Upcoming Event: Women's Basketball versus Western Colorado (EXHIBITION) on October 27, 2025 at 7:00 PM
7:00 PM
Women's Basketball
vs Western Colorado (EXHIBITION)
The University of Utah Athletics
Friday, March 24
Greenville, SC
3:00 PM
University of Utah
27-5,14-3Pac-12
63
vs
66
LSU
31-2,15-1SEC
1
2
3
4
F
LSU
16
13
17
20
66
Utah
16
17
14
16
63
Photo by: Hunter Dyke/Utah Athletics
Utes Battle to the Bitter End in Sweet 16 Loss to LSU
3/24/2023 7:32 PM | Women's Basketball
GREENVILLE, S.C. – The University of Utah women's basketball team's historic 2022-23 season came to a heartbreaking end after a 66-63 loss to LSU in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament. The game went down to the wire, with Utah holding a 63-62 lead in the final minute before the Tigers converted four three throws in the final 10 seconds to claim the win and advance.
The Utes finish the season with a record of 27-5, tying for the second-most wins in a season in program history (28-4 in 200-01; 27-5 in 2007-08; 27-7 in 2005-06). Utah won 27 or more games for just the fourth time in program history, and made their third trip to the Sweet 16, and first since 2006.
LSU started the game hot going on an 11-4 run. Utah answered with a 7-0 run, sparked by a made three-pointer by Gianna Kneepkens, to tie the game up 13-13. Kennady McQueen hit a three at the end of the first to bring the score to 16-16.
McQueen sank a three to start the second quarter and set the pace for the Utes. Utah later put together a 6-0 run to take a seven-point lead. LSU took the lead back with two minutes remaining in the half but Utah hit back-to-back three pointers to go into halftime with a 33-29 lead. LSU's 29 points were the fewest it had scored in a first half all season.
LSU went on an 8-0 run early in the third quarter to take a two-point lead. It was a back-and-forth battle the remainder of the third quarter and the Utes were down by two with just under a minute left in the period. Issy Palmer drained one from behind the arc in that final minute of the third quarter to put Utah up 47-46 going into the final quarter of play.
LEADERS
Utah had three players score in double figures and were led by Kneepkens who had 20 points and a game-high eight rebounds. Palmer popped off for 15 points while Alissa Pili added 14. McQueen had the game high with four assists.
Utah ended the game shooting 40 percent from the field, 39 percent from beyond the arc, and 71 percent from the free throw line.
LSU shot 41 percent from the field, 23 percent from the three and 65 percent from the free throw line.
The Tigers outrebounded the Utes 35-31.
STANDOUT STATS
Utah finished the season with a record of 27-5, tying for the second-most wins in a season in program history (28-4 in 200-01; 27-5 in 2007-08; 27-7 in 2005-06).
The Utes won 27 or more games for just the fourth time in program history, and made their third trip to the Sweet 16. The others came in 2000-01 and 2005-06 (Elite Eight).
The Pac-12 regular-season champion Utes achieved their highest seeding in the NCAA tournament, and are now 1-2 in Regional Semifinal games, in their 19 trips to the NCAA tournament.
Sophomore Gianna Kneepkens (20 points) led the Utes in scoring for the 10th time this season, second-most on the team.
Season leading scorer Alissa Pili added 14 points and five rebounds.
Utah's largest lead of the game (25-18) came in the second quarter (5:48), and its largest deficit of 8 points (60-52) came with 3:40 left in the game, but the Utes fought back to take the lead, 63-61, on a pair of Palmer free throws to cap a 9-1 run over a 2:43 stretch.
Follow the Utes!
Fans can follow along during the 2022-23 season on social media (Twitter: @UtahWBB | Instagram: @UtahWBB | Facebook: Facebook.com/UtahWBB).
The Utes finish the season with a record of 27-5, tying for the second-most wins in a season in program history (28-4 in 200-01; 27-5 in 2007-08; 27-7 in 2005-06). Utah won 27 or more games for just the fourth time in program history, and made their third trip to the Sweet 16, and first since 2006.
