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, November 22
Salt Lake City, Utah
7:00 PM
University of Utah
vs
Saint Joseph's
UP NEXT: Utah Hosts Saint Joseph's in Petersen's Debut
11/21/2024 10:50 AM | Women's Basketball
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Utes women's basketball team will continue the 2024-25 season by returning to the Jon M. Huntsman Center to host the Saint Joseph's Hawks. The game is set to tip off at 7 p.m. (MT). This will be the second matchup between the Utes and the Hawks. Gavin Petersen will make his debut as head coach.
The Utes are currently 3-1 on the season after picking up a 118-50 win over McNeese.
GAME INFORMATION
Utah (3-1, 0-0 Big 12) vs. Saint Joseph's (4-0, 0-0 A-10)
DATE | TIME: Friday, Nov. 22 | 7 p.m. (MT)
LOCATION: Salt Lake City | Jon M. Huntsman Center
TV: ESPN+ | Watch
LISTEN: Click Here
LIVE STATS: Click Here
TWITTER UPDATES: @UtahWBB
HOW TO TUNE IN
Fans can watch the match up on ESPN+ or by clicking here. Drew Goodman will be handling the play-by-play for ESPN+ with Joe Cravens as analyst. The radio call will be on ESPN 700 and can be found on the TuneIn app, with Tyson Ewing and Milee Rustand calling the action.
LAST TIME OUT
Utah picked up a 118-50 win over McNeese on Monday, Nov. 18. There were five Utes that scored in double figures and were led by Gianna Kneepkens' season-high 24 points. Mayé Touré hit 21 points for her second 20-point game this season. Utah's 118 points was the second highest points scored in a game in school history.
THE UTES
Utah returns four starters from last year's squad including 2022-23 All-American Gianna Kneepkens. Kneepkens returns after suffering a season ending injury early in the 2023-24 season. Utah also brought back starters Jenna Johnson, Kennady McQueen and Inês Vieira. Other key players returning are Matyson Wilke, Samantha Crispe and Reese Ross. The Utes welcome two transfers in Chyra Evans and Mayé Touré and three true freshmen in Grace Foster, Kylie Ray and Brooke Walker.
KNOWING KNEEPKENS
Kneepkens is currently averaging 17.8 points per game and shooting 55.0 percent from the field, 56.5 percent from the three and 90.9 from the free throw line going 14-of-15. She is averaging 3.3 rebounds per game. She leads the Utes from beyond the arc knocking down 13 total so far on the year.
Prior to her injury in 2023-24, Kneepkens played just eight games and was averaging 17.8 points per game while shooting 63.3 percent from the field and 54.0 percent from beyond the arc. She averaged 5.5 rebounds and four assists per game.
Kneepkens has knocked down three or more three-pointers in all but one game this season with a season-high of four made two times with the last time coming against McNeese (11/18/24). She is a 1,000 point scorer as she broke the 1,000-point milestone last season when she put up 19 against Carroll College (Nov. 28, 2023).
She averages 14.1 points per game throughout her career and has career shooting averages of 49.4 percent from the field, 42.3 percent from the three and 84.7 percent from the line. She has 167 total made three pointers and sits at No. 9 in Utah's all-time threes made list.
She was named to both the Naismith Player of the Year and Cheryl Miller Award Preseason Watchlists. Kneepkens was also placed on the Big 12 Preseason All-Conference team.
IN THE RANKS
Utah received votes in the AP Top 25 Poll after the first week of the season on Nov. 11. During the 2023-24 season the Utes' were ranked in the Top 25 for 20 consecutive weeks.
HEAD COACH GAVIN PETERSEN
Petersen was named the head coach of the Utah women's basketball team on Nov. 19, 2024, just four games into the 2024-25 season. He brings 23 seasons of college coaching experience to the role; he is in his 10th season overall with the Utes and spent the previous five years as associate head coach under Lynne Roberts.
Petersen has been a part of the staff that has led the Utes to six postseason appearances—including three NCAA tournaments and a trip to the Sweet Sixteen—and four 20-win seasons, as well as regular appearances in the AP Top 25.
SCOUTING SAINT JOSEPH'S
The Saint Joseph's Hawks are currently 4-0 on the season. The Hawks are coming off an 82-53 win over Southern Utah.
