Women's Basketball Defeats Westminster, 93-48

SALT LAKE CITY – The University of Utah Women's Basketball team improved to 6-0 in exhibitions games under head coach Lynne Roberts after a 93-48 win over Westminster College on Friday evening at the Jon M. Huntsman Center. 
 
Utah led the game from start to finish as they shot 48.5 percent from the floor (33-68) and 40-percent from the arc (14-35) while holding the Griffins to 35 percent shooting. The Utes hit 14 three-pointers in the game, led by Kennady McQueen's four. Gianna Kneepkens added three of her own.
 
The Utes turned it on quickly in the first quarter, going on a 7-1 run to open the game. Leading the way for Utah was Kennady McQueen, who had five of the seven points. The Utes lead was trimmed to two, 7-5, before Utah closed out the quarter on a 13-3 run, taking a 20-8 lead into the second quarter. 
 
Utah locked up on the defensive end opening the second quarter as the Griffins didn't score for the first four minutes of the quarter. With 5:00 left before halftime, Jenna Johnson extended the lead to 21, 30-9, after back-to-back layups. Utah grew the lead to as many as 25, 39-14, after a driving layup by Gianna Kneepkens. The Utes took a 39-16 lead into halftime.
 
After trading baskets to start the third quarter, Utah scored 13 of the final 18 points that was begun on a three-pointer by Inês Vieira. Following her three, Kneepkens followed with a three of her own. Another three by Kneepkens and a jumper by Isabel Palmer put the Utes ahead by 34, 59-25.
 
Utah's shooting heated up in the fourth quarter as they shot 56.2 percent from the floor, including 60 percent from behind the arc. Midway through the quarter, Utah opened up a 40-point lead, 80-40, after a pair of free throws by McQueen. The Utes outscored the Griffins 32-18 in the quarter to grab a 93-48 victory. 
 
GAME LEADERS
Utah finished with four players in double-digits, with Kennady McQueen putting up a team-high 20 points on 7-of-14 shooting. Freshman Gianna Kneepkens followed with 13 points in her first game as a Ute, while Inês Vieira and Isabel Palmer rounded out the double-figure scorers with 12 and 10 points respectfully. 
 
TALKING ABOUT THE GAME: HEAD COACH LYNNE ROBERTS
"It was a typical exhibition game, but it was nice to get out there. It was so awesome to have fans back. It's fun to get out there and play everybody equal minutes, and everybody got to play quite a bit, which is what you want. We didn't shoot well in the first half but came out in the second half, and we shot it pretty well. We did a nice job with 17 steals. We got to get better at not fouling and pressuring without fouling. But for the first game out, it was just fun to get out there. I love this group."
 
"Kennedy didn't have a great beginning, but she had a great second half. That's what Gianna does. That's what she's done her basketball career, so it's nice to have those offensive weapons. Isabel hasn't played in almost two years, and it was fun for her to get out there and play."
 
STANDOUT STAT
Sophomore Kennady McQueen led the Utes with a team-high 20 points on 7-of-14 shooting from the floor. She hit four of the Utes 14 three-pointers in the win. Besides scoring, McQueen tallied four rebounds, three assists, and three steals.
 
UP NEXT
Utah hosts Lipscomb University to open regular season play on Wednesday, Nov. 10. Tip-off for the home opener is set for 7 p.m. MT. The contest will be streamed and will also be on ESPN 700. 

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