Upcoming Event: Women's Basketball versus Western Colorado (EXHIBITION) on October 27, 2025 at TBD
TBD
Women's Basketball
vs Western Colorado (EXHIBITION)
Saturday, January 25
Provo, UT
2:30 PM
University of Utah
at
BYU
Utah Renews Rivalry Saturday at BYU
1/24/2025 1:54 PM | Women's Basketball
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Utes women's basketball team will continue the inaugural Big 12 season by making the short trip to BYU to renew the in-state rivalry between the Utes and the Cougars this Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
GAME INFORMATION
Utah (14-5, 5-3 Big 12) vs. BYU (10-8, 1-6 Big 12)
DATE | TIME: Saturday, Jan. 25 | 2:30 p.m. (MT)
LOCATION: Provo, Utah | Marriott Center
TV: ESPNU | Watch
LISTEN: Click Here
LIVE STATS: Click Here
TWITTER UPDATES: @UtahWBB
HOW TO TUNE IN
Fans can watch the matchup on ESPNU with Roxy Bernstein and Mary Murphy on the call. The radio call will be on 103.9 and 98.3 FM and can be found on the TuneIn app, with Tyson Ewing and Milee Rustand calling the action.
LAST TIME OUT
Utah found its rhythm in the 79-61 victory over Kansas (1/22/25). The Utes jumped out to a 21-5 lead in the first quarter that carried Utah the overall victory. Utah had 24 assists on its first 24 made field goals and ended the night tying the season high with 27 assists. Utah did end the game with an assist on 90% of made field goals for a season high. Utah had three players score in double figures and were led by Gianna Kneepkens' career-high performance of 30 points. Mayé Touré posted 14 points and Jenna Johnson had 13 points going 5-of-6 from the field. Kneepkens was on the brink of a triple-double as she combined her 30 points with a season-high 10 rebounds, for her first double-double of the season, and a season-high eight assists. Johnson also flirted with a triple-double as she added nine rebounds and seven assists to her 13 points.
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 18.1 points per game and shooting 50.2% from the field, 44.8% from the three and 90.9% from the free throw line going 70-of-77. She is averaging 4.8 rebounds per game. She leads the Utes from beyond the arc knocking down 56 total so far on the year. She is ranked No. 16 in the nation and leads the Big 12 with her 90.9 percent from the free throw line.
Kneepkens hit a career-high 30 points against Kansas (1/22/25) that included a career-high six made three pointers and a career-high 12 made field goals. She combined her career high scoring with a season-high 10 rebounds and a season-high eight assists.
She's put up four 20 point scoring games this season. First she put up 26 points against TCU (1/17/25) that included 17 points in the fourth quarter including three made from beyond the arc. She has hit 24 points three times this season first vs. McNeese (11/18/24) she hit 24 points in just 21 minutes of game play. Second, she hit 24 points against Washington (12/14/24) with 14 points coming in the fourth quarter alone. Most recently Kneepkens started Big 12 play with 24 points against Arizona State (12/21/24).
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.
Utah is 9-1 when Kneepkens hits three or more three pointers in a game. 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 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
The Utes received votes in the latest AP Top 25 Poll. Utah was ranked as high as #22 this season (Jan. 6) and received votes for five consecutive weeks prior to cracking the Top 25 the week of Jan. 6.
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 BYU
The BYU Cougars are currently 10-8 on the season and 1-6 in Big 12 play. BYU is coming off an 82-59 loss to Iowa State and have lost six of its last seven games.
BYU has two people averaging double figures and are led by Delaney Gibb who averages 16.9 points per game. Emma Calvert is also putting up double figures with 12.6 points per game.
This will be the 110th meeting between the two teams. Utah has won four of its last five matchups with the Cougars. The two teams last met up in Dec. 2023 when Utah beat BYU 87-68.
Utah has a 68-41 record with BYU and are 24-20 when taking on the Cougars in Provo.
BYU is led by head coach Amber Whiting who is in her 3rd season. She has a 42-42 record at the helm of the Cougars.
NEW THIS WEEK
The official mobile app of Utah Athletics is Utah 360. Download it today to unlock a refreshed game-day experience, from managing tickets to mobile concessions ordering, as well as video content, news and information, schedules, rosters and stats. 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).
GAME INFORMATION
Utah (14-5, 5-3 Big 12) vs. BYU (10-8, 1-6 Big 12)
DATE | TIME: Saturday, Jan. 25 | 2:30 p.m. (MT)
LOCATION: Provo, Utah | Marriott Center
TV: ESPNU | Watch
LISTEN: Click Here
LIVE STATS: Click Here
TWITTER UPDATES: @UtahWBB
HOW TO TUNE IN
Fans can watch the matchup on ESPNU with Roxy Bernstein and Mary Murphy on the call. The radio call will be on 103.9 and 98.3 FM and can be found on the TuneIn app, with Tyson Ewing and Milee Rustand calling the action.
LAST TIME OUT
Utah found its rhythm in the 79-61 victory over Kansas (1/22/25). The Utes jumped out to a 21-5 lead in the first quarter that carried Utah the overall victory. Utah had 24 assists on its first 24 made field goals and ended the night tying the season high with 27 assists. Utah did end the game with an assist on 90% of made field goals for a season high. Utah had three players score in double figures and were led by Gianna Kneepkens' career-high performance of 30 points. Mayé Touré posted 14 points and Jenna Johnson had 13 points going 5-of-6 from the field. Kneepkens was on the brink of a triple-double as she combined her 30 points with a season-high 10 rebounds, for her first double-double of the season, and a season-high eight assists. Johnson also flirted with a triple-double as she added nine rebounds and seven assists to her 13 points.
