Utah Basketball Receives Two Pac-12 Freshman Of The Week Honors

SALT LAKE CITY – Guard Gianna Kneepkens and guard Lazar Stefanovic each earned Pac-12 Freshman of the Week honors for their performances during the week of January 17-23.

The Pac-12 announced the awards on Monday, January 24.

We got ✌️ PAC-12 Freshman of the week! @_Lazar_Stef & @giannakneepkens#GoUtes | @UtahMBB | @UTAHWBB pic.twitter.com/60ACJ4ZHPt

— Utah Athletics (@utahathletics) January 24, 2022

In two games, Kneepkens averaged 17.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.0 assist per game. She shot 50.0 percent (11-of-22) from the floor and 66.7 percent (6-of-9) on three-pointers.

The Utes fell to No. 10 Arizona 76-64 before picking up their first Pac-12 win of the season, a 72-63 victory over Arizona State. Kneepkens led the Utes in scoring each game.

This is the third Pac-12 Freshman of the Week honor for Kneepkens and fifth for the team as Jenna Johnson has received recognition twice.

#Pac12WBB Freshman of the Week, presented by @Nextiva: Gianna Kneepkens. 🙌

Full release ➡️ https://t.co/dlZdtbgVxq#GoUtes | @UTAHWBB pic.twitter.com/eLJ1snsyfy

— Pac-12 Conference (@pac12) January 24, 2022

Stefanovic averaged 11 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists this past week for the Runnin’ Utes.

Utah fell in two games against top-20 teams this week. No. 9 UCLA pulled ahead late in a 64-62 Utah loss before No. 15 USC controlled the action in a 79-67 win.

A season high 18 points, including a 4-7 performance from the three-point line by Stefanovic gave Utah a chance to knock off the Bruins.

#Pac12MBB Freshman of the Week, presented by @Nextiva: Lazar Stefanovic. 🙌

Full release ➡️ https://t.co/f7U3sJUcko#GoUtes | @UtahMBB pic.twitter.com/kBUqWMFkJg

— Pac-12 Conference (@pac12) January 24, 2022

This is the second Freshman of the Week honor for Stefanovic and he becomes the first Ute to earn multiple honors since the award began in 2019-20.

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