LSU started the game hot going on an 11-4 run. Utah answered with a 7-0 run, sparked by a made three-pointer by Gianna Kneepkens, to tie the game up 13-13. Kennady McQueen hit a three at the end of the first to bring the score to 16-16.
McQueen sank a three to start the second quarter and set the pace for the Utes. Utah later put together a 6-0 run to take a seven-point lead. LSU took the lead back with two minutes remaining in the half but Utah hit back-to-back three pointers to go into halftime with a 33-29 lead. LSU's 29 points were the fewest it had scored in a first half all season.
LSU went on an 8-0 run early in the third quarter to take a two-point lead. It was a back-and-forth battle the remainder of the third quarter and the Utes were down by two with just under a minute left in the period. Issy Palmer drained one from behind the arc in that final minute of the third quarter to put Utah up 47-46 going into the final quarter of play.
The Tigers jumped out to an eight-point lead–their largest of the game–with 3:40 left in the contest. But Utah battled back. Kneepkens sunk a pair of free throws to cut the deficit and spark an 11-1 run. Kneepkens had nine of those points to take a 63-61 lead before five LSU free throws on five attempts in the final minute sent LSU to victory.Go to work Lis!@alissa_pili #GoUtes
— Utah Women's Basketball (@UTAHWBB) March 24, 2023
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LEADERS
Utah had three players score in double figures and were led by Kneepkens who had 20 points and a game-high eight rebounds. Palmer popped off for 15 points while Alissa Pili added 14. McQueen had the game high with four assists.
COMPARISONISSY PALMER!@palmerisabel11 #GoUtes
— Utah Women's Basketball (@UTAHWBB) March 24, 2023
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Utah ended the game shooting 40 percent from the field, 39 percent from beyond the arc, and 71 percent from the free throw line.
LSU shot 41 percent from the field, 23 percent from the three and 65 percent from the free throw line.
The Tigers outrebounded the Utes 35-31.
STANDOUT STATS
Utah finished the season with a record of 27-5, tying for the second-most wins in a season in program history (28-4 in 200-01; 27-5 in 2007-08; 27-7 in 2005-06).
The Utes won 27 or more games for just the fourth time in program history, and made their third trip to the Sweet 16. The others came in 2000-01 and 2005-06 (Elite Eight).
The Pac-12 regular-season champion Utes achieved their highest seeding in the NCAA tournament, and are now 1-2 in Regional Semifinal games, in their 19 trips to the NCAA tournament.
Sophomore Gianna Kneepkens (20 points) led the Utes in scoring for the 10th time this season, second-most on the team.
- Kneepkens made a game-high three three-pointers ()3-6) and led the team with eight rebounds.
- It was her 23rd game this season scoring in double-figures (second-most on the team) and her seventh 20-point game.
Season leading scorer Alissa Pili added 14 points and five rebounds.
Utah's largest lead of the game (25-18) came in the second quarter (5:48), and its largest deficit of 8 points (60-52) came with 3:40 left in the game, but the Utes fought back to take the lead, 63-61, on a pair of Palmer free throws to cap a 9-1 run over a 2:43 stretch.
- Kneepkens scored 7 of her team-high 20 points on a person 7-0 run as part of the team's 9-1 run.
Follow the Utes!
Fans can follow along during the 2022-23 season on social media (Twitter: @UtahWBB | Instagram: @UtahWBB | Facebook: Facebook.com/UtahWBB).
That was so smooth!@Dasia_Young11 #GoUtes
— Utah Women's Basketball (@UTAHWBB) March 24, 2023
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??https://t.co/c8vZJmgixw pic.twitter.com/2WsnJnFUW1
Team Stats
LSU
Utah
FG%
.414
.388
3FG%
.231
.364
FT%
.652
.708
RB
35
31
TO
13
16
STL
8
9
Game Leaders
Pts
20
FGM
6
3FGM
3
FTM
5
Pts
15
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
6
Pts
14
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
5
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
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