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
Utes To Battle With In-State Rival Brigham Young, Friday
1/25/2000 12:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 25, 2000
Salt Lake City - GAME DATA:
On Fri., Jan. 28, the Utes travel to Provo, Utah to take on in-state rival BYU at 7:00 p.m. (MST). Utah is currently 13-4 overall, 4-0 in the MWC.
PROBABLE STARTERS:
Probable starters in the Utes' game against BYU 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 BYU are: #11 Erin Thorn (5-10, Fr., G), #22 Stacy Jensen (5-6, So., G), #32 Lori Cuff (6-1, Sr., F), #33 Jill Adams (6-3, Sr., C), #35 Cady Williams (5-11, Sr., G).
MWC Standings:
After winning both games at home last weekend, the Utes move into first place in the Mountain West Conference standings. Utah is currently 13-4 overall, 4-0 in the MWC. BYU dropped out of first place and moved into second place with a 13-4 overall record, 3-1 in MWC play. Colorado State moved from second place to third place (12-4, 2-1 MWC) in the standings. New Mexico is fourth (11-5, 2-1MWC), UNLV is fifth (10-7, 2-2 MWC) and Air Force is sixth (4-12, 1-2 MWC). Wyoming moved to seventh (6-10, 0-3 MWC) and San Diego State is eighth (5-12, 0-4 MWC).
Scouting BYU:
Following a crushing defeat Thursday night to Colorado State, the BYU women's basketball team regrouped to beat a scrappy Wyoming squad, 80-65, Sat., Jan 22. BYU currently has a 13-4 overall record, 3-1 in MWC play.
Senior Jill Adams rebounded from a four-point performance Thursday to go 11 of 13 from the field and scored 25, the second-highest scoring performance of her career. Three other Cougars scored in double figures, with Erin Thorn and Cady Williams racking up 15 each. Point guard Stacy Jensen added 11 points, eight assists and five steals.
"This was a much better all-around performance tonight (than Thursday)," said BYU head coach Trent Shippen. "We had a lot more energy, especially off the bench. This was a good step forward for us."
The Cougars trailed by a point at halftime, 34-33, but came out strong in the second half to outscore Wyoming by a 16-point margin. During that time, BYU committed just three turnovers.
BYU out-rebounded Wyoming, 38-35, and shot 46 percent to the Cowgirls' 44 percent. Carrie Bacon led Wyoming with 20 points.
Jill Adams currently leads the Cougars, averaging 15.1 points per game and 7.1 rebounds per game. Adams is 97-179 (.542) from the field, 22-of-49 (.449) from behind the arc and 40-48 (.833) from the free-throw line. Erin Thorn averages 12.9 ppg, 3.9 rpg and 3.8 apg. Cady Williams posts 11.5 points per game and 3.7 rebounds per game.
BYU went 16-13 overall last season and 9-5 in conference play. Serving as the backbone of the team are co-captains Jill Adams and Cady Williams, both starters on last year's squad.
Adams and Williams each started in every game for the Cougars last year and were the team's two leading scorers. Williams, a guard, was the team's scoring leader last season, averaging 12.6 points and 4.6 rebounds per game en route to being named to the WAC's Pacific Division All Conference Second Team.
BYU Head Coach:
Trent Shippen, begins his third season at the helm of BYU's women's basketball team wirh a 31-27 record including a WNIT first round invitation last year, and a 7-0 undefeated home conference record.
Shippen's coaching experience includes three years as Head Women's Basketball coach at Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho. He led the Lady Vikings to records of 19-12 his last season, 19-11 in 1995-96, and 33-3 in 1994-95 for a combined 71-26 (.732) record.
In that 1994-95 season, he led Ricks to a fifth place finish in the National Junior College Tournament. That same year he was voted the Region 18 Coach of the Year by the coaches, and received the Alberta Lee Cox Sportsmanship Award at the NJCAA Tournament.
He was also assistant men's basketball coach at Ricks, helping those teams to records of 16-16 in 1995-96, 21-9 in 1994-95, and 24-8 in 1993-94. Shippen was an assistant women's coach at Ricks in 1992-93, helping them to a 29-4 record and a third place finish in the national tournament.
Wyoming Game Recap:
The University of Utah women's basketball team rolled in Mountain West Conference play with an impressive 84-46 win over Wyoming, at home on Thurs., Jan. 20. Wyoming dropped to 6-9 overall, 0-2 in the MWC.
Junior Kristina Andersen led the Utes, tying a career-high 17 points, shooting 5-of-6 from the field, 3-of-4 from behind the arc and a perfect 4-of-4 from the free-throw line. Junior Amy Ewert totaled 10 points, making most of her points from the free-throw line (6-of-6). Ewert was once again Utah's defensive stud, holding Wyoming's Carrie Bacon to just three attempts and five points in the game. Ewert racked up five assists and five steals. Teammate Lindsay Sodja posted 10 points, while Lauren Beckman, Tiana Fuertes and Carley Marshall each added eight points. Fuertes had a great game, with nine assists and zero turnovers. Katherine McColl and Marshall led the Utes on the boards, with seven rebounds each. All 13 players saw time in the game and scored for the Utes. As a team, Utah shot 44 percent from the field (27-of-61), 53 percent from behind the arc (8-of-15) and 76 percent (22-of-29) from the free-throw line.
For the Cowgirls, Carly Stucky and Ann McColl led the team with 10 points apiece. Christy Bacon totaled eight points and led the team with seven rebounds. Wyoming had 29 turnovers in the game, compared to Utah's 15. Wyoming shot 34 percent from the field (17-of-50), just 18 percent from the 3-point line (3-of-17) and 75 percent from the free-throw line (9-of-12).
