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)
Wednesday, January 8
Salt Lake City, Utah
7:00 PM
University of Utah
vs
Kansas State
UP NEXT: No. 22 Utah hosts No. 12 K-State in Top 25 Matchup
1/7/2025 11:25 AM | Women's Basketball
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Utes women's basketball team will continue the inaugural Big 12 season by hosting No. 12 Kansas State in a Top 25 matchup on Wednesday, Jan. 8 at 7 p.m.
The Utes are currently 12-2 on the season and 3-0 in Big 12 play after defeating handing Iowa State its first home loss of the season downing the Cyclones 75-67 on Sunday, Jan. 5.
GAME INFORMATION
Utah (12-2, 3-0 Big 12) vs. Kansas State (15-1, 3-0 Big 12)
DATE | TIME: Wednesday, Jan. 8 | 7:00 PM (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+ with Krista Blunk and Angela Taylor on the call. The radio call will be on ESPN700 and can be found on the TuneIn app, with Tyson Ewing and Milee Rustand calling the action.
LAST TIME OUT
Utah picked up its seventh consecutive win by taking down Iowa State 75-67 on Jan. 5. The Utes handed the Cyclones their first lost at home breaking a nine-game streak for ISU. Utah was led by Mayé Touré's season high performance of 24 points and the game high of nine rebounds. Kennady McQueen had a perfect game from beyond the arc going 3-of-3 and ended the game with 15 points.
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 17.4 points per game and shooting 50.0 percent from the field, 43.3 percent from the three and 93.4 from the free throw line going 57-of-61. She is averaging 4.3 rebounds per game. She leads the Utes from beyond the arc knocking down 39 total so far on the year. She is ranked No. 11 in the nation and leads the Big 12 with her 93.4 percent from the free throw line.
Kneepkens has scored a season-high 24 points three times this season. First she hit 24 points in just 21 minutes of game play against McNeese (11/18/24). Second, she hit 24 against Washington (12/14/24) with 14 of those points coming in the fourth quarter. Most recently she hit 24 points against Arizona State (12/21/24).
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 seven games this season with a season-high of four made four times with the last time coming against Arizona (12/31/24). 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 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
The Utes cracked the AP Top 25 Poll coming in at No. 22 the week of January 6. Utah received votes for four consecutive weeks prior to cracking the Top 25. 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 NO. 12 K-STATE
The No. 12 Kansas State Wildcats are currently 15-1 on the season and 3-0 in Big 12 play. The Wildcats are coming off a 77-57 win over Texas Tech and are on a 10-game win streak
Kansas State has five people averaging double figures and are led by Ayoka Lee who averages 17.3 points per game shooting for 66.9 percent from the field.
This will be the eighth time the two programs have matched up. The last time the two teams met was March of 2018. Utah fell to K-State 74-57.
Utah has a 4-3 record with K-State and are 2-0 when playing in Salt Lake City. This is the first time since 1998 Utah will take on K-State at home.
Kansas State is led by head coach Jeff Mittie who is in his 33rd season. He has a 205-136 record at the helm of the Wildcats.
NEW THIS WEEK
OFFICIAL MOBILE APP OF UTAH ATHLETICS – UTAH 360
The official mobile app of Utah Athletics is Utah 360. Download it today to unlock a refreshed game-day experience, from managing tickets to mobile concessions ordering, as well as video content, news and information, schedules, rosters and stats. 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 12-2 on the season and 3-0 in Big 12 play after defeating handing Iowa State its first home loss of the season downing the Cyclones 75-67 on Sunday, Jan. 5.
GAME INFORMATION
Utah (12-2, 3-0 Big 12) vs. Kansas State (15-1, 3-0 Big 12)
DATE | TIME: Wednesday, Jan. 8 | 7:00 PM (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+ with Krista Blunk and Angela Taylor on the call. The radio call will be on ESPN700 and can be found on the TuneIn app, with Tyson Ewing and Milee Rustand calling the action.
LAST TIME OUT
Utah picked up its seventh consecutive win by taking down Iowa State 75-67 on Jan. 5. The Utes handed the Cyclones their first lost at home breaking a nine-game streak for ISU. Utah was led by Mayé Touré's season high performance of 24 points and the game high of nine rebounds. Kennady McQueen had a perfect game from beyond the arc going 3-of-3 and ended the game with 15 points.
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 17.4 points per game and shooting 50.0 percent from the field, 43.3 percent from the three and 93.4 from the free throw line going 57-of-61. She is averaging 4.3 rebounds per game. She leads the Utes from beyond the arc knocking down 39 total so far on the year. She is ranked No. 11 in the nation and leads the Big 12 with her 93.4 percent from the free throw line.
Kneepkens has scored a season-high 24 points three times this season. First she hit 24 points in just 21 minutes of game play against McNeese (11/18/24). Second, she hit 24 against Washington (12/14/24) with 14 of those points coming in the fourth quarter. Most recently she hit 24 points against Arizona State (12/21/24).
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 seven games this season with a season-high of four made four times with the last time coming against Arizona (12/31/24). 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 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
The Utes cracked the AP Top 25 Poll coming in at No. 22 the week of January 6. Utah received votes for four consecutive weeks prior to cracking the Top 25. 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 NO. 12 K-STATE
The No. 12 Kansas State Wildcats are currently 15-1 on the season and 3-0 in Big 12 play. The Wildcats are coming off a 77-57 win over Texas Tech and are on a 10-game win streak
Kansas State has five people averaging double figures and are led by Ayoka Lee who averages 17.3 points per game shooting for 66.9 percent from the field.
This will be the eighth time the two programs have matched up. The last time the two teams met was March of 2018. Utah fell to K-State 74-57.
Utah has a 4-3 record with K-State and are 2-0 when playing in Salt Lake City. This is the first time since 1998 Utah will take on K-State at home.
Kansas State is led by head coach Jeff Mittie who is in his 33rd season. He has a 205-136 record at the helm of the Wildcats.
NEW THIS WEEK
- Utah cracked the AP Top 25 coming in at No. 22 after receiving votes the previous four weeks.
- Utah's 75-67 win over Iowa State marks Utah's seventh consecutive win.
- Mayè Tourè hit a season-high 24 points and a career-high four made three pointers against Iowa State.
- Utah's 78-67 win over No. 3 Notre Dame marks the highest ranked win while traveling in school history. Previously, the record for the highest ranked neutral site game was during the 2002-03 season when Utah defeated No. 14 Mississippi State 69-65. The previous record for highest ranked win outside of Salt Lake City was last season when Utah defeated No. 6 USC with a 74-68 score in Los Angeles (2/25/24).
- This is back-to-back seasons the Utes have taken down top-10 teams away from the Jon M. Huntsman Center.
- Gavin Petersen became the fastest head coach in school history to get a win over a top-10 team. Accomplishing the feat in just four games when Utah downed No. 3 Notre Dame 78-67 (11/30/24).
- Utah's 105 points against SUU (11/4/24), marked the first time in school history the Utes scored 100 or more points in the season opener in back-to-back seasons.
- Utah's 118 points against McNeese (11/18/24) 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 State.
- In Utah's 67-57 win over Washington, the Utes trailed by 10 points going into the fourth quarter. The Utes outscored the Huskies 27-7 in the fourth quarter to pull out the win. At the time, Utah was one of six teams to overcome a double digit deficit for a victory.
- Gianna Kneepkens has left no doubts with her comeback as she leads the team averaging 17.4 points per game shooting 50.0 percent from the field and 43.3percent from the three. She also leads the team in made three pointers with 39 and free throws with 57.
- At the helm for the Utes is Gavin Petersen who is in his first season as head coach and 10th overall season at Utah. He was named head coach Nov. 19, 2024 just four games into the season.
- Utah welcomes two transfers (Chyra Evans and Mayè Tourè) and three true freshmen (Brooke Walker, Grace Foster and Kylie Ray) to this year's squad.
- Utah is currently in the top 30 nationally in 10 major statistical categories:
- No. 8 assists per game (19.5)
- No. 29 assists/turnover (1.22)
- No. 13 field goal percentage (48.5)
- No. 24 free throw percentage (77.4)
- No. 22 scoring (81.5)
- No. 27 scoring margin (21.5)
- No. 3 made three pointers per game (10.5)
- No. 19 three point attempts per game (27.1)
- No. 6 three point percentage (38.8)
- Inês Vieira is currently No. 17 in the nation and No. 4 in the Big 12 in total assists with 84. She is also No. 17 nationally, No. 5 in the Big 12 in assists per game (6.0).
- Gianna Kneepkens is currently No. 11 in the nation and leads the Big 12 in free throw percentage with 93.4.
- Kneepkens is currently No. 33 in the nation, No. 4 in the Big 12 in three pointers made with 39 and No. 26 in the nation and No. 3 in the Big 12 in three pointers per game (2.79).
OFFICIAL MOBILE APP OF UTAH ATHLETICS – UTAH 360
The official mobile app of Utah Athletics is Utah 360. Download it today to unlock a refreshed game-day experience, from managing tickets to mobile concessions ordering, as well as video content, news and information, schedules, rosters and stats. 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).
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ 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
G
/ Women's BasketballCrimson Corner with Bill Riley - Eric Weddle
Wednesday, October 01
Fan 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