by ANCHORAGE, ALASKA – The No.4 Utah women’s basketball team walks away with a title as the Utes downed Eastern Kentucky with a 117-72 final score in the championship of the Great Alaska Shootout.
Utah had a slow start in the first quarter as Eastern Kentucky took a 9-5 lead. Utah overtook the lead thanks to a take and make by Gianna Kneepkens. The Utes and EKU remained close in score and with 2:47 left in the first quarter, EKU tied the game 15-15. Utah ran away in the last two minutes of the quarter on a 12-4 run to take a 27-19 lead.
In the second quarter, Utah found their groove starting off with an 8-3 run. Utah only allowed 13 points in the second quarter and popped out for a 51-32 lead at the half. At halftime, Utah had eight Utes each scoring five points or more.
Utah put together a 7-0 run early in the third quarter to establish control early in the second half. Kneepkens came alive in the third quarter knocking down four three-pointers and five field goals to score 16 of Utah’s 31, third-quarter points. Utah had an 82-56 lead going into the final quarter of play.
With four minutes left in the game, a made layup by Alissa Pili gave Utah 100 points for the fourth time this season. Utah continued to charge and Ines Vieira’s sixth made three-pointer gave Utah 117 final points, third most points scored in a game in Utah history. Utah locked in the Great Alaska Shootout championship title with a 117-72 final score.
LEADERS
Utah had five players score in double figures and three players break 20 points or more. The Utes were led by Pili who had 28 points. Pili showed out for her hometown crowd going 11-18 from the field and 6-6 from the free line. She also had eight rebounds, six assists, two blocks and two steals.
Kneepkens had 23 points going 8-10 from the field and knocking down five from beyond the arc. Kneepkens led the Utes on the boards with eight on the night. Ines Vieira had a career-high 20 points going 7-8 from the field and 6-6 from beyond the arc. Her six made three pointers are also a career high. Vieira also led Utah in assists with seven.
Freshman Reese Ross recorded double figure scoring as she put up 12 points going 5-5 from the field. Junior Kennady McQueen hit double digits for the first time this season with 10 points. Both Sam Crispe and Jenna Johnson each added nine points to the Utes’ total.
COMPARISON
Utah ended the game shooting 65 percent from the field, 64 percent from beyond the arc, and 91 percent from the free throw line. Utah pulled down 38 total rebounds including 10 offensive boards. The Utes had 30 assists, 10 steals and 14 turnovers.
EKU shot 43 percent from the field, 38 percent from the three and 77percent from the free throw line. EKU ended the game with 23 rebounds, 19 assists and 17 turnovers.
NOTABLES
Utah’s 117 points is the third most points scored in a game second to the Utes 124 point occurence twice in school history, most recently against Oklahoma last season. It’s also the most points scored by Utah away from the Jon M. Huntsman Center.
The Utes knocked down 18 made three-pointers for tying third for most threes in school history. The record was set earlier this season when Utah hit 21 against South Carolina State.
Vieira abolished her previous career-high in scoring with her 20 points and her career-high in made three pointers going 6-6.
Kneepkens tied her career high for the fifth time knocking down five from beyond the arc.
GREAT ALASKA SHOOTOUT
Utah had three players named to the All-Tournament Team. Vieira and Kneepkens both earned spots on the All-Tournament team and Pili walked away with Most Outstanding Player.
Utah broke the field goal percentage tournament record for the Great Alaska Shootout with its .657(44-67) field goal percentage. The old record of .648 [46-71] was set by Northeast Louisiana vs Iona in 1986.
The Utes also broke the record of most three point field goals made with their 18. The previous record was 14 set by Providence vs Clemson in 1994 & by UAA vs North Dakota State in 2012.
Utah’s 35 assists against UAA (Nov. 18) broke the record for most assists in a single game which was previously 32 set by Memphis vs Radford in 1987.
