Photo by: Liv Medivitz/Utah Athletics
No. 7 Utah stays hot with 72-59 win over Washington State
2/12/2023 3:07 PM | Women's Basketball
SALT LAKE CITY – The No. 7 Utah Utes' took care of business Sunday afternoon with a 73-59 victory over Washington State.
Utah advances to 22-2 overall on the season and 12-2 in Pac-12.
Utah didn't waste any time capturing the momentum of the game. Alissa Pili drained one from beyond the arc to spark an 8-0 run within the first two minutes. As the first quarter ended, the Utes had a narrow 20-19 lead.
With four minutes remaining in the first half, Washington State tied the game up at 29-29. The Utes didn't let that stand for long thanks to a 12-3 run to end the first half. Dasia Young contributed back-to-back three pointers in the middle of that run to help Utah lead 41-32 at the half.
The Utes were able to control the entire second half. Early in the third quarter Utah pushed out to a 13-point lead and maintained that lead going into the fourth quarter with a 58-45 score.
Utah started the fourth quarter on a 10-2 run to take a 19-point lead, the largest of the game. The Utes pushed through to finish the game with a 73-59 final score.
LEADERS
Utah had five Utes score in double figures and were led by Alissa Pili who had 15 points. Gianna Kneepkens recorded her second career double-double with 14 points and a career high 13 rebounds. Jenna Johnson also had 14 points for the Utes and she pulled down seven rebounds.
Dasia Young was a clutch contributor for the Utes with her 13 points off the bench, including three made from beyond the arc. Kennedy McQueen was the last Ute to breach double digits with her 12 points, all of which came from the three point range. Isabel Palmer led Utah with seven assists.
Utah ended the game shooting 43 percent from the field, 32 percent from beyond the arc, and 82 percent. Utah ended the game with 16 assists.
Washington State finished the game shooting 36 percent from the field, 28 from the three and 71 from the line.
Washington State out rebounded Utah 36-34. The Utes ended the game with only nine turnovers to the Cougars' 13. Utah dominated points in the paint outscoring WSU 34-22.
TALKING ABOUT THE GAME – HEAD COACH LYNNE ROBERTS:
"That was a hard fought win, we knew it would be. WSU is very well coached, they are really good. I thought we were a little sluggish the first half, we looked a little tired, and then we finished the second quarter with the right kind of energy and intensity which gave us a little cushion going into halftime. I thought we started the third quarter the right way. Credit to Washington State, they keep hanging in there. We didn't shoot as well as we normally do. In the second half we were 4-17, that's uncharacteristic, but we were getting good shots. I thought we controlled the game in the second half. I thought Dasia Young was huge, especially keeping us in that first half with her energy defensively and she hit a couple big threes. I thought she was a difference maker for sure, and Jenna (Johnson) too with her offensive rebounds. It was a complete game again, we had five players in double figures. Winning in February in this league on a Sunday is really hard. Everybody is tired and it's just an emotional mental drain through the season in this league, because every weekend is really hard especially on Sundays. We found a way and I'm proud of our group, we protected our own court."
STANDOUT STATS
Utah ended the game with 10 made three pointers. This is the 11th time this season Utah has hit 10 or more threes and the fourth consecutive game.
Utah now has seven consecutive wins and remains undefeated at home with a 12-0 record.
UP NEXT
The Utes hit the road for the last regular season trip of the season to take on Arizona and Arizona State. Tyson Ewing and Milee Enger will have the Utah radio call on ESPN 700 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 advances to 22-2 overall on the season and 12-2 in Pac-12.
Utah didn't waste any time capturing the momentum of the game. Alissa Pili drained one from beyond the arc to spark an 8-0 run within the first two minutes. As the first quarter ended, the Utes had a narrow 20-19 lead.
With four minutes remaining in the first half, Washington State tied the game up at 29-29. The Utes didn't let that stand for long thanks to a 12-3 run to end the first half. Dasia Young contributed back-to-back three pointers in the middle of that run to help Utah lead 41-32 at the half.
The Utes were able to control the entire second half. Early in the third quarter Utah pushed out to a 13-point lead and maintained that lead going into the fourth quarter with a 58-45 score.
Utah started the fourth quarter on a 10-2 run to take a 19-point lead, the largest of the game. The Utes pushed through to finish the game with a 73-59 final score.
Alissa Pili for 3?@alissa_pili #GoUtes
— Utah Women's Basketball (@UTAHWBB) February 12, 2023
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LEADERS
Utah had five Utes score in double figures and were led by Alissa Pili who had 15 points. Gianna Kneepkens recorded her second career double-double with 14 points and a career high 13 rebounds. Jenna Johnson also had 14 points for the Utes and she pulled down seven rebounds.
Dasia Young was a clutch contributor for the Utes with her 13 points off the bench, including three made from beyond the arc. Kennedy McQueen was the last Ute to breach double digits with her 12 points, all of which came from the three point range. Isabel Palmer led Utah with seven assists.
COMPARISONTake and Make @giannakneepkens #GoUtes
— Utah Women's Basketball (@UTAHWBB) February 12, 2023
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Utah ended the game shooting 43 percent from the field, 32 percent from beyond the arc, and 82 percent. Utah ended the game with 16 assists.
Washington State finished the game shooting 36 percent from the field, 28 from the three and 71 from the line.
Washington State out rebounded Utah 36-34. The Utes ended the game with only nine turnovers to the Cougars' 13. Utah dominated points in the paint outscoring WSU 34-22.
TALKING ABOUT THE GAME – HEAD COACH LYNNE ROBERTS:
"That was a hard fought win, we knew it would be. WSU is very well coached, they are really good. I thought we were a little sluggish the first half, we looked a little tired, and then we finished the second quarter with the right kind of energy and intensity which gave us a little cushion going into halftime. I thought we started the third quarter the right way. Credit to Washington State, they keep hanging in there. We didn't shoot as well as we normally do. In the second half we were 4-17, that's uncharacteristic, but we were getting good shots. I thought we controlled the game in the second half. I thought Dasia Young was huge, especially keeping us in that first half with her energy defensively and she hit a couple big threes. I thought she was a difference maker for sure, and Jenna (Johnson) too with her offensive rebounds. It was a complete game again, we had five players in double figures. Winning in February in this league on a Sunday is really hard. Everybody is tired and it's just an emotional mental drain through the season in this league, because every weekend is really hard especially on Sundays. We found a way and I'm proud of our group, we protected our own court."
STANDOUT STATS
Utah ended the game with 10 made three pointers. This is the 11th time this season Utah has hit 10 or more threes and the fourth consecutive game.
Utah now has seven consecutive wins and remains undefeated at home with a 12-0 record.
UP NEXT
The Utes hit the road for the last regular season trip of the season to take on Arizona and Arizona State. Tyson Ewing and Milee Enger will have the Utah radio call on ESPN 700 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).
And the finish!@alissa_pili to @jenna_johnson22 #GoUtes
— Utah Women's Basketball (@UTAHWBB) February 12, 2023
?? Pac-12 Network
??https://t.co/VXfIPVOLmn pic.twitter.com/cKEIZB89qh
2?2? hits nothing but net. @jenna_johnson22 #GoUtes
— Utah Women's Basketball (@UTAHWBB) February 12, 2023
?? Pac-12 Network
??https://t.co/VXfIPVOLmn pic.twitter.com/AzzsO9MTnC
Team Stats
WSU
Utah
FG%
.356
.429
3FG%
.278
.323
FT%
.706
.818
RB
36
34
TO
13
9
STL
3
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Players Mentioned
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