Utah Women’s Basketball Get First Win Under Gavin Petersen, 72-71 Over Saint Joseph’s
Nov 22, 2024, 9:17 PM | Updated: Nov 23, 2024, 11:48 am
SALT LAKE CITY , UT - NOVEMBER 22: Gavin Petersen head coach of the Utah Utes talks with Matyson Wilke #23, Gianna Kneepkens #5, Jenna Johnson #22, and Reese Ross #20 during a time out in the first half of their game against the St. Joseph's Hawks at the Jon M Huntsman Center on November 22, 2024 in Salt Lake City, Utah.(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY— It wasn’t easy, but the Gavin Petersen era begins in the win column as Utah knocks off Saint Joseph’s, 72-71.
It took one last Maye Toure bucket with 4.6 seconds left in overtime, but the Utes got the the 1-point victory.
MAYE TOURÉ TO WIN IT IN OT!🙌
📺https://t.co/9LM4iucqJw #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/GtsTW5XAIZ
— Utah Women’s Basketball (@UTAHWBB) November 23, 2024
Saint Joseph’s is a good basketball team. The Hawks were picked second in the Atlantic 10 Conference and are viewed as an NCAA Tournament contender.
The Utes had to grind out their way to victory in this one. They battled through a poor 3-point shooting night and inexplicable misses at the rim.
Utah was led by Kennady McQueen and Gianna Kneepkens finished with 14 points, while Toure finished the game with 12 and the game-winning bucket.
This was a major gut-check type of game
It was clear that Utah was not at its best tonight. The emotional toll and distractions of the last few days likely contributed to the team’s subpar execution.
Coach Petersen acknowledged that they were unable to practice in their typical fashion. That left some of the details absent in their preparation.
However, one thing was undeniable: this group’s grit throughout the night to battle through the adversity and get the win.
Utah started the 3rd quarter ice cold, missing their first nine shots, some of which inexplicably. Still, they held onto a lead throughout the quarter.
In the fourth quarter alone, Utah started the period with a 6-point lead, which was cut to two. Utah rebuilt a 58-48 lead, then Saint Joe’s battled back to 58-53.
With a Kennady McQueen 3-pointer, the lead was back to 61-55 with a little over two minutes left in the game. However, Saint Joe’s continued to fight and ultimately tied it up 63-63 to send it to overtime.
The fight continued into overtime. The Hawks took the lead to start the extra period but Utah responded with a run to create a 68-65 lead.
Saint Joe’s took a 71-70 lead with :24 seconds left in the contest. After an Ines Veirda 3-point attempt and miss, Utah got one last crack at it.
With about ten seconds left, Utah got the ball to McQueen, who then got to Toure in the post. With a right-handed jump hook, Toure scored the winning bucket.