Saint Joseph's has four Hawks averaging double figures and are led by Talya Brugler who averages 20.3 points per game and 8.8 rebounds per game. Laura Ziegler averages a double-double for the SJU with 19.0 points and 10.3 rebounds per game.
This is the second time the two programs have matched up with the previous meeting coming last season where the Utes picked up a 74-48 win over the Hawks (12/7/23).
Saint Joseph's is led by head coach Cindy Griffin who is in her 24th season. She has a 402-311 record at the helm of the Hawks.
QUICK NOTES
The official mobile app of Utah Athletics is Utah 360. Download it today to unlock exclusive video content, news and information, schedules, rosters, stats, and access to buy and manage tickets. The app is available in both the Apple Store (download) and Google Play (download). Add it today, access your game tickets and download them to your smartphone's wallet to make yourself game-day ready.
FOLLOW THE UTES!
Fans can follow along during the 2024-25 season on social media (Twitter: @UtahWBB | Instagram: @UtahWBB | Facebook: Facebook.com/UtahWBB).
The Utes are currently 3-1 on the season after picking up a 118-50 win over McNeese.
GAME INFORMATION
Utah (3-1, 0-0 Big 12) vs. Saint Joseph's (4-0, 0-0 A-10)
DATE | TIME: Friday, Nov. 22 | 7 p.m. (MT)
LOCATION: Salt Lake City | Jon M. Huntsman Center
TV: ESPN+ | Watch
LISTEN: Click Here
LIVE STATS: Click Here
TWITTER UPDATES: @UtahWBB
HOW TO TUNE IN
Fans can watch the match up on ESPN+ or by clicking here. Drew Goodman will be handling the play-by-play for ESPN+ with Joe Cravens as analyst. The radio call will be on ESPN 700 and can be found on the TuneIn app, with Tyson Ewing and Milee Rustand calling the action.
LAST TIME OUT
Utah picked up a 118-50 win over McNeese on Monday, Nov. 18. There were five Utes that scored in double figures and were led by Gianna Kneepkens' season-high 24 points. Mayé Touré hit 21 points for her second 20-point game this season. Utah's 118 points was the second highest points scored in a game in school history.
THE UTES
Utah returns four starters from last year's squad including 2022-23 All-American Gianna Kneepkens. Kneepkens returns after suffering a season ending injury early in the 2023-24 season. Utah also brought back starters Jenna Johnson, Kennady McQueen and Inês Vieira. Other key players returning are Matyson Wilke, Samantha Crispe and Reese Ross. The Utes welcome two transfers in Chyra Evans and Mayé Touré and three true freshmen in Grace Foster, Kylie Ray and Brooke Walker.
KNOWING KNEEPKENS
Kneepkens is currently averaging 17.8 points per game and shooting 55.0 percent from the field, 56.5 percent from the three and 90.9 from the free throw line going 14-of-15. She is averaging 3.3 rebounds per game. She leads the Utes from beyond the arc knocking down 13 total so far on the year.
Prior to her injury in 2023-24, Kneepkens played just eight games and was averaging 17.8 points per game while shooting 63.3 percent from the field and 54.0 percent from beyond the arc. She averaged 5.5 rebounds and four assists per game.
Kneepkens has knocked down three or more three-pointers in all but one game this season with a season-high of four made two times with the last time coming against McNeese (11/18/24). She is a 1,000 point scorer as she broke the 1,000-point milestone last season when she put up 19 against Carroll College (Nov. 28, 2023).
She averages 14.1 points per game throughout her career and has career shooting averages of 49.4 percent from the field, 42.3 percent from the three and 84.7 percent from the line. She has 167 total made three pointers and sits at No. 9 in Utah's all-time threes made list.
She was named to both the Naismith Player of the Year and Cheryl Miller Award Preseason Watchlists. Kneepkens was also placed on the Big 12 Preseason All-Conference team.
IN THE RANKS
Utah received votes in the AP Top 25 Poll after the first week of the season on Nov. 11. During the 2023-24 season the Utes' were ranked in the Top 25 for 20 consecutive weeks.