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 18.1 points per game and shooting 50.2% from the field, 44.8% from the three and 90.9% from the free throw line going 70-of-77. She is averaging 4.8 rebounds per game. She leads the Utes from beyond the arc knocking down 56 total so far on the year. She is ranked No. 16 in the nation and leads the Big 12 with her 90.9 percent from the free throw line.
Kneepkens hit a career-high 30 points against Kansas (1/22/25) that included a career-high six made three pointers and a career-high 12 made field goals. She combined her career high scoring with a season-high 10 rebounds and a season-high eight assists.
She's put up four 20 point scoring games this season. First she put up 26 points against TCU (1/17/25) that included 17 points in the fourth quarter including three made from beyond the arc. She has hit 24 points three times this season first vs. McNeese (11/18/24) she hit 24 points in just 21 minutes of game play. Second, she hit 24 points against Washington (12/14/24) with 14 points coming in the fourth quarter alone. Most recently Kneepkens started Big 12 play with 24 points against Arizona State (12/21/24).
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.
Utah is 9-1 when Kneepkens hits three or more three pointers in a game. 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 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
The Utes received votes in the latest AP Top 25 Poll. Utah was ranked as high as #22 this season (Jan. 6) and received votes for five consecutive weeks prior to cracking the Top 25 the week of Jan. 6.
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 BYU
The BYU Cougars are currently 10-8 on the season and 1-6 in Big 12 play. BYU is coming off an 82-59 loss to Iowa State and have lost six of its last seven games.
BYU has two people averaging double figures and are led by Delaney Gibb who averages 16.9 points per game. Emma Calvert is also putting up double figures with 12.6 points per game.
This will be the 110th meeting between the two teams. Utah has won four of its last five matchups with the Cougars. The two teams last met up in Dec. 2023 when Utah beat BYU 87-68.
Utah has a 68-41 record with BYU and are 24-20 when taking on the Cougars in Provo.
BYU is led by head coach Amber Whiting who is in her 3rd season. She has a 42-42 record at the helm of the Cougars.
NEW THIS WEEK
- Utah dropped out of the AP Top 25 Poll after being ranked for two consecutive weeks. Utah did continue receiving votes in the latest poll that dropped Jan. 20.
- Against Kansas, Gianna Kneepkens was on the brink of a triple-double as she combined her career-high 30 points with a season-high 10 rebounds, for her first double-double of the season, She also added a season-high eight assists.
- Utah had 24 assists on its first 24 made field goals against Kansas (1/22) and ended the game tying the season high with 27 assists. Utah did end the game with an assist on 90% of made field goals for a season high.
- The Utes are 9-1 in games when Gianna Kneepkens hits three or more three pointers in a game.
- Mayé Touré had one block on the night to give her 100 total blocks in her career.
- Utah's 78-67 win over No. 3 Notre Dame marks the highest ranked win while traveling in school history. Previously, the record for the highest ranked neutral site game was during the 2002-03 season when Utah defeated No. 14 Mississippi State 69-65. The previous record for highest ranked win outside of Salt Lake City was last season when Utah defeated No. 6 USC with a 74-68 score in Los Angeles (2/25/24).
- This is back-to-back seasons the Utes have taken down top-10 teams away from the Jon M. Huntsman Center.
- Gavin Petersen became the fastest head coach in school history to get a win over a top-10 team. Accomplishing the feat in just four games when Utah downed No. 3 Notre Dame 78-67 (11/30/24).
- Utah's 105 points against SUU (11/4/24), marked 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.
- In Utah's 67-57 win over Washington, the Utes trailed by 10 points going into the fourth quarter. The Utes outscored the Huskies 27-7 in the fourth quarter to pull out the win. At the time, Utah was one of six teams to overcome a double digit deficit for a victory.
- Gianna Kneepkens has left no doubts with her comeback as she leads the team averaging 18.1 points per game shooting 50.2 percent from the field and 44.8 percent from the three. She also leads the team in made three pointers with 56 and free throws with 70.
- At the helm for the Utes is Gavin Petersen who is in his first season as head coach and 10th overall season at Utah. He was named head coach Nov. 19, 2024 just four games into the season.
- Utah is currently in the top 30 nationally in eight major statistical categories:
- No. 28 assist/turnover ratio (1.21)
- No. 11 assists per game (18.9)
- No. 20 field goal percentage (47.0)
- No. 32 free throw percentage (76.8)
- No. 33 scoring offense (77.4)
- No. 17 three point attempts per game (26.7)
- No. 9 three pointers per game (9.7)
- No. 20 three point percentage (36.5)
- Inês Vieira is currently No. 23 in the nation and No. 7 in the Big 12 in total assists with 98. She is also No. 37 nationally, No. 8 in the Big 12 in assists per game (5.2).
- Gianna Kneepkens is currently No. 16 in the nation and leads the Big 12 in free throw percentage with 90.9.
- Kneepkens recently jumped to No. 39 in the nation in scoring with 344 total points on the season.
- She is currently in the Top 20 in every three point shooting category. Kneepkens is sitting at No. 12 in the nation, No. 2 in the Big 12 in three pointers made with 56, No. 18 in the nation and No. 3 in the Big 12 in three point percentage (44.8) and No. 13 in the nation and No. 2 in the Big 12 in three pointers made (2.95).
The official mobile app of Utah Athletics is Utah 360. Download it today to unlock a refreshed game-day experience, from managing tickets to mobile concessions ordering, as well as video content, news and information, schedules, rosters and stats. 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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