Completed Event: Women's Basketball at Eastern Kentucky on March 19, 2026 , Loss , 58, to, 72
Final Score
Women's Basketball
58
at Eastern Kentucky
72
The University of Utah Athletics
Utah To Open Conference Schedule
1/10/2000 12:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 10, 2000
Salt Lake City - Utah Utes at San Diego State Jan. 13 ? Cox Arena ? San Diego, Calif. ? 7:00 p.m. (PST)
Utah Utes at UNLV Jan. 15 ? Thomas and Mack Center ? Las Vegas, Nev. ? 7:35 p.m. (PST)
GAME DATA:
On Thurs., Jan. 13, the Utes (9-4) are at San Diego State University (4-8). Tip-off is at 7:00 p.m. (PST). Utah travels to Las Vegas, Nev. to take on the Rebels of UNLV ( 8-5) on Sat., Jan. 15 at 7:35 p.m. (PST).
PROBABLE STARTERS:
Probable starters in the Utes' game against San Diego State and UNLV are: Lori Red (5-11, Jr., F), Kristina Andersen (6-1, Jr., F), Lauren Beckman (6-2, So., F/C), Tiana Fuertes (5-3, Sr., G) and Amy Ewert (6-0, Jr., G/F).
Probable starters for San Diego State are: #15 Shannon Lee (5-9, Jr., G/F), #20 Jamey Cox (5-7, Fr., G), #23 Mary Apiafi (6-2, Sr., C/F), #53 Anita Bundage (5-11, Jr., F), #55 Atim Otii (6-0, So., F).
Probable starters for UNLV are: #3 Kinesha Davis (5-10, So., G), #13 Linda Fr?hlich (6-2, So., F), #22 Dayna Gambill (5-6, Jr., G), #24 Erin Johansson (6-1, So., G), #32 Carlesa Dixon (6-1, Fr., F).
Scouting San Diego State:
Senior Mary Apiafi posted her sixth double-double with 21 points and 14 rebounds and three other Aztecs scored in double figures as the San Diego State women's basketball team shocked Texas Christian, 63-51, at Cox Arena Tuesday night.
The victory was the second in a row and third in the last four games for SDSU, which improved to 4-8 on the year.
San Diego State returns four starters from last year's squad, including WAC All-Newcomer Team honoree Claire Swinbank and All-Defensive team selection Shannon Lee. Shooting guard Sophia Sledge returns for her final season at SDSU in 1999-2000. The Aztecs' leading scorer from a year ago with 10.7 points per game, Sledge sank 36 three-pointers during the '98-99 campaign, the seventh-most three-point goals ever in a single season at San Diego State. In addition to returning last year's top scorer, the Aztecs also return their leading rebounder, junior forward Anita Bundage, who averaged 6.5 boards a game. Bundage also led SDSU in starts last season, as she was on the floor for the opening tip in 23-of-26 games.
San Diego State Head Coach:
Barb Smith enters her third season at the helm of the San Diego State women's basketball program. Smith, 35, was named head coach on May 2, 1997, and is just the fifth women's basketball coach in the 23-year history of the sport at SDSU.
Through two seasons, the Smith-led Aztecs have seen plenty of improvements, both on and off the court - women's basketball had the highest average team GPA at SDSU during the 1998-99 academic year, for example. And though that fact has often been obscured by the team's 17-34 overall record during that span, SDSU has produced some significant victories under Smith's guidance, including wins over Oregon State of the Pac 10 and Kansas State of the Big 12.
Scouting UNLV:
Five players scored in double-figures for UNLV as it defeated Valparaiso 79-62 on Sat., Jan. 8 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nev.
Constance Jinks scored a career-high 21 points and recorded a team-high five steals to pace the Lady Rebels. Linda Fr?hlich also had 21 points and added 13 rebounds to record her 11th straight double-double.
Other Rebels in double figure scoring were Erin Johansson (12), Kinesha Davis (11) and Carlesa Dixon (10). UNLV (8-5) has now won four of its last five games.
UNLV returns five players and two starters from last year's team, which became the most improved Division I team in the nation from 1997-98 to 1998-99. Head Coach Regina Miller is in her second season with the Lady Rebels and has a 25-16 mark. She is in her eighth year as a head coach with an overall record of 85-116. UNLV opened Y2K with a 69-65 loss at Pacific and defeated Navy 74-56 at home on Tues. Jan 4.
