Upcoming Event: Women's Basketball versus Western Colorado (EXHIBITION) on October 27, 2025 at TBD
TBD
Women's Basketball
vs Western Colorado (EXHIBITION)
Saturday, December 16
Cedar City , UT
5:00 PM
University of Utah
at
Southern Utah
UP NEXT: No. 11 Utah Hits the Road to Take on Southern Utah
12/14/2023 3:12 PM | Women's Basketball
SALT LAKE CITY – The No. 11 Utah Utes (8-2) prepare to take on in-state foe Southern Utah on Saturday, Dec. 16, at the America First Event Center, in Cedar City, Utah.
GAME INFORMATION
No. 11 Utah (8-2, 0-0 Pac-12) vs. Southern Utah (3-5, 1-1 WAC)
DATE | TIME: Saturday, Dec. 16 | 5:00 p.m. MT
LOCATION: Cedar City, Ut | America First Event Center
LIVE STATS: Click Here
LIVE STREAM: Click Here
LISTEN: Click Here
TWITTER UPDATES: @UtahWBB
HOW TO TUNE IN
Fans can watch the Southern Utah game on ESPN with Spencer McLaughlin and Dallin Richards calling the action. The radio call will be on ESPN 700, with Tyson Ewing handling play-by-play and Milee Enger as analyst.
OPENING TIP
The Utes have posted an 8-2 record so far on the season and are 2-1 when competing on the road. This meeting will be the second of the season against an in-state rival, with the first resulting in a win 87-68 win for Utah over BYU.
LAST TIME OUT
The Utes return to Utah after facing No. 1 South Carolina. In the tough matchup, the Utes ultimately fell to the Gamecocks 79-68. Despite taking the fall, the Utah women made for an exciting game. Alissa Pili led the team in points, reaching a career-high 37 points. Pili also led the team in field goals, three-point field goals, and free throws. Jenna Johnson led the team in rebounds, racking up seven defensive rebounds. Dasia Young contributed 12 points to the Utah lineup, and Ines Vieira handed out seven assists.
THE UTES
Utah is returning all of last year's starting five including All-American and Pac-12 Player of the Year, Alissa Pili as well as All-American Gianna Kneepkens. Utah also brings back starters, Jenna Johnson, Kennady McQueen and Isabel Palmer. Ines Vieira, Lani White and Dasia Young also return for the Utes. Utah welcomes three transfers in Matyson Wilke, Alyssa Blanck and Samantha Crispe as well as two true freshmen Daniela Falcon Hernandez and Reese Ross to this year's squad.
Pili has earned Preseason AP All-American Honorable Mention as well as been named to the Katrina McClain Preseason Watchlist, Naismith Trophy Watchlist, the WBCA Wade Trophy Preseason Watchlist and the Wooden Award watchlist. Pili was also placed No. 9 on the ESPN Top 25 Women's Basketball Players list. Kneepkens also raked in some preseason recognition as she was named to the Ann Meyers-Drysdale Watchlist, Naismith Trophy Watchlist and Wooden Award Watchlist.
IN THE RANKS
Utah has been ranked No. 11 in the latest AP Top 25 polls. Utah has been ranked in the Top 25 for five consecutive weeks. Utah was ranked No. 5 in the AP Top 25 Preseason Poll. This was the highest preseason ranking for Utah in school history and the first time the Utes have been ranked to start a season since 2005. Utah is one of six Pac-12 schools currently in the Top 25.
AT THE TOP
Utah is the nation's No. 2 scoring team averaging 93.5 points per game. Utah is also No. 1 in the nation in field goal percentage (53.9%). The Utes are No. 1 in the nation in assists per game, averaging 25 assists per game averaging an assist on 72% of all made field goals. Utah is also the nation's best three-point shooting team averaging 13 made three pointers a game and ranked in the top 10 nationally in eight major statistical categories
HEAD COACH LYNNE ROBERTS
Roberts is in her ninth season at the helm of the Utes. She has posted a 147-106 record in her time at Utah. She was dubbed the Pac-12 Coach of the Year in 2023 after leading the team to its first ever Pac-12 regular season title. She led Utah to its second ever Sweet 16 appearance. Roberts also led the Utes to its highest AP Rankings in school history, including 12 weeks in the Top 10.
SCOUTING SOUTHERN UTAH
The Southern Utah Thunderbirds have a 3-5 record on the year. The T-Birds are coming off a victory against New Mexico that resulted in a 58-40 final score. The Thunderbirds have also defeated Seattle and University of Alaska Fairbanks.
The Thunderbirds are led by Daylani Ballena, who averages 15.9 points per game, and Megan Smith, who averages 6.6 rebounds per game. Smith is shooting 71% from the free throw line. The team has three players averaging double-digit points.
The Utes have a 14-1 record against the Thunderbirds and are currently on a seven-game winning streak. The last time the teams competed was during the 2022-2023 season, resulting in a 90-63 win for the Utes. Utah is undefeated when playing SUU on the road. The Utes haven't played in Cedar City, since Nov. 1994.
QUICK NOTES FOR THIS WEEK
The Utes will be returning to the Jon M. Huntsman Center to take on another in-state team, Weber State on Dec. 21. Utah will start PAC-12 action on Dec. 30 at Colorado.
FOLLOW THE UTES
Fans can follow along during the 2023-24 season on social media (Twitter: @UtahWBB | Instagram: @UtahWBB | Facebook: Facebook.com/UtahWBB).
GAME INFORMATION
No. 11 Utah (8-2, 0-0 Pac-12) vs. Southern Utah (3-5, 1-1 WAC)
DATE | TIME: Saturday, Dec. 16 | 5:00 p.m. MT
LOCATION: Cedar City, Ut | America First Event Center
LIVE STATS: Click Here
LIVE STREAM: Click Here
LISTEN: Click Here
TWITTER UPDATES: @UtahWBB
HOW TO TUNE IN
Fans can watch the Southern Utah game on ESPN with Spencer McLaughlin and Dallin Richards calling the action. The radio call will be on ESPN 700, with Tyson Ewing handling play-by-play and Milee Enger as analyst.
OPENING TIP
The Utes have posted an 8-2 record so far on the season and are 2-1 when competing on the road. This meeting will be the second of the season against an in-state rival, with the first resulting in a win 87-68 win for Utah over BYU.
LAST TIME OUT
The Utes return to Utah after facing No. 1 South Carolina. In the tough matchup, the Utes ultimately fell to the Gamecocks 79-68. Despite taking the fall, the Utah women made for an exciting game. Alissa Pili led the team in points, reaching a career-high 37 points. Pili also led the team in field goals, three-point field goals, and free throws. Jenna Johnson led the team in rebounds, racking up seven defensive rebounds. Dasia Young contributed 12 points to the Utah lineup, and Ines Vieira handed out seven assists.
THE UTES
Utah is returning all of last year's starting five including All-American and Pac-12 Player of the Year, Alissa Pili as well as All-American Gianna Kneepkens. Utah also brings back starters, Jenna Johnson, Kennady McQueen and Isabel Palmer. Ines Vieira, Lani White and Dasia Young also return for the Utes. Utah welcomes three transfers in Matyson Wilke, Alyssa Blanck and Samantha Crispe as well as two true freshmen Daniela Falcon Hernandez and Reese Ross to this year's squad.
Pili has earned Preseason AP All-American Honorable Mention as well as been named to the Katrina McClain Preseason Watchlist, Naismith Trophy Watchlist, the WBCA Wade Trophy Preseason Watchlist and the Wooden Award watchlist. Pili was also placed No. 9 on the ESPN Top 25 Women's Basketball Players list. Kneepkens also raked in some preseason recognition as she was named to the Ann Meyers-Drysdale Watchlist, Naismith Trophy Watchlist and Wooden Award Watchlist.
IN THE RANKS
Utah has been ranked No. 11 in the latest AP Top 25 polls. Utah has been ranked in the Top 25 for five consecutive weeks. Utah was ranked No. 5 in the AP Top 25 Preseason Poll. This was the highest preseason ranking for Utah in school history and the first time the Utes have been ranked to start a season since 2005. Utah is one of six Pac-12 schools currently in the Top 25.
AT THE TOP
Utah is the nation's No. 2 scoring team averaging 93.5 points per game. Utah is also No. 1 in the nation in field goal percentage (53.9%). The Utes are No. 1 in the nation in assists per game, averaging 25 assists per game averaging an assist on 72% of all made field goals. Utah is also the nation's best three-point shooting team averaging 13 made three pointers a game and ranked in the top 10 nationally in eight major statistical categories
HEAD COACH LYNNE ROBERTS
Roberts is in her ninth season at the helm of the Utes. She has posted a 147-106 record in her time at Utah. She was dubbed the Pac-12 Coach of the Year in 2023 after leading the team to its first ever Pac-12 regular season title. She led Utah to its second ever Sweet 16 appearance. Roberts also led the Utes to its highest AP Rankings in school history, including 12 weeks in the Top 10.