"Wyoming played extremely hard, I thought they were very physical. We were able to get some good looks and defend them pretty well in the half court. We didn't give them a lot of early offensive opportunities and they struggled to score in the half court set. I loved Tiana's floor play, she gave us nine assists and no turnovers. We need that kind of solid play from her. Amy Ewert did a phenomenal job again. She held the Bacon kid (Carrie) to three attempts in the whole game. Kristina Andersen had a nice offensive night. I thought that a lot of players made some nice contributions in the game," said Elliott.
Colorado State Game Recap:
The University of Utah women's basketball team shut-down the Colorado State Rams by 25 points (77-52) at home, claiming its fourth straight MWC win. CSU fell to 12-4 overall, 2-1 in the MWC.
Sophomore Lauren Beckman led Utah with 17 points and eight rebounds, making 8-of-11 from the field. Beckman also recorded three blocks. Junior Kristina Andersen had 14 points, shooting 4-of-10 from the field, 2-of-3 from behind the arc and a perfect 4-of-4 from the free-throw line. Andersen also posted eight rebounds. Lori Red was a perfect 3-of-3 from three-point range, totaling 13 points in the game. Erin Gibbons added 12 points and six assists. Tiana Fuertes had six assists and four steals in the game. As a team, Utah shot 48 percent from the field (27-of-56), 69 percent from behind the arc (9-of-13) and 67 percent (14-of-21) from the free-throw line.
For the Rams, Heather Haanen led the team with 15 points. Haanen was 3-of-4 from three-point range and totaled five boards in the game. Ashley Augspurger had 10 points and led the team with nine rebounds. Teammates Elizabeth English added eight points, while Jacque Johnson had seven points. Colorado State shot 26 percent from the field (16-of-61), just 24 percent from the 3-point line (6-of-25) and 64 percent from the free-throw line (14-of-22).
"We had a great start and we were really interested in playing this game. It was a great challenge for us to be ready to play this game, because we knew they could do a lot of things well. We did an excellent job early on defensively, we hit some shots and kept the pressure on them from three-point range. Our offense was really stable," said Elliott.
Series History:
Utah leads the all-time series with BYU, 43-23. In their last meeting on Feb. 6, 1999, Utah defeated the Cougars, 53-51 in Salt Lake City. On Feb. 9, 1999, the Utes lost to BYU, 57-53 in Provo, Utah. Utah is 24-5 at home vs. BYU, 13-13 in Provo, Utah, and 6-5 at a neutral site game.
AFTER THIS:
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). Utah hits the road on Thurs., Feb. 17 to take on the Cowgirls of Wyoming at 7:00 p.m. (MST). On Sat., Feb. 19, the Utes will play at Colorado State at 2:00 p.m. (MST).
Statistical Leaders:
As a team, Utah is first in the Mountain West Conference and second nationally in scoring defense, holding their opponents to an average of 50.9 points per game. Utah is currently 8th nationally in field goal percentage defense (34.9) and 16th nationally in 3-point field goal percentage (.408). The Utes are also first in field goal percentage defense (.349), free-throw percentage (.723), 3-point field goal percentage (.408), scoring margin (+13.5) and rebounding defense (33.4). Utah is second in blocked shots, averaging 4.41 per game, in 3-point field goal percentage defense (.291), in turnover margin (+1.88), third in field goal percentage (.429), fourth in assists (16.35) and in rebounding margin (+2.6). The Utes are fifth in rebounding offense (36.1)), in offensive rebounds (11.88), in defensive rebounds (24.18) and in three-point field goals made (6.53). Utah is sixth in scoring offense (64.4) and eighth in steals (7.53). Sophomore Lauren Beckman is first in blocked shots (2.06), third in free-throw percentage (.797), fourth in field goal percentage (.514), sixth in rebounding (6.9), eighth in offensive rebounds (2.65) and ninth in defensive rebounds (4.29). She is 13th in scoring, averaging 12.1 points per game. Senior Tiana Fuertes is currently second in assists (4.59) and in assists/turnover ratio (1.77). Fuertes is tied for 14th in steals, averaging 1.65 spg. Junior Kristina Andersen is fifth in 3-point field goal percentage (.438) and sixth in blocked shots (0.88). Andersen is 12th in offensive rebounds (2.06) and tied with teammate Lori Red for 14th in 3-point field goals made (1.24/game). She is 17th in rebounding (4.9) and 27th in scoring, posting 8.6 points per game. Erin Gibbons is first in 3-point field goal percentage (.509) and eighth in 3-point field goals made (1.59/game). Amy Ewert is eighth in steals (1.82), ninth in blocked shots (0.59) and 10th in field goal percentage (.456). She is 14th in assists (2.53) and 29th in scoring (8.0 ppg). Lori Red is ninth in 3-point field goal percentage (.404).
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). Marshall recorded a career-high seven rebounds against Wyoming on Jan. 20, 2000. 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 tied a career-high five steals vs. Wyoming (1/20/00). Junior Kristina Andersen tied a career-high 17 points in Utah win over Wyoming (1/20/00). Senior Tiana Fuertes tied a career-high 10 assists against San Francisco (12/22/99). Erin Gibbons recorded a career-high five rebounds against Colorado State (1/22/00).
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, Jan. 16 and Jan. 23 USA Today/ESPN Coaches Top 25. The Utes also received voted in the Jan. 23 Associated Press Top 25.
Utes on the Radio
Friday's game 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. 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. The Utah-BYU game will be televised live on KSL from Provo, Utah, and Holly Rowe will be doing the play-by-play and Kathy Aiken will be doing the color commentary.
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 336 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 336-144 record (.700) during her career at Utah. She has the longest tenure of any coach in the MWC.
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