Prior to the Pacific trip, the Lady Rebels recorded a 63-58 home win over Cal State Fullerton and split at the Nassau Sun Splash Shootout in The Bahamas before hosting CSUF, falling to Liberty (75-71) and defeating Cal State Sacramento (78-64). UNLV had won three of four contests before the trip out of the country.
UNLV is led in scoring by 1998-99 national Freshman of the Year award winner Linda Fr?hlich. Fr?hlich is averaging 23.1 ppg and also leads the team in rebounding (12.0) and steals (3.7). She leads the Mountain West Conference in scoring, total rebounding, steals and offensive and defensive rebounds. Kinesha Davis is second on the team in scoring and third in the conference with 17.3 ppg, while Constance Jinks is third on the team with 8.5 ppg. Davis is second on the team and eighth in the conference in rebounding with 6.6 rpg, while Carlesa Dixon is third on the team (5.6). Dayna Gambill leads the team and is second in the Mountain West with 4.8 assists per game.
UNLV Head Coach:
Entering her second season at UNLV, the seventh head coach in the 25-year history of the Lady Rebels program is already on track to accomplish what she was brought here to do - resurrect the UNLV women's basketball program back to one of the nation's elite.
Consider what Regina Miller accomplished in only her first season as head coach at UNLV: She led the Lady Rebels to become to most improved team in Division I from 1997-98 to the 1998-99 season. (UNLV had back-to-back-to-back seasons with four wins and in 1998-99 the team compiled a 17-11 mark.) She coached freshman Linda Fr?hlich to become national Freshman of the Year by the Women's Basketball Journal and the United States Basketball Writers Association after she led the conference in scoring at 23.5 ppg, which was No. 1 in the nation among freshman. She led UNLV to its first-ever WAC Tournament berth and first-ever WAC Tournament win. She led UNLV to its best season since 1993-94. She exceeded the team's victory total of the prior three seasons combined. She more than quadrupled the victory total of the year before. She led the Lady Rebels to a 10-3 home record. She captured the title at the Golden Gopher Classic in Minnesota, which was UNLV's first tournament title since the 1993-94 season. She won the conference opener for the first time since the 1993-94 season and the first conference opener on the road since the 1992-93 season.
SMU Game Recap:
The University of Utah women's basketball team lost to SMU, 51-43 in Dallas, Texas on Tues., Jan. 4. SMU improved to 6-5 overall, 0-0 in the WAC. Utah was plagued with 16 turnovers in the game, eleven in the second half alone, while SMU had only eight turnovers. The Utes shot 4-of-9 from the free-throw line compared to SMU's 10-of-14.
Sophomores Lauren Beckman and Erin Gibbons combined for 26 of Utah's 43 points. Beckman totaled 14 points and led the team with eight rebounds. Gibbons shot 4-of-8 from the 3-point line for 12 points. Junior Amy Ewert posted six points, three assists, one block and one steal in the game. As a team, Utah shot 32 percent from the field, 36 percent from behind the arc and 44 percent from the free-throw line.
For the Mustangs, Nici Johnson led the team with 11 points and seven boards. Johnson made 5-of-6 from the free-throw line. Teammates Anika Krouch and Kenni Patton each racked up 10 points in the win. Karlin Kennedy lead SMU with nine rebounds, while Katie Remke added seven boards. SMU shot 32 percent from the field, 21 percent from the 3-point line and 71 percent from the free-throw line.
"Scoring just 43 points won't get you a win. You can't turn the ball over and you can't miss shots down the stretch, that was the difference for us," said Elliott.
St. Mary's Game Recap:
The University of Utah women's basketball team kept their composure and sustained a 50-48 win over the St. Mary's Gaels in Moraga, Calif. on Thurs., Jan. 6. St. Mary's dropped to 7-5 overall, 0-0 in the WCC.
