (11/24/24) where she put up eight. She now has 405 career assists placing her at No. 10 on Utah's all-time career assists list.
- Gianna Kneepkens was named to the Naismith Trophy Preseason Watchlist and the Cheryl Miller Award Preseason Watchlist
- Inês Vieria was named to the Nancy Lieberman Award Preseason Watchlist
- Jenna Johnson was named to the Katrina McClain Award Preseason Watchlist
- Gianna Kneepkens was named to the All-Big 12 Preseason Team
- Utah's 105 points against SUU (11/4/24), was the first time in school history the Utes scored 100 or more points in the season opener in back-to-back seasons
- Utah's 118 points against McNeese (11/18/24) marks the second highest points scored in a game in Utah program history. The record stands at 124 which has occurred twice, with the most recent time coming in 2022-23 against Oklahoma State
- Gianna Kneepkens made her return with a splash against SUU (11/4/24), as she led the Utes with 18 points going 6-of-9 from the field and 4-of-6 from the three. She also had four rebounds and four assists
- At the helm for the Utes is Gavin Petersen who is in his first season as head coach and 10th overall season at Utah.
- Utah is returning four of last year's starting five including, All-American Gianna Kneepkens, as well as, Jenna Johnson, Kennady McQueen and Inês Vieira
- Utah welcomes two transfers (Chyra Evans and Mayè Tourè) and three true freshman (Brooke Walker, Grace Foster and Kylie Ray) to this year's squad.
- Gianna Kneepkens hit a season-high 24 points in just 21 minutes of game play against McNeese (11/18/24).
- Utah is currently in the top 25 nationally in six major statistical categories:
- No. 7 in assists per game (21.5)
- No. 24 in assist/turnover ratio (1.34)
- No. 16 field goal percentage (49.2)
- No. 22 scoring margin (29.8)
- No. 16 scoring (87.0)
- No. 5 made three pointers per game (11.0)
- No. 21 in three point attempts per game (29.0)
- Inês Vieira is currently No. 8 in the nation and No. 3 in the Big 12 in total assists with 39. She is also No. 14 nationally, No. 3 in the Big 12 in assists per game (6.5).
- Gianna Kneepkens is currently No. 14 in the nation, No. 2 in the Big 12 in three pointers made with 19.
The official mobile app of Utah Athletics is Utah 360. Download it today to unlock exclusive video content, news and information, schedules, rosters, stats, and access to buy and manage tickets. The app is available in both the Apple Store (download) and Google Play (download). Add it today, access your game tickets and download them to your smartphone's wallet to make yourself game-day ready.
FOLLOW THE UTES!
Fans can follow along during the 2024-25 season on social media (Twitter: @UtahWBB | Instagram: @UtahWBB | Facebook: Facebook.com/UtahWBB).
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