Upcoming Event: Women's Basketball versus Western Colorado (EXHIBITION) on October 27, 2025 at TBD
TBD
Women's Basketball
vs Western Colorado (EXHIBITION)
Friday, December 30
Pullman, WA
5:00 PM
University of Utah
13-0,2-0Pac-12
71
at
66
Washington State
10-3,0-2Pac-12
1
2
3
4
F
Utah
19
19
19
14
71
Washington St.
15
7
24
20
66
Team Stats
Utah
WSU
FG%
.455
.439
3FG%
.318
.235
FT%
.875
.750
RB
31
35
TO
24
24
STL
11
10
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
20
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
6
Pts
18
FGM
7
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
6
FGM
1
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
No. 11 Utes Survive Late WSU Rally to Remain Undefeated
12/30/2022 8:42 PM | Women's Basketball
Season start of 13-0 is Utah’s best in their Pac-12 era, and second-best all-time
PULLMAN, Wash. – It took a resilient effort and some clutch free-throw shooting down the stretch for the 11th-ranked Utah Utes to remain undefeated, improving to 13-0 with a 71-66 victory at Washington State (10-3, 0-2 Pac-12) on Friday evening. In a game in which Utah never trailed, and once led by as many as 20 points, the Utes found themselves tied six times in the fourth quarter before pulling away to move to 2-0 in Pac-12 play and snap the Cougars' eight-game home winning streak dating back to last season.
Utah scored its last seven points of the game from the free-throw line, and prevailed despite not hitting a field goal in the game's final 2:07. The 13-0 start to the season is Utah's best since joining the Pac-12 in 2011-12, and the second-best in the program's entire history. Utah started the 1997-98 season 16-0 as a member of the WAC.
Utah is 2-0 in Pac-12 play for the first time since 2015-16, and won its third game in a row over Washington State. It was also Utah's fourth consecutive road win, its longest road winning streak since the 2018-19 season.
Utah led 19-15 after one period, but came out firing in the second quarter with back-to-back buckets, including a three-pointer, to lead 24-15. Then, after enduring a cold spell, in which they made just 1-of-9 field-goal attempts, the Utes turned up the heat late in the second quarter to build a 20-point lead at 38-18, courtesy of a 12-0 run.
Washington State scored the final four points of the half to halt the Utah run, and the Utes went to the locker room leading 38-22, holding WSU to just seven points in the quarter. WSU turned the ball over 17 times in the first half, and shot 33.3 percent, while Utah turned it over 12 times themselves, but shot 48.5 percent.
McQueen led the Utes offensively in the first half with a team-high 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting, including 2-3 from three-point range. She came into the game having made her last three three-pointers, and made her first two in this game.
Utah finished with 24 turnovers, its most since coughing it up 29 times in a loss at Arizona on Jan. 22, 2021, and was outrebounded by the Cougars 35-31. WSU also turned it over 24 times, but turned Utah's turnovers into 24 points, while the Utes managed just 14 points off WSU's miscues.
GAME LEADERS
Kennady McQueen had team highs in points (20) and rebounds (6) for her second 20-point game of the season, while Jenna Johnson had a team-high three assists and Kelsey Rees led the Utes in blocks (2). Four players had two steals apiece.
TALKING ABOUT THE GAME – HEAD COACH LYNNE ROBERTS:
"I thought Washington State did a good job. You have to give them credit. They played harder than we did, and they were disruptive. They were without their best player (Charlisse Leger-Walker), and sometimes when you're without your best player everybody rallies behind and maybe plays a little more inspired. I thought we played a little casual, and just lacking some cohesion. We were very rushed and sloppy. We got lucky tonight, and we're not going to win many games if we have 24 turnovers. But it's nice to have to learn this lesson and still get away with a win. I think we stole one a little bit. We're going to have to watch film and play much better. It doesn't get any easier. Washington is improved. This was actually good for us, playing in a tight game where we weren't playing very well, and to still find a way."
On the play of Kennady McQueen, especially in the first half:
"She was just playing her tail off. I had to have her in the game. And she was doing a good job defensively. She's just so active and she never stops playing. She was really good tonight."
Utah is 13-0 for the first time in its Pac-12-era history, topping the 12-0 start from 2018-19. It's the third start of 11-0 or better under eighth-year head coach Lynne Roberts. The programs longest winning streak to open a season came as a member of the WAC in 1997-98, at 16-0.
UP NEXT
The Utes continue their Evergreen State road trip with a venture west to Seattle to take on Washington at 12 p.m. PT on Sunday, Jan. 1. The game will be televised on Pac-12 Mountain with Elise Woodward and Maylana Martin Douglas calling the action. Tyson Ewing and Milee Enger will have the Utah radio call on ESPN700, and live stats can be found at UtahUtes.com.
Follow the Utes!
Fans can follow along during the 2022-23 season on social media (Twitter: @UtahWBB | Instagram: @UtahWBB | Facebook: Facebook.com/UtahWBB).
Utah scored its last seven points of the game from the free-throw line, and prevailed despite not hitting a field goal in the game's final 2:07. The 13-0 start to the season is Utah's best since joining the Pac-12 in 2011-12, and the second-best in the program's entire history. Utah started the 1997-98 season 16-0 as a member of the WAC.
Utah is 2-0 in Pac-12 play for the first time since 2015-16, and won its third game in a row over Washington State. It was also Utah's fourth consecutive road win, its longest road winning streak since the 2018-19 season.
Kennady McQueen led the Utes in both scoring and rebounding, with 20 points and six boards, and Alissa Pili added 18 points and five rebounds. Utah shot just 3-of-11 (27.3 percent) from the field in the fourth quarter, and was held to its second-lowest scoring output of the season, but shot 8-of-10 from the free-throw line in the final frame to hold on for the win.Lightning!@KennadyMcqueen
— Utah Women's Basketball (@UTAHWBB) December 31, 2022
Up early in Pullman#GoUtes
WATCH: https://t.co/apxa7EocN6 pic.twitter.com/LUEn799VET
Utah led 19-15 after one period, but came out firing in the second quarter with back-to-back buckets, including a three-pointer, to lead 24-15. Then, after enduring a cold spell, in which they made just 1-of-9 field-goal attempts, the Utes turned up the heat late in the second quarter to build a 20-point lead at 38-18, courtesy of a 12-0 run.
Washington State scored the final four points of the half to halt the Utah run, and the Utes went to the locker room leading 38-22, holding WSU to just seven points in the quarter. WSU turned the ball over 17 times in the first half, and shot 33.3 percent, while Utah turned it over 12 times themselves, but shot 48.5 percent.
McQueen led the Utes offensively in the first half with a team-high 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting, including 2-3 from three-point range. She came into the game having made her last three three-pointers, and made her first two in this game.
Utah finished with 24 turnovers, its most since coughing it up 29 times in a loss at Arizona on Jan. 22, 2021, and was outrebounded by the Cougars 35-31. WSU also turned it over 24 times, but turned Utah's turnovers into 24 points, while the Utes managed just 14 points off WSU's miscues.
GAME LEADERS
Kennady McQueen had team highs in points (20) and rebounds (6) for her second 20-point game of the season, while Jenna Johnson had a team-high three assists and Kelsey Rees led the Utes in blocks (2). Four players had two steals apiece.
TALKING ABOUT THE GAME – HEAD COACH LYNNE ROBERTS:
"I thought Washington State did a good job. You have to give them credit. They played harder than we did, and they were disruptive. They were without their best player (Charlisse Leger-Walker), and sometimes when you're without your best player everybody rallies behind and maybe plays a little more inspired. I thought we played a little casual, and just lacking some cohesion. We were very rushed and sloppy. We got lucky tonight, and we're not going to win many games if we have 24 turnovers. But it's nice to have to learn this lesson and still get away with a win. I think we stole one a little bit. We're going to have to watch film and play much better. It doesn't get any easier. Washington is improved. This was actually good for us, playing in a tight game where we weren't playing very well, and to still find a way."
On the play of Kennady McQueen, especially in the first half:
"She was just playing her tail off. I had to have her in the game. And she was doing a good job defensively. She's just so active and she never stops playing. She was really good tonight."
STANDOUT STATS???????? ??????????????@KennadyMcqueen 20pts/6rbs/2ast@alissa_pili 18pts/5rbs/2ast #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/JAVgziahzi
— Utah Women's Basketball (@UTAHWBB) December 31, 2022
Utah is 13-0 for the first time in its Pac-12-era history, topping the 12-0 start from 2018-19. It's the third start of 11-0 or better under eighth-year head coach Lynne Roberts. The programs longest winning streak to open a season came as a member of the WAC in 1997-98, at 16-0.
UP NEXT
The Utes continue their Evergreen State road trip with a venture west to Seattle to take on Washington at 12 p.m. PT on Sunday, Jan. 1. The game will be televised on Pac-12 Mountain with Elise Woodward and Maylana Martin Douglas calling the action. Tyson Ewing and Milee Enger will have the Utah radio call on ESPN700, and live stats can be found at UtahUtes.com.
Follow the Utes!
Fans can follow along during the 2022-23 season on social media (Twitter: @UtahWBB | Instagram: @UtahWBB | Facebook: Facebook.com/UtahWBB).
Slashing drive to extend the lead!@inesvieira03 #GoUtes
— Utah Women's Basketball (@UTAHWBB) December 31, 2022
WATCH: https://t.co/apxa7EocN6 pic.twitter.com/mDNJfGZ06A
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