HEAD COACH GAVIN PETERSEN
Petersen was named the head coach of the Utah women's basketball team on Nov. 19, 2024, just four games into the 2024-25 season. He brings 23 seasons of college coaching experience to the role; he is in his 10th season overall with the Utes and spent the previous five years as associate head coach under Lynne Roberts.
Petersen has been a part of the staff that has led the Utes to six postseason appearances—including three NCAA tournaments and a trip to the Sweet Sixteen—and four 20-win seasons, as well as regular appearances in the AP Top 25.
SCOUTING SAINT JOSEPH'S
The Saint Joseph's Hawks are currently 4-0 on the season. The Hawks are coming off an 82-53 win over Southern Utah.
Saint Joseph's has four Hawks averaging double figures and are led by Talya Brugler who averages 20.3 points per game and 8.8 rebounds per game. Laura Ziegler averages a double-double for the SJU with 19.0 points and 10.3 rebounds per game.
This is the second time the two programs have matched up with the previous meeting coming last season where the Utes picked up a 74-48 win over the Hawks (12/7/23).
Saint Joseph's is led by head coach Cindy Griffin who is in her 24th season. She has a 402-311 record at the helm of the Hawks.
QUICK NOTES
- Gavin Petersen was named head coach after former head coach Lynne Roberts was named as the new head coach of the L.A. Sparks.
- Gianna Kneepkens hit a season-high 24 points in just 21 minutes of game play against McNeese (11/18).
- Maye Toure sits at 999 career points with her next made basket marking her 1,000th point milestone.
- Jenna Johnson is just five rebounds shy of 500 career boards.
- Utah's 118 points marks the second-highest points scored in a game in Utah program history. The record stands at 124 which has occurred twice, with the most recent time coming in 2022-23 against Oklahoma.
- Gianna Kneepkens was named to the Naismith Trophy Preseason Watchlist and the Cheryl Miller Award Preseason Watchlist
- Inês Vieira was named to the Nancy Lieberman Award Preseason Watchlist
- Jenna Johnson was named to the Katrina McClain Award Preseason Watchlist
- Gianna Kneepkens was named to the All-Big 12 Preseason Team
- Utah's 105 points against SUU, was the first time in school history the Utes scored 100 or more points in the season opener in back-to-back seasons
- Gianna Kneepkens made her return with a splash against SUU, as she led the Utes with 18 points going 6-of-9 from the field and 4-of-6 from the three. She also had four rebounds and four assists.
- At the helm for the Utes is Gavin Petersen who is in his first season as head coach and 10th overall season
- Utah is returning four of last year's starting five including, All-American Gianna Kneepkens, as well as, Jenna Johnson, Kennady McQueen and Inês Vieira
- Utah welcomes two transfers (Chyra Evans and Mayè Tourè) and three true freshman (Brooke Walker, Grace Foster and Kylie Ray) to this year's squad
- Utah is currently in the top 20 nationally in six major statistical categories:
- No. 4 in assists per game (22.8)
- No. 20 in assist/turnover ratio (1.49)
- No. 10 field goal percentage (51.9)
- No. 10 scoring margin (39.8)
- No. 7 scoring (94.5)
- No. 2 made three pointers per game (12.0)
- No. 16 three point percentage (42.1)
- Inês Vieira is currently No. 24 in the nation and No. 5 in the Big 12 in total assists with 26. She's No. 29 in Assist/Turnover Ratio with 3.71. She is No. 15 nationally, No. 4 in the Big 12 in assists per game (6.5).
- Gianna Kneepkens is currently No. 20 in the nation and No. 1 in the Big 12 in three point field goal percentage (56.5), No. 28 in the NCAA and No. 3 in the Big 12 in total made threes (13). She is also No. 23 in the nation and No. 2 in the Big 12 with 3.25 three pointers per game.
The official mobile app of Utah Athletics is Utah 360. Download it today to unlock exclusive video content, news and information, schedules, rosters, stats, and access to buy and manage tickets. The app is available in both the Apple Store (download) and Google Play (download). Add it today, access your game tickets and download them to your smartphone's wallet to make yourself game-day ready.
FOLLOW THE UTES!
Fans can follow along during the 2024-25 season on social media (Twitter: @UtahWBB | Instagram: @UtahWBB | Facebook: Facebook.com/UtahWBB).
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