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
Getting To Know U: Sophomore Lola Pendande
10/5/2020 8:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Utah's freshman class from the 2019-20 season came from all over the world, including Almeria, Spain, native Lola Pendande, who earned a spot on the Pac-12 All-Freshman team. Pendande was a force in the paint for the Utes in her first collegiate season, playing in all 31 games with 29 starts while averaging 10.8 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.1 blocks.
Pendande had 23 games last season with five or more blocks and looks to improve even more for her sophomore campaign. UtahUtes.com caught up with Pendande to talk about her dream job, who her favorite professional basketball player is and why she loves playing at Utah.
Q: What was your experience like getting to play in the Pac-12 as a freshman?
A: It was very different from what I was used to and challenging, but also great because I know what to work on for next year and get ready for the season.
Q: What was your favorite game from last season and why?
A: Oregon State at home. It was my favorite because that game everyone was playing really well for a good amount of minutes, we were winning the majority of the game, and I felt like we were playing as a team for the first time, which is something that we struggled with during the season.
Q: What is something you want to improve on this next season?
A: I want to expand my game. I want to be able to shoot from outside of the perimeter and drive to the basket.
Q: What was your favorite road trip from last season and why?
A: Cincinnati because I got to learn a little bit more about black history in America when the team visited the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and it amazed me.
Q: What did it mean to you to win Star of the Generation by Spain?
A: To be honest I don't know how to feel about it, I am obviously proud of it but at the same time I think my teammates did the biggest part of the job. Yes, I won it but it is all stats. The way we performed and connected every game made it happen.
Q: How would you describe your style of play in just three words?
A: Aggressive, tough, passionate.
Q: Who is your favorite professional basketball player and why?
A: A'ja Wilson, because she is the clear definition of hard work, a good teammate and stands up for herself and women across the world. Also, she is a player that I look up to a lot because she is a big player that worked her skills to expand her game and perform the best she can every single game and I admire that a lot.
Q: What has been your favorite part about living in Utah?
A: Having four seasons. I had never experienced that before, so I love to see how the trees change as well as the weather even though the winter is not my favorite season.
Q: What do you plan to study at the U. and why?
A: I am studying politics because I love to learn about it and know different ways of how the system works. I will probably end up in law school and that is all because I want to help people with anything they need.
Q: What is your dream job after graduating from the U. and why?
A: My dream job is being an attorney, but I don't know what specialty yet. I would like to work with juveniles, women and in international relations.
Q: What is your favorite part about playing at the U. so far?
A: My favorite about playing at the U. is the fans and how much they show their love for our team and how many kids we inspire.
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Pendande had 23 games last season with five or more blocks and looks to improve even more for her sophomore campaign. UtahUtes.com caught up with Pendande to talk about her dream job, who her favorite professional basketball player is and why she loves playing at Utah.
?? 29 games started
?? 10.8 PPG | 5.8 RPG
?? Pac-12 All-Freshman HM
Take a look back at @Lola_718's freshman campaign. ?? pic.twitter.com/r1LgzFXJJF
— Utah Women's Basketball (@UTAHWBB) July 6, 2020
Q: What was your experience like getting to play in the Pac-12 as a freshman?
A: It was very different from what I was used to and challenging, but also great because I know what to work on for next year and get ready for the season.
Q: What was your favorite game from last season and why?
A: Oregon State at home. It was my favorite because that game everyone was playing really well for a good amount of minutes, we were winning the majority of the game, and I felt like we were playing as a team for the first time, which is something that we struggled with during the season.
Q: What is something you want to improve on this next season?
A: I want to expand my game. I want to be able to shoot from outside of the perimeter and drive to the basket.
Q: What was your favorite road trip from last season and why?
A: Cincinnati because I got to learn a little bit more about black history in America when the team visited the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and it amazed me.
Q: What did it mean to you to win Star of the Generation by Spain?
A: To be honest I don't know how to feel about it, I am obviously proud of it but at the same time I think my teammates did the biggest part of the job. Yes, I won it but it is all stats. The way we performed and connected every game made it happen.
.@Lola_718 named Spain Basketball's Star of the Generation. ????
"All the hours, days & months of training have their reward. Not many have the privilege of playing for Spain & showing the world how hard we work to get those medals.. It is an honor."
?? https://t.co/G4GRWtkb0y pic.twitter.com/UFbAu9BZpl
— Utah Women's Basketball (@UTAHWBB) August 21, 2020
Q: How would you describe your style of play in just three words?
A: Aggressive, tough, passionate.
Q: Who is your favorite professional basketball player and why?
A: A'ja Wilson, because she is the clear definition of hard work, a good teammate and stands up for herself and women across the world. Also, she is a player that I look up to a lot because she is a big player that worked her skills to expand her game and perform the best she can every single game and I admire that a lot.
Q: What has been your favorite part about living in Utah?
A: Having four seasons. I had never experienced that before, so I love to see how the trees change as well as the weather even though the winter is not my favorite season.
Q: What do you plan to study at the U. and why?
A: I am studying politics because I love to learn about it and know different ways of how the system works. I will probably end up in law school and that is all because I want to help people with anything they need.
Q: What is your dream job after graduating from the U. and why?
A: My dream job is being an attorney, but I don't know what specialty yet. I would like to work with juveniles, women and in international relations.
Q: What is your favorite part about playing at the U. so far?
A: My favorite about playing at the U. is the fans and how much they show their love for our team and how many kids we inspire.
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