UP NEXT: Utah Hits the Road to Take on Texas Tech

Wednesday, February 5

Lubbock, TX

5:00 PM (MT)

University of Utah

Texas Tech

UP NEXT: Utah Hits the Road to Take on Texas Tech

2/4/2025 11:38 AM | Women's Basketball

SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Utes women's basketball team will continue the inaugural Big 12 season by hitting the road to take on Texas Tech Feb. 5 at 5 p.m. (MT).

The Utes are currently 16-5 on the season and 7-3 in Big 12 play after defeating Arizona 67-58 (1/31/25).

GAME INFORMATION
Utah (16-5, 7-3 Big 12) vs. Texas Tech (14-10, 3-8 Big 12)
DATE | TIME: Wednesday, Feb. 5 | 5:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Lubbock, Texas | United Supermarkets Arena
TV: ESPN+ | Watch
LISTEN: Click Here
LIVE STATS: Click Here
TWITTER UPDATES: @UtahWBB

HOW TO TUNE IN
Fans can watch the matchup on ESPN+ with Ron Thulin and Brandi Pooleon the call. The radio call will be on 101.5FM and can be found on the TuneIn app, with Tyson Ewing and Milee Rustand calling the action.

LAST TIME OUT
Utah women's basketball team downed Arizona at home 67-58. Utah made a 9-0 run late in the fourth quarter that pushed the Utes to a six-point lead in the final minutes of the game. Arizona surged back to make it a two-point game but Jenna Johnson hit a dagger of a three with just under a minute to play to secure the win for Utah. The Utes were led by Gianna Kneepkens' 28 points and Mayé Touré's 11 rebounds.

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 the only women's basketball player averaging 19.2 points per game while shooting 50.4% from the field, 46.4% from the three and 90.8% from the free throw line going 89-of-98. She is averaging 5.0 rebounds per game. She leads the Utes from beyond the arc knocking down 65 total so far on the year. Kneepkens sits in the Top 10 in the nation in three statistical categories She's No. 7 in three point percentage (46.4), No. 9 total three pointers (65) and No. 7 three pointers per game (3.10).
Kneepkens was named Big 12 Player of the Week (1/27/25) after posting back-to-back 30-point games, including a career-high 32 points against BYU (1/25). Over the two games, she averaged 31 points, nine rebounds, five assists and two steals per game. She shot 58.8% from the field, 66.7% from the three and 83.3% from the line. Kneepkens' 31.0 points per game led league players during the week and ranked fourth in the country.

Kneepkens recorded back-to-back 30 point games last week and hit a career-high 32 points against BYU (1/25/25) that included a career-high 10 made three pointers and tied a career-high six made three pointers.

She's put up 20 or more points six times this season. First she put up 26 points against TCU (1/17/25) that included 17 points in the fourth quarter including three made from beyond the arc. She has hit 24 points three times this season, first vs. McNeese (11/18/24) she hit 24 points in just 21 minutes of game play. Second, she hit 24 points against Washington (12/14/24) with 14 points coming in the fourth quarter alone. Most recently, Kneepkens started Big 12 play with 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.

Utah is 10-1 when Kneepkens hits three or more three-pointers in a game. 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 USBWA Ann Meyers Drysdale Player of the Year Midseason Watchlist as well as 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 received votes in the latest AP Top 25 Poll. Utah was ranked as high as #22 this season (Jan. 6) and received votes for five consecutive weeks prior to cracking the Top 25 the week of Jan. 6.

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 TEXAS TECH
The Texas Tech Raid Raiders are currently 14-10 on the season and 3-8 in Big 12 play. Texas Tech is coming off an 67-51 loss to Colorado and is on a three-game losing streak.

Texas Tech has two people averaging double figures and are led by Jasmine Shavers who puts up 14.5 points per game.

This will be the fourth meeting between the two teams. The two teams last met up in 1993 where the Utes picked up a 72-55 win in Salt Lake City.

Utah has a 1-2 record with Texas Tech and are 0-1 when taking on the Red Raiders in Lubbock. The Utes haven't played in Lubbock in 34 years.

Texas Tech is led by head coach Krista Gerlich who is in her 5th season. She has a 72-74 record at the helm of the Red Raiders.

NEW THIS WEEK

Utah continued receiving votes in the latest poll that dropped Feb. 3.
Gianna Kneepkens was named to the USBWA Ann Meyers Drysdale Player of the Year Midseason Watchlist
Kneepkens sits in the Top 10 in the nation in three statistical categories.
- No. 7 three-point percentage (46.4)
- No. 9 total three pointers (65)
- No. 7 three-pointers per game (3.10)
The Utes are 11-1 in games when Gianna Kneepkens hits three or more three-pointers in a game.
Kneepkens became the first Ute in school history to record four consecutive games scoring 25 or more points.
Kneepkens is currently the only women's basketball player in the NCAA to shoot 50/40/90 while averaging 19 points per game.

SEASON NEED TO KNOW

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 19.2 points per game shooting 50.4 percent from the field and 46.4 percent from the three. She also leads the team in made three pointers with 65 and free throws with 89.
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 is currently in the top 30 nationally in six major statistical categories:
- No. 14 assists per game (18.7)
- No. 19 field goal percentage (46.8)
- No. 34 scoring offense (77.0)
- No. 22 three point attempts per game (26.1)
- No. 11 three pointers per game (9.7)
- No. 12 three point percentage (37.0)
Gianna Kneepkens is currently No. 14 in the nation and leads the Big 12 in free throw percentage with 90.9.
Kneepkens recently jumped to No. 35 in the nation in scoring with 404 total points on the season and No. 28 in points per game with 19.2.

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).