Utah’s Women’s Basketball team beat Arizona in a thriller to complete the season sweep over the Wildcats.
On the backs of Gianna Kneepkens, Matyson Wilke and Jenna Johnson, Utah held on in the fourth to put an end to Arizona’s valiant comeback effort.
After the game, coach Gavin Petersen said, “It was a sloppy third quarter that made for an interesting game for the fans in attendance and watching on TV. I am proud of our grit and our collective competitiveness down the stretch. There was a point in the fourth quarter where I think our players got a little upset, and they took it upon themselves to do whatever it took to get that win. We have to be able to settle in and handle that pressure. It was a good learning experience after a win for once.”
After having a 42-24 lead early in the third quarter, Utah took its foot off the gas pedal and allowed Arizona back in the game. A 26-4 scoring run for the Wildcats flipped the game on its head as Arizona led 50-46 in the fourth quarter.
When asked about the final stretch of the game and how the team was able to come together down the stretch, Kneepkens said, “I think what was big for us tonight was our experience. Unfortunately, we’ve been in that position before. You try not to be, but it’s part of basketball. Arizona was doing a great job of getting us in positions where we were on our heels a little. We came together and decided we needed to be more aggressive than them. We started figuring it out at the end, and it helped that we were in the bonus.”
There is no shortage of team chemistry and leadership on this season’s edition of Utah Women’s Basketball.
When asked about the role Kneepkens plays in the team’s overall success, Wilke said, “Gianna’s in the gym every day. I go in there, and she already has a sweat going. She is working on her game every day. She’s confident in herself, but knowing that she is doing what she has to do for the team gives everyone confidence in her too. I don’t think people understand; yeah, she’s good, but she has worked so hard to be where she is. People need to know how hard she works. I’m proud of her and lucky to have a teammate that pushes me to be at that same level.”
Overall, a gritty, hard-earned win is just what Utah needed to continue gaining traction. Looking forward, the Utes will travel to Lubbock, Texas, to take on the Red Raiders of Texas Tech. The Red Raiders are 14-9 overall and 3-7 in Big-12 play.