Down by three at the half (24-21), the Utes came back in the second half to outscore the Gaels 29-24 and claim the win. Sophomore Lauren Beckman totaled 18 points, four rebounds, two blocked shots and one steal. Beckman was 7-of-10 from the field and an efficient 4-of-5 from the free-throw line. Junior Lori Red posted 10 points, shooting 4-of-6 from the field, 2-of-4 from behind the arc. Junior Amy Ewert added eight points in the effort and was once again Utah's ace defensively. Tiana Fuertes had seven assists and two steals in the game. As a team, Utah shot 51 percent from the field (20-of-39), 50 percent from behind the arc (5-of-10) and 71 percent (5-of-7) from the free-throw line.
For the Gaels, Tracy Morris led the team with 14 points and posted six boards. Morris was 5-of-9 from the field and a perfect 3-of-3 from the 3-point line. Teammate Hilary Parker totaled seven points and five rebounds, while Jerkisha Dosty added seven points and seven rebounds. Leslie Quintal added six assists and one steal in the effort. St. Mary's shot 33 percent from the field (17-of-51), 33 percent from the 3-point line (5-of-15) and 69 percent from the free-throw line (9-of-13).
"It was a little bit scary in the last 45 seconds when we were trying to control the game. We scored, putting us up 50-48 with eight seconds left and then we turned the ball over on a basic play, and that was frustrating for us. On a positive note, we scored two points instead of no points and we had fewer turnovers in the last few minutes of play. Right now we have to look at the positive side of things and we have to keep the kids up and maintain their confidence. Sustaining this win will hopefully help us play a little bit better down the road," said Elliott.
Series History:
San Diego State leads the series with Utah, 10-9 In their last meeting on Feb. 11, 1999, Utah defeated the Aztecs 64-42, in San Diego, Calif. Utah is 7-2 at home, 1-6 away and 1-2 at a neutral site game vs. San Diego State. UNLV leads the series with Utah 8-6. On Feb. 19, 1998, the Utes shut-down the Rebels, 74-58 in Las Vegas, Nev. Utah is 5-1 at home, 1-6 away and 0-1 at a neutral site game vs. UNLV.
AFTER THIS:
Utah is back in action at home when they take on MWC opponent Wyoming, Thurs., Jan. 20 at 7:00 p.m. (MST). On Sat., Jan. 22, Utah hosts Colorado State at 3:35 p.m. (MST). On Fri., Jan. 28, the Utes travel to Provo, Utah to take on in-state rival BYU at 7:00 p.m. (MST). Utah travels to Albuquerque, N.M. to face the Lobos of New Mexico at 7:00 p.m. (MST). On Sat., Feb. 5, the Utes take on Air Force at 2:00 p.m. (MST) in Colorado Springs, Colo. Utah is back at home on Thurs., Feb. 10 when they take on San Diego State at 5:15 p.m. (MST). On Sat., Feb. 12, the Utes face UNLV at home at 3:00 p.m. (MST).
Statistical Leaders:
As a team, Utah is first in the Mountain West Conference and fifth nationally in scoring defense, holding their opponents to an average of 52.2 points per game. The Utes are also first in field goal percentage defense (.359), free-throw percentage (.726), and rebounding defense (33.6). Utah is second in blocked shots, averaging 4.23 per game and in 3-point field goal percentage (.372), third in scoring margin (+9.8), fourth in turnover margin (+1.08), fifth in assists (15.54), and fifth in rebounding margin (+1.6). The Utes are fifth in 3-point field goals made (6.23), sixth in offensive rebounds (11.92), and sixth in field goal percentage (.417). Utah is sixth in defensive rebounds (23.31), seventh in scoring offense (61.9) and seventh in rebounding offense (35.2). The Utes are eighth in steals (6.85). Sophomore Lauren Beckman is second in blocked shots (1.92), sixth in rebounding (7.4), seventh in offensive rebounds (3.00), eighth in free-throw percentage (.779), and eighth in defensive rebounds (4.38). Beckman is currently ninth in field goal percentage (.487) and 11th in scoring, averaging 12.8 points per game. Senior Tiana Fuertes is currently second in assists (4.62) and in assists/turnover ratio (1.62). Junior Kristina Andersen is eighth in blocked shots (0.77), 11th in offensive rebounds, averaging 2.15 rpg. Andersen is 12th in 3-point field goal percentage (.361), 17th in rebounding (4.8) and 28th in scoring, posting 7.5 points per game. Erin Gibbons is first in 3-point field goal percentage (.475) and tenth in 3-point field goals made (1.46/game). Amy Ewert is 15th in blocked shots (0.46) and 30th in scoring (7.0 ppg). Lori Red is tied for 13th in 3-point field goals made (1.23/game) and is 29th in scoring (7.5 ppg).
Individual Milestones
Lindsey Herbert scored a career-high 18 points vs. Washington State (11/20/99). Senior Janna Whitman scored a career-high 10 points vs. Whitworth College (12/10/99) and freshman Carley Marshall scored a career-high 15 points vs. Whitworth College (12/10/99). On Wed., Dec. 22, Lauren Beckman was 15-of-18 from the free-throw line against San Francisco. This was a career-high for Beckman, she also tied the Utah single-game record for free-throws made. Beckman set the Utah single-game record for free-throws attempted, and she tied the Jon M. Huntsman Center record for free-throws attempted. She also scored a career-high 23 points in the game vs. San Francisco (12/22/99). Also against San Francisco (12/22/99), Amy Ewert totaled a career-high 17 points. Ewert posted a career-high five steals vs. Weber State (12/9/99). Senior Tiana Fuertes tied a career-high 10 assists against San Francisco (12/22/99).
Injury Report
Sophomore Erin Hansen suffered a shoulder injury in Utah's game vs. Whitworth College, causing Hansen to sit out the rest of the season. After recovering from surgery in late December, Hansen will use this season as a red-shirt year.
Utah Newcomers
The University of Utah women's basketball team announced the signing of three prep recruits Mon., Dec. 8. Head Coach Elaine Elliott received National Letters of Intent from Amy Bastman, Caroline Matthews and Kelsy Stireman.
Matthews, a 6-3 forward from Preston, Victoria, Australia recently graduated from Santa Maria College, a prep school in Victoria. She arrived in the states just after the holidays and will be using this year's season to red-shirt.
Boise State All-Tournament Team
Three Utah players were selected to the All-Tournament team. Juniors Lori Red and Lindsay Sodja were All-Tournament selections, while teammate Kristina Andersen was named the tournament MVP. Stephanie Block from Boise State, Tia Converse from Northwestern State, along with Megan Lofthouse from Southern Utah rounded out the All-Tournament team.
Poll Watch
Utah received votes in the Dec. 6th USA Today/ESPN Coaches Top 25.
Utes on the Radio
Thursday's and Saturday's games can be heard live on KALL-910 AM or on the internet at www.UtahUtes.com. KALL-910 AM is the exclusive home of the Utah Women's Basketball team for the 1999-2000 season. Wednesday's match-up with Stanford will not be televised. As part of its agreement with the University of Utah, KJZZ-TV is scheduled to televise the Utah-BYU game on Feb. 26 live from the Huntsman Center. KJZZ is also tentatively scheduled to televise one of the Utes' games in the MWC Tournament.
A QUICK LOOK AT UTAH:
Utah returns four starters and 11 of the 12 letterwinners from last year's team that went 21-7 overall, tied for first place in the Western Athletic Conference Pacific Division with a 12-2 record and earned a bid to the WNIT. What's amazing is that, after the loss of five seniors from the 1997-98 team, last season was supposed to be a "rebuilding" year. Instead, the Utes merely continued their winning ways under head coach Elaine Elliott. It was the fifth consecutive year in which the U. won 20 games, claimed a conference championship of some form and earned a postseason bid. Elliott embarks on her 17th season as Utah's head coach with a 323-140 career record. Utah was one of the preseason favorites to win the inaugural Mountain West Conference championship.
