Utah Shines in 96-44 Exhibition Win Over CSU-Pueblo

Wednesday, October 18

Salt Lake City, UT

5:00 PM

University of Utah

0-0,0-0Pac-12

Colorado State-Pueblo

0-0,0-0RMAC

CSU Pueblo

Utah

Photo by: Hunter Dyke/Utah Athletics

Utah Shines in 96-44 Exhibition Win Over CSU-Pueblo

10/18/2023 9:04 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Post Game Press Conference Photo Gallery

SALT LAKE CITY – The fifth ranked Utah women's basketball team started 2023-24 game action with a 96-44 exhibition win over Colorado-State Pueblo Wednesday night.

Utah remains undefeated in exhibition games under head coach Lynne Roberts with a perfect 8-0 record after the win over the Thunderwolves at the Jon M. Huntsman Center.

Utah had a slow first quarter as the Utes were trying to find game action rhythm. Utah kept the lead the entire first quarter of play and pushed for a seven point lead at the end of the first with a 22-15 score.

Utah found its stride in the second quarter as the Utes took off on a 24-0 run. Gianna Kneepkens started the run with a fastbreak layup and the 24 unanswered points were rounded out by a pair of free throws by Alissa Pili. The Utes held the Thunderwolves scoreless for six minutes and allowed just seven points in the second quarter. Going into halftime, Utah led 56-22.

The Thunderwolves started the second half with a 6-0 run but back-to-back threes by Jenna Johnson and Kneepkens turned the momentum back for the Utes. Utah pushed ahead for a 38 point lead going into the final quarter of play.

Lani White started the fourth quarter off with back-to-back made three pointers. Utah stayed consistent throughout the remainder of the game ending the full 40 minutes on a 12-2 run for a 96-44 final score.

LEADERS
Utah had five players score in double figures and were led by Pili who had 20 points going 4-7 from the field and an impressive 12-12 from the free throw line. Pili also recorded four rebounds and two blocks.

White went 6-10 from the field and 2-5 from beyond the arc for 16 points. Ines Vieira added 14 points and five assists to the Utes' total while Kneepkens and Kennady McQueen each added 13.

Kneepkens led with eight total rebounds on the night and a game high eight assists. Freshman, Reese Ross came in off the bench and recorded three blocks for the game high.

COMPARISON
Utah ended the game shooting 53 percent from the field, 39 percent from beyond the arc, and 95 percent from the free throw line.

CSU-Pueblo shot 27 percent from the field, 21 percent from the three and 64 percent from the free throw line.

UP NEXT
Utah will have one more exhibition game with Northwest Nazarene on October 30 for Halloween in the Huntsman. Utah will officially start the 2023-24 season with a home game against Mississippi Valley State on Nov. 6. Utah's first road game of the season will be Nov. 14 at Baylor. Pac-12 action is set to start Dec. 30 at Colorado.

Season Tickets
Season tickets for the 2023-24 season are still available. General admission tickets are $50. Call the Utah ticket office at 801-581-UTIX or visit www.UtahTickets.com.

Follow the Utes!
Fans can follow along on social media (Twitter: @UtahWBB | Instagram: @UtahWBB | Facebook: Facebook.com/UtahWBB).