Women's Basketball To Start New Year vs. Washington State Friday
THE GAME
The University of Utah women's basketball program will start the New Year with a Friday afternoon matchup against the Washington State Cougars on Jan. 1. The game will tip off at 12 p.m. MT in the Jon M. Huntsman Center with the game being live streamed on UtahUtes.com.
HOME SWEET HUNTSMAN
The Utah Women's Basketball program has an 81-percent winning percentage when playing in Salt Lake City, holding an all-time record of 507-119. The Utes have nine seasons without a loss at the Jon M. Huntsman Center, also posting a 28-game home winning streak that lasted from Jan. 12, 1995 to Feb. 8, 1997.
HOW TO TUNE IN
Utah's game against Washington State will be live streamed on UtahUtes.com. Fans can also tune in to ESPN 700 with Tyson Ewing giving play-by-play action on the radio. Live stats for the game will be available on UtahUtes.com on the women's basketball schedule page.
Opening up the new year at home vs. Washington State and Washington. ??#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/ZGrVS14nag
— Utah Women's Basketball (@UTAHWBB) December 28, 2020
THREE POINTERS
• Utah's aggressiveness on defense has been a highlight through six games, ranking in the top-35 nationally and fourth in the Pac-12 in blocks per game (5.3), also ranking fifth in the Pac-12 in steals per game (9.3).
• Utah brought in the No. 20-ranked recruiting class by ESPN in freshmen Kennady McQueen (four-star, Top 100 recruit), Peyton McFarland (four-star, Top 100 recruit) and Donna Ntambue (Top 15 recruit in Canada), adding 6-5 Aussie Kelsey Rees in April.
• The Utes bring size to the court this season, averaging out at 6-1 between the 14 players on the roster. Ten of Utah's 14 squad members are 6-0 or taller.
NEXT UP
Utah will turn its attention to Washington on Sunday, Jan. 3 when the two teams tip off at 2 p.m. MT in the Huntsman Center. The game will air on Pac-12 Mountain and Pac-12 Washington.
Back from break. Back to work. ?? pic.twitter.com/P2bBFN7lYR
— Utah Women's Basketball (@UTAHWBB) December 27, 2020
STAY HOME, STAY ENGAGED
Per the Pac-12's COVID-19 Medical Advisory Committee, fans will not be allowed at games to begin this season. Despite not being in the arena, there are several ways to stay up-to-date and engaged in the game. Fans can follow the Utes on Twitter (@UtahWBB) and Instagram (@UtahWBB) along with catching interesting and informative stories on UtahUtes.com.
TEAM NOTES
• Utah has hit eight or more threes in 55 games under the direction of Lynne Roberts, going 42-13 in those games. Utah hit 10-or-more threes in back-to-back games, knocking down 10 against Oregon State on Dec. 8 and a season-high 12 against Montana State on Dec. 11.
• Utah's nine foreign players ties for the league high with Washington State.
• Dru Gylten ranks sixth in the Pac-12 in total assists this season (29) and is second in assists per game (4.8).
• Brynna Maxwell is 22-of-23 from the free throw line this season (.957), which ranks 16th nationally and second in the Pac-12.
• Niyah Becker posted a season-best 13 points against Arizona (12/20), shooting 4-of-9 from the floor while knocking down a career-best three from beyond the arc.
• Peyton McFarland recorded her first-career double-double as a Ute against Arizona (12/20), scoring a career-high 10 points with a career-best 11 rebounds. It is the first double-double by a Utah freshman since Utah's game against Arizona on Feb. 15, 2019.