Returning for the Utes is two-year letterwinner Lori Red. Red, a 5-11 junior from Provo, Utah, was named to the first-team all-WAC Pacific Division in 1998-99. She started in all 28 games, second on the team in scoring, averaging 9.9 points per game. Red was third on the team, averaging 4.6 rebounds per game and 2.4 assists per game. She scored in double figures in 15 out of 28 games last season. Back at guard for Utah is three-year letterwinner, Tiana Fuertes. Fuertes started in 27 games last season, averaging 5.9 points per game. Fuertes ranked 3rd in the final WAC standings in assists, averaging 4.9 assists per game. Kristina Andersen, a 6-1 forward is back for her third season with Utah. Andersen started in 27 games last season, where she was fourth in scoring, averaging 7.1 points per game. She was second on the team in rebounds, averaging 5.3 rebounds per game. Amy Ewert, a two-year letterwinner is back, spending time between the forward and guard positions. Ewert started in 10 games last season, seeing action in 27. She posted 2.4 points per game and 2.1 rebounds per game last season.
Erin Gibbons is back for her second season with the Utes. Gibbons, a 5-9 sophomore guard from Salmon Arm, B.C, was named the WAC Pacific Division Freshman of the Year, as well as earning second team all-conference honors and a spot on the all-newcomer team. Gibbons ranked 15th in the WAC in scoring (11.7 ppg), third in three-pointers per game (2.3) and eighth in three-point field goal percentage (.374), starting 17 games. Gibbons scored in double figures in 17 games and led the Utes in scoring 11 times. Lauren Beckman, a 6-2 sophomore center/forward from Elko, Nev., joined Gibbons on the Pacific Division's all-newcomer team. She played in all 28 games off the bench, averaging 21.7 minutes. Beckman ranked 29th in the nation and led the WAC in blocked shots (1.8 bpg). She also ranked 17th in the league in rebounding (6.1 rpg) and was third on the team in scoring (9.6 ppg). Beckman led the Utes three times in scoring and 11 times in rebounding. Katherine McColl, a 6-0 sophomore was seventh on the team in scoring last season, averaging 5.4 points per game. McColl was fourth in rebounding, averaging 4.0 rebounds per game. She played in 27 games, starting in one. Junior Lindsay Sodja returns at the forward position. Sodja played in 27 games, starting in one and averaged 4.9 points per game for the Utes. Sodja grabbed 1.9 rebounds a game last season. Lindsay Herbert, a 5-11 sophomore saw action in 27 games, starting in two. Herbert averaged 1.5 points per game and 1.3 rebounds per game. Erin Hansen, a 6-3 forward is back for her second season with Utah. Hansen saw time in 14 games last season. Janna Whitman, a three-year letterwinner played in 14 games last season.
Utah has three newcomers on this year's team. The Utes inked Carley Marshall, a 6-2 forward/center from Eugene, Ore., Whitney Sutak, a 6-0 guard from Mill Valley, Calif., and Sarah Wobbe, a 5-9 point guard from Elmira, Ore.
Marshall earned honorable mention All-America honors from USA Today last season. In 1997-98, she averaged 16.5 points and 12.7 rebounds for Willamette High School (Eugene, Ore.). She was a Blue Chip Illustrated All-American in 1997-98, as well as a second-team all-conference and an academic all-conference selection. Sutak, who can play the one through three positions, was a first-team all-conference selection in 1997-98 at Branson High School (Mill Valley, Calif.). She averaged 12.8 points, 4.3 assists and 3.6 rebounds. Wobbe comes to the U. from Marist High School (Elmira, Ore.), the same program that produced Ute junior forward Kristina Andersen. Wobbe was a preseason honorable mention All-American by Street & Smith heading into the 1998-99 season. She earned third-team all-state and first-team all-conference honors in 1997-98, averaging 9.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 7.6 assists and 5.2 steals per game.
POSTGAME INTERVIEWS:
Head Coach Elaine Elliott and Utah players will be available for interviews outside the Utah lockerroom following a 10 minute cooling off period. A member of the Utah sports information staff will gather interview requests immediately following the game. Box scores will be provided and faxed upon request.
UTES FAVORED TO WIN INAUGURAL MWC CHAMPIONSHIP:
Utah was selected by both the league coaches and the media as the preseason favorite to win the conference crown. Utah received 60 votes in the coaches' poll and 195 votes (11 first place votes) in the media poll. The results of both polls were very similar with only two positions being reversed.
Expected to finish second is Colorado State University, third belongs to the University of New Mexico, fourth to Brigham Young, and fifth to UNLV. The coaches gave the edge to the University of Wyoming for sixth, while the media listed San Diego State University in the No. 6 position. These two schools were reversed in the No. 7 slot in the opposite poll. Air Force Academy placed eighth in both polls.
Utah's Lori Red is one of just two first team all-conference selections (the other being Froehlich, UNLV) back for the 1999-2000 season. Red averaged 9.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game last season and was selected as the conference player of the week twice in 1998-99. She was chosen to the preseason team by both the coaches and the media.
The preseason all-conference teams also have a similar look with four players appearing on both teams. Named as both the coaches and media's choice as the Top Returning Player is UNLV's Linda Froehlich. Also named to both squads were Utah's Lori Red, Colorado State's Heather Haanen and BYU's Cady Williams. Rounding out the coaches' five-member team is New Mexico's Mirando Sanchez. The media chose BYU's Jill Adams.
FLASHBACK TO '98-'99
DEFENSE, DEFENSE, DEFENSE:
Utah was one of the top defensive teams in the nation last season, ranking first in the NCAA in scoring defense (55.1 ppg). The U. outscored its opponents by an average of 10.8 points a game, ranking 30th in the nation in scoring margin. The Utes also ranked 25th in the NCAA in rebound margin in 1998-99 with an advantage of 5.5 boards per game and was fifth in the final NCAA rankings in field goal percentage defense (.361). Utah led the 16-team Western Athletic Conference in scoring defense, field goal percentage defense and rebound margin.
UTES LIGHT IT UP FROM DOWNTOWN:
Utah's offense got a boost from its outside shooting last season. The Utes ranked 23rd in the final NCAA rankings in three-point field goals per game (6.1) and 37th in three-point field goal percentage (.352). Utah was third in the Western Athletic Conference in three-point field goal percentage and fourth in three-point field goals per game. A solid inside game also helped the Utes lead the WAC in field goal percentage last season (.443).
A BALANCED ATTACK:
As the old saying goes, the whole is always greater than the sum of its parts, and Ute head coach Elaine Elliott had lots of quality parts to work with last season. Ten players appeared in at least 27 of the 28 games, averaging at least 9.6 minutes per contest. While Erin Gibbons was the only Ute to average in double-figures in scoring (11.7 ppg), seven players averaged 5.4 points per game or better. Nine different players led Utah in scoring in 1998-99.
THEY DIDN'T PLAY LIKE FRESHMEN:
Utah's quick rebuilding project last season was due at least in part to the solid production Elaine Elliott got from her freshman class. Of the five newcomers, four averaged at least 9.6 minutes per game and three averaged 17.0 minutes per contest or better. Erin Gibbons, Lauren Beckman and Katherine McColl were among the top seven on the team in scoring, with Gibbons ranking first (11.7 ppg), Beckman third (9.6 ppg) and McColl seventh (5.4 ppg). Beckman led the team in rebounding (6.1 rpg) and McColl was fifth (4.0 rpg).
OH, CANADA:
Utah has raided the pool of talent to the north, featuring three Canadians on its roster this season. Junior 6-0 forward/guard Amy Ewert, a native of Vancouver, British Columbia, became the first-ever Canadian to play for the Utes in 1997-98. Ewert was joined by two others last season. Erin Gibbons, a 5-9 guard from Salmon Arm, British Columbia, and Katherine McColl, a 6-0 forward from Hamilton, Ontario, also made the trek south. All three have averaged at least 14.4 minutes per game and ranked among the Utes' top nine scorers and top eight rebounders last season.
Gibbons started 17 games last season, while Ewert started the last nine games and 10 overall. Ewert, Gibbons and McColl each played in 27 of the 28 games.
ELLIOTT'S MARK:
During her illustrious career, Elliott has led Utah to eight NCAA Tournament appearances, four regular-season conference titles, three divisional crowns and four league tournament championships. Elliott posted her 300th career victory with a 67-53 win over Colorado State on Feb. 14, 1998 at the Huntsman Center. Elliott is quickly approaching her 350th career win. She currently has 332 career victories under her belt.
Elliott, who was named the Western Athletic Conference Pacific Division Coach of the Year for 1998-99, has been regarded for years as one of the top women's collegiate coaches in the country. Elliott has amassed a 332-144 record (.698) during her career at Utah. She has the longest tenure of any coach in the MWC.
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