SCOUTING SOUTHERN UTAH
The Southern Utah Thunderbirds have a 3-5 record on the year. The T-Birds are coming off a victory against New Mexico that resulted in a 58-40 final score. The Thunderbirds have also defeated Seattle and University of Alaska Fairbanks.
The Thunderbirds are led by Daylani Ballena, who averages 15.9 points per game, and Megan Smith, who averages 6.6 rebounds per game. Smith is shooting 71% from the free throw line. The team has three players averaging double-digit points.
The Utes have a 14-1 record against the Thunderbirds and are currently on a seven-game winning streak. The last time the teams competed was during the 2022-2023 season, resulting in a 90-63 win for the Utes. Utah is undefeated when playing SUU on the road. The Utes haven't played in Cedar City, since Nov. 1994.
QUICK NOTES FOR THIS WEEK
- Ranked No. 11 in this week's AP Top 25 Polls as of Dec 11th.
- Utah has been ranked for four consecutive weeks this season in the Top 25. Last year, the Utes broke the record being ranked for 13 consecutive weeks in the AP Top 10 during 2022-23 and were ranked in the AP Poll 19 consecutive weeks.
- The Utes are 5-0 in the Huntsman Center this year and are currently on a 21-game win streak at home.
- Utah's 98-34 win over Merrimack College is Utah's largest margin of victory so far this season.
- Against South Carolina State (Nov. 9), Utah had 21 made three pointers breaking the school record for most threes in a game which was previously set at 19 (vs. Lipscomb Nov. 10, 2021).
- Utah has three Utes averaging double figures, Alissa Pili (24.6), Gianna Kneepkens (17.8) and Isabel Palmer (14).
- Utah has posted five games of 100 points or more and are undefeated when hitting 100 or more in school history (25-0).
- Utah is the nation's No. 2 scoring team and ranked in the top 10 nationally in eight major statistical categories:
- No. 2 scoring (93.5)
- No. 5 in assist/turnover ratio (1.75)
- No. 1 in assists per game (25.0)
- No. 1 field goal percentage (53.9)
- No. 3 scoring margin (+35.7)
- No. 1 in three-point percentage (42.3)
- No. 1 in made three pointers per game (13.0)
- No. 3 in three-point attempts per game (30.7)
- Alissa Pili is No. 2 in the nation in field goal percentage (72.1%). She's also No.4 in points per game (24.6).
- Pili was named Pac-12 Player of the Week (Dec. 12) after putting up back-to-back 30-point games, including a career-high 37 points against No. 1 South Carolina.
- Alissa Pili was named an AP Preseason All-American Honorable Mention, as well as named to the Katrina McClain Preseason Watchlist and the Wade Trophy Watchlist.
- Pili's 37 points against South Carolina is the most scored by any player in the Pac-12 so far this season.
- Pili was named to the Naismith Trophy Preseason Watchlist and the Wooden Award Watchlist.
- Inês Vieira is No. 4 in the country in total assists with 76 on the year and No. 3 in assists per game averaging 7.6.
- The Utes are coming off a historic 2022-23 season including a Pac-12 regular season title and an NCAA Sweet 16 appearance.
- At the helm for the Utes is reigning Pac-12 Coach of the Year, Lynne Roberts who enters her ninth season.
The Utes will be returning to the Jon M. Huntsman Center to take on another in-state team, Weber State on Dec. 21. Utah will start PAC-12 action on Dec. 30 at Colorado.
FOLLOW THE UTES
Fans can follow along during the 2023-24 season on social media (Twitter: @UtahWBB | Instagram: @UtahWBB | Facebook: Facebook.com/UtahWBB).
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballFan Fest 2025 Coaches and Players Interviews: Women's Basketball
Sunday, August 17
Utah Women's Basketball: 76 - BYU: 73 | Postgame Press Conference
Saturday, March 01
Utah vs BYU - The Rivalry Continues
Saturday, March 01
Utah Women's Basketball: 46 - West Virginia: 75 | Postgame Press Conference
Thursday, February 27