Upcoming Event: Women's Basketball versus BYU on February 21, 2026 at 2:00 PM
2:00 PM
Women's Basketball
vs BYU
The University of Utah Athletics
Wednesday, December 31
Salt Lake City, Utah
2:00 PM
University of Utah
10-4,1-1Big 12
68
vs
69
Arizona State
15-0,2-0Big 12
1
2
3
4
F
Arizona St.
12
18
16
23
69
Utah
14
13
20
21
68
Photo by: Liv Medivitz/Utah Athletics
Utah Battles in 69-68 Loss to Arizona State
12/31/2025 5:41 PM | Women's Basketball
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah women's basketball team dropped a close one to the undefeated Arizona State Sun Devils Wednesday afternoon with Utah falling 69-68.
Utah is now 10-4 on the season and 1-1 in Big 12 play. The Utes were led by senior Maty Wilke's 17 points and Reese Ross' 13 rebounds for her third straight double-digit rebounding performance.
GAME SUMMARY
The two teams came to battle as they matched each other point for point for the majority of the game. ASU jumped to a 9-6 lead with 7:02 remaining in the first quarter. Both teams then went on a five minute scoring drought that was eventually broken by a made corner three by Avery Hjelmstad. As the first quarter wound down, the Utes were able to edge past ASU for a 14-12 lead.
Late in the second quarter Arizona State forced Utah into a three minute scoring drought and pushed out to a 30-27 lead going into the halftime break. The Sun Devils outscored Utah 18-13 in the second quarter.
Arizona State took a five point lead early in the third quarter but Utah battled back and put together a a 7-0 run to take a seven point lead. ASU cut the seven point deficit but the Utes were able to keep a narrow 47-46 lead going into the final quarter.
Utah and Arizona State leap frogged on the scoreboard for the entirety of the final quarter of play. In the last minute of the game the two teams had three ties and two lead changes a piece. LA Sneed was able to knock down a pair of free throws with just three seconds left on the clock to give Utah a one-point lead. However, the Utes fouled and put the Sun Devils on the line where they sank both free throws to take a one point lead with one second left.
Utah was able to get a clean shot off in the final second but it fell short giving Arizona State the 69-68 victory over the Utes.
LEADERS
Utah had four Utes score in double figures and were led by senior Maty Wilke's 17 points. Wilke went 7-of-11 from the field including three made from beyond the arc. Lani white had 12 points for Utah while LA Sneed added 11. Sneed shot a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line. Avery Hjlemstad was the last Ute to hit double figures with her 10 that included three made from three point range.
Reese Ross led Utah on the boards pulling down her third straight, double digit rebounding performance with 13.
Sneed and Wilke each had four assists to help out with Utah's offensive efforts while Brooke Walker and Hjelmstad added three each.
COMPARISON
Utah shot 39.7% from the field while Arizona State shot 41.4% from the field. Utah went 40.0% from three making 10-of-25 while Arizona State went 28.6% shooting 4-of-14. The Utes shot 85.7% from the line going 12-of-14 while the Sun Devils shot 85.0% from the line going 17-of-20.
Utah had 16 assists to Arizona State's 14. The Utes outrebounded the Sun Devils 40-30.
HEAR FROM THE UTES
Head Coach Gavin Petersen
Overall thoughts on the game . . .
"What a way to close out 2025 in the Huntsman Center. Great game and a great opponent in ASU. I'm extremely proud of our team and our fight from start to finish. It wasn't perfect, but we were focused. We were intentional of what we are doing. We played with an intensity for the largest duration throughout the season. Those are all good things that we want to continue to build off of.
I also want to give a huge shout out to the crowd— the people that came tonight— there is a lot of other things going on that are important to this university and athletic department and they showed out for us. This was a great crowd, so thank you to them for showing up and getting loud for us today. I still think we are a work in progress with our youth and some inexperience in some positions, but extremely proud of the fight that we showed. Credit to ASU they came in here and they closed the game out. Hats off to them and we will see them down in Tempe, later in February. The Big 12 is going to be that type of season where any given night anyone can win at home or on the road and it will probably go down to the wire for a lot of these games. We just have to be battled tested and continue to trust the process and get ready for the next one."
#0, LA Sneed, freshman, guard
On the opportunity to give the team the lead during the final second free throws . . .
"I feel like coming out of [Arizona], I knew I need to adjust some things, especially on the free throws. I have been in the gym and that's what I've been working on heavily. The opportunity presented itself today and the work I've put in behind the scenes just translated into the game."
About the growth of the freshman . . .
"I think we've grown tremendously from the beginning of the season until now. I think we are totally different players and we are allowed to be in the game at those late moments because everyone sees the growth that we've had."
#23, Maty Wilke, senior, guard
On the connectivity of the team . . .
"I am honestly very proud of my teammates. It is hard having a new starting lineup and it can take a little bit to get that chemistry and understand your roles. I am super proud of my teammates and the way we have found that fight and connectivity. We always want to win but this loss we can learn from it. I am very proud of everyone who was on the court or on the bench, it was just connected. Even when we made mistakes, we didn't fall to that level, we kept 'next play mentality.' I am super excited what's to come as well— to learn from that and grow."
UP NEXT
The Utes will host No. 8 TCU Jan. 3 at 7 p.m. before hitting the road to take on Kansas Jan. 7 and Kansas State Jan. 10. Utah will return home Jan. 14 to take on Baylor at 7 p.m.
FOLLOW THE UTES!
Fans can follow along during the 2025-26 season on social media (Twitter: @UtahWBB | Instagram: @UtahWBB | Facebook: Facebook.com/UtahWBB).
Utah is now 10-4 on the season and 1-1 in Big 12 play. The Utes were led by senior Maty Wilke's 17 points and Reese Ross' 13 rebounds for her third straight double-digit rebounding performance.
GAME SUMMARY
The two teams came to battle as they matched each other point for point for the majority of the game. ASU jumped to a 9-6 lead with 7:02 remaining in the first quarter. Both teams then went on a five minute scoring drought that was eventually broken by a made corner three by Avery Hjelmstad. As the first quarter wound down, the Utes were able to edge past ASU for a 14-12 lead.
Late in the second quarter Arizona State forced Utah into a three minute scoring drought and pushed out to a 30-27 lead going into the halftime break. The Sun Devils outscored Utah 18-13 in the second quarter.
Arizona State took a five point lead early in the third quarter but Utah battled back and put together a a 7-0 run to take a seven point lead. ASU cut the seven point deficit but the Utes were able to keep a narrow 47-46 lead going into the final quarter.
Utah and Arizona State leap frogged on the scoreboard for the entirety of the final quarter of play. In the last minute of the game the two teams had three ties and two lead changes a piece. LA Sneed was able to knock down a pair of free throws with just three seconds left on the clock to give Utah a one-point lead. However, the Utes fouled and put the Sun Devils on the line where they sank both free throws to take a one point lead with one second left.
Utah was able to get a clean shot off in the final second but it fell short giving Arizona State the 69-68 victory over the Utes.
LEADERS
Utah had four Utes score in double figures and were led by senior Maty Wilke's 17 points. Wilke went 7-of-11 from the field including three made from beyond the arc. Lani white had 12 points for Utah while LA Sneed added 11. Sneed shot a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line. Avery Hjlemstad was the last Ute to hit double figures with her 10 that included three made from three point range.
Reese Ross led Utah on the boards pulling down her third straight, double digit rebounding performance with 13.
Sneed and Wilke each had four assists to help out with Utah's offensive efforts while Brooke Walker and Hjelmstad added three each.
COMPARISON
Utah shot 39.7% from the field while Arizona State shot 41.4% from the field. Utah went 40.0% from three making 10-of-25 while Arizona State went 28.6% shooting 4-of-14. The Utes shot 85.7% from the line going 12-of-14 while the Sun Devils shot 85.0% from the line going 17-of-20.
Utah had 16 assists to Arizona State's 14. The Utes outrebounded the Sun Devils 40-30.
HEAR FROM THE UTES
Head Coach Gavin Petersen
Overall thoughts on the game . . .
"What a way to close out 2025 in the Huntsman Center. Great game and a great opponent in ASU. I'm extremely proud of our team and our fight from start to finish. It wasn't perfect, but we were focused. We were intentional of what we are doing. We played with an intensity for the largest duration throughout the season. Those are all good things that we want to continue to build off of.
I also want to give a huge shout out to the crowd— the people that came tonight— there is a lot of other things going on that are important to this university and athletic department and they showed out for us. This was a great crowd, so thank you to them for showing up and getting loud for us today. I still think we are a work in progress with our youth and some inexperience in some positions, but extremely proud of the fight that we showed. Credit to ASU they came in here and they closed the game out. Hats off to them and we will see them down in Tempe, later in February. The Big 12 is going to be that type of season where any given night anyone can win at home or on the road and it will probably go down to the wire for a lot of these games. We just have to be battled tested and continue to trust the process and get ready for the next one."
#0, LA Sneed, freshman, guard
On the opportunity to give the team the lead during the final second free throws . . .
"I feel like coming out of [Arizona], I knew I need to adjust some things, especially on the free throws. I have been in the gym and that's what I've been working on heavily. The opportunity presented itself today and the work I've put in behind the scenes just translated into the game."
About the growth of the freshman . . .
"I think we've grown tremendously from the beginning of the season until now. I think we are totally different players and we are allowed to be in the game at those late moments because everyone sees the growth that we've had."
#23, Maty Wilke, senior, guard
On the connectivity of the team . . .
"I am honestly very proud of my teammates. It is hard having a new starting lineup and it can take a little bit to get that chemistry and understand your roles. I am super proud of my teammates and the way we have found that fight and connectivity. We always want to win but this loss we can learn from it. I am very proud of everyone who was on the court or on the bench, it was just connected. Even when we made mistakes, we didn't fall to that level, we kept 'next play mentality.' I am super excited what's to come as well— to learn from that and grow."
The Utes will host No. 8 TCU Jan. 3 at 7 p.m. before hitting the road to take on Kansas Jan. 7 and Kansas State Jan. 10. Utah will return home Jan. 14 to take on Baylor at 7 p.m.
FOLLOW THE UTES!
Fans can follow along during the 2025-26 season on social media (Twitter: @UtahWBB | Instagram: @UtahWBB | Facebook: Facebook.com/UtahWBB).
Team Stats
ASU
Utah
FG%
.414
.397
3FG%
.286
.400
FT%
.850
.857
RB
30
40
TO
10
14
STL
6
6
Game Leaders
Pts
17
FGM
7
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
12
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
3
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
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