Utah women’s basketball dominated the University of Central Florida on Saturday to improve their record to 18-5 on the season. Head coach Gavin Petersen was very pleased with his team’s unselfish play against the Knights.
“It’s great to be back in the Huntsman Center along with our alumni to celebrate the 50th year of Utah women’s basketball,” Petersen said after the game. “I’m excited about the performance our team was able to do in a very unselfish fashion with our 28 assists on 32 made baskets. We’ve always preached it but these guys really understand the assignment when it comes to sharing the basketball. I’m super proud of that.”
Sharing the ball has been an emphasis all season long for the Lady Runnin’ Utes. Assisting on 87.5% of baskets is something that will surely make coach Petersen and his staff happy as they make their way deeper into conference play.
After a slow performance at Texas Tech, superstar junior Gianna Kneepkens bounced back in a major way against the Knights. Her 32 points and 4 rebounds led the way for the Utes as they took home their fifth consecutive Big 12 win.
“Gianna is just so motivated. I don’t know this for a fact but I can bet that Gianna had a hard time sleeping after the Texas Tech game,” Petersen said. “She was probably up early the next morning and in the gym working on getting better. You can’t hold her to six points every night; that’s a hard task and Texas Tech did that in Lubbock. I think after that game Gianna got a little more hungry. Tonight she took what the defense gave her and was able to have her night. She’s a special player and you’re not going to hold her down for long.”
Kneepkens wasn’t the only standout performer for the Utes, however, as Kennady McQueen, Matyson Wilke and Reese Ross each had double-digit scoring nights of their own.
“We were moving the ball really well tonight,” McQueen said of the match. “We were celebrating each other and having fun which just makes the basket get even bigger. It was a blast playing today.”
Wilke continued with her thoughts, saying, “We weren’t worried about ourselves scoring. What mattered tonight was that the team was scoring. I think making that extra pass and seeing your teammate knock down shots is just as exciting as scoring for myself.”
The Utes are an exciting team that seems to be finding its stride at the perfect time. A blowout victory is just what they needed as they begin gearing up to take on a strong Colorado team. The game will be played at the Jon M. Huntsman Center on Wednesday, Feb. 12 at 7 p.m.
