BYU and Utah meet for 112th time on Saturday on ESPNU

PROVO, Utah — BYU opens a two-game homestand by renewing its rivalry with the Utah Utes on Saturday, Jan. 25 at the Marriott Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. MT with the game broadcast on ESPNU with Roxy Bernstein and Mary Murphy on the call. Jason Shepherd will have the radio call on BYU Radio, byuradio.org and the BYU Radio App. 

Matchup Breakdown
This will be the 112th all-time meeting between the Cougars and Utes with Utah holding a 68-43 lead. The Utes also lead the series in Provo, 24-21, and have won the last two meetings. BYU's last win over Utah came on Dec. 4, 2021, as the Cougars downed the Utes 85-80 at the Marriott Center. 

All-Time: 43-68

At Iowa State: 21-24

Whiting vs. Utah: