Upcoming Event: Women's Basketball versus Western Colorado (EXHIBITION) on October 27, 2025 at TBD
TBD
Women's Basketball
vs Western Colorado (EXHIBITION)
Monday, November 6
Salt Lake City, UT
4:00 PM
University of Utah
1-0,0-0Pac-12
104
vs
45
Mississippi Valley State
0-1,0-0SWAC
1
2
3
4
F
Mississippi Val.
24
6
7
8
45
Utah
22
29
23
30
104
Photo by: Hunter Dyke/Utah Athletics
Utah Opens Season with 104-45 Win Over Mississippi Valley State
11/6/2023 7:24 PM | Women's Basketball
SALT LAKE CITY – The fifth ranked Utah women's basketball team opened the 2023-24 season with a 104-45 victory over Mississippi Valley State.
Utah had a slow start in the first quarter. The two teams were tied for the majority of the quarter but the Devilettes pulled ahead for a 24-22 lead going into the second quarter.
Mississippi Valley State was the first on the board in the second quarter scoring a layup just one minute into the quarter. However, the Utes found their stride and 24-0 run and held the Devilettes scoreless for over seven minutes. Utah pushed out to outscore MVSU 29-6 in the second quarter and pushed out for a 51-30 lead going into halftime.
Alissa Pili was a powerhouse in the second quarter dropping 14 points. Shei totalled 26 points in the first half.
The Utes started the second half with an 8-0 run that was all sparked by a made three pointer from Gianna Kneepkens. Utah persisted in the final quarter of play outscoring MVSU 30-8. Utah found themselves on a 19-0 run in the final minutes of the game and closed out with a 104-45 victory.
LEADERS
Utah had five players score in double figures and were led by Pili's 26 first half points. Pili went 7-7 from the field, 2-2 from the three and 10-12 from the line. She had 16 minutes of playing time and shot 12 free throws.
Kneepkens had 18 points for Utah and led the team with eight rebounds and eight assists. She also added three steals. Lani White had a career high 15 points going 6-7 from the field. White also recorded three steals.
Jenna Johnson and Isabel Palmer each had 10 points for the Utes. Palmer put up an impressive seven assists. Ines Vieria had six assists and six steals to contribute to the Utes efforts.
COMPARISON
Utah ended the game shooting 58 percent from the field, 40 percent from beyond the arc, and 70 percent from the free throw line. Utah pulled down 46 total rebounds, 30 assists, 18 steals and 18 turnovers.
Utah had 30 assists on 35 made field goals. Utah had 35 points from the bench and 40 points off turnovers.
Mississippi Valley State shot 35 percent from the field, nine percent from the three and 54.5 percent from the free throw line. The Devilettes ended the game with 22 rebounds, nine assists, eight steals and 28 turnovers.
WHAT HEAD COACH LYNNE ROBERTS SAID
"Kind of a typical first game where we're just not quite sharp and polished in all areas, but other than that first quarter I thought we were pretty good. First quarter just looked like we weren't firing on all cylinders yet. It's a long season and you've got to play through all of that. But I'm proud of our team, 30 assists on 35 made field goals, which is awesome. We didn't have a tremendous shooting night, but a good shooting night. We need to shoot free throws better."
WHAT GIANNA KNEEPKENS SAID
On the start of the season…
"I think as a competitor, I think what you're asking is just we're just excited to play. As soon as you get your schedule out, you just have to focus on practice, because if you don't practice well then games won't really count. But as a competitor, you want to play and we've done months of individual skills and team practice. So it's just it's great to get out there. It went by fast actually. So it's just been a lot of fun and I'm excited for us this season."
On pacing while dealing with high expectations for the team…
"I think for me personally and most of the team we just try to stay present, get better each day, and focus on today because if we get too ahead of ourselves, then we won't be able to make it where we want to in March."
NOTABLES
Utah is now 1-0 on the season and 2-0 when facing Mississippi Valley State. This is the second time the Utes have put up 100 points against the Devilettes.
Utah has won 17 consecutive games in the Jon M. Huntsman Center. In the second half, Utah held Mississippi Valley State to just six made field goals.
White hit a career high with 15 points. Previously, White's scoring high was 11 points against Washington in Feb. 2023.
UP NEXT
Utah will host South Carolina State Nov. 8 at 7:00 p.m. before hitting the road for the first time this season at Baylor on Nov. 14. 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).
Utah had a slow start in the first quarter. The two teams were tied for the majority of the quarter but the Devilettes pulled ahead for a 24-22 lead going into the second quarter.
Mississippi Valley State was the first on the board in the second quarter scoring a layup just one minute into the quarter. However, the Utes found their stride and 24-0 run and held the Devilettes scoreless for over seven minutes. Utah pushed out to outscore MVSU 29-6 in the second quarter and pushed out for a 51-30 lead going into halftime.
Alissa Pili was a powerhouse in the second quarter dropping 14 points. Shei totalled 26 points in the first half.
The Utes started the second half with an 8-0 run that was all sparked by a made three pointer from Gianna Kneepkens. Utah persisted in the final quarter of play outscoring MVSU 30-8. Utah found themselves on a 19-0 run in the final minutes of the game and closed out with a 104-45 victory.
LEADERS
Utah had five players score in double figures and were led by Pili's 26 first half points. Pili went 7-7 from the field, 2-2 from the three and 10-12 from the line. She had 16 minutes of playing time and shot 12 free throws.
Kneepkens had 18 points for Utah and led the team with eight rebounds and eight assists. She also added three steals. Lani White had a career high 15 points going 6-7 from the field. White also recorded three steals.
Jenna Johnson and Isabel Palmer each had 10 points for the Utes. Palmer put up an impressive seven assists. Ines Vieria had six assists and six steals to contribute to the Utes efforts.
COMPARISON
Utah ended the game shooting 58 percent from the field, 40 percent from beyond the arc, and 70 percent from the free throw line. Utah pulled down 46 total rebounds, 30 assists, 18 steals and 18 turnovers.
Utah had 30 assists on 35 made field goals. Utah had 35 points from the bench and 40 points off turnovers.
Mississippi Valley State shot 35 percent from the field, nine percent from the three and 54.5 percent from the free throw line. The Devilettes ended the game with 22 rebounds, nine assists, eight steals and 28 turnovers.
WHAT HEAD COACH LYNNE ROBERTS SAID
"Kind of a typical first game where we're just not quite sharp and polished in all areas, but other than that first quarter I thought we were pretty good. First quarter just looked like we weren't firing on all cylinders yet. It's a long season and you've got to play through all of that. But I'm proud of our team, 30 assists on 35 made field goals, which is awesome. We didn't have a tremendous shooting night, but a good shooting night. We need to shoot free throws better."
WHAT GIANNA KNEEPKENS SAID
On the start of the season…
"I think as a competitor, I think what you're asking is just we're just excited to play. As soon as you get your schedule out, you just have to focus on practice, because if you don't practice well then games won't really count. But as a competitor, you want to play and we've done months of individual skills and team practice. So it's just it's great to get out there. It went by fast actually. So it's just been a lot of fun and I'm excited for us this season."
On pacing while dealing with high expectations for the team…
"I think for me personally and most of the team we just try to stay present, get better each day, and focus on today because if we get too ahead of ourselves, then we won't be able to make it where we want to in March."
NOTABLES
Utah is now 1-0 on the season and 2-0 when facing Mississippi Valley State. This is the second time the Utes have put up 100 points against the Devilettes.
Utah has won 17 consecutive games in the Jon M. Huntsman Center. In the second half, Utah held Mississippi Valley State to just six made field goals.
White hit a career high with 15 points. Previously, White's scoring high was 11 points against Washington in Feb. 2023.
UP NEXT
Utah will host South Carolina State Nov. 8 at 7:00 p.m. before hitting the road for the first time this season at Baylor on Nov. 14. 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).
Team Stats
MVSU
Utah
FG%
.352
.583
3FG%
.091
.406
FT%
.545
.700
RB
22
46
TO
28
18
STL
8
18
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
26
FGM
7
3FGM
2
FTM
10
Pts
18
FGM
5
3FGM
4
FTM
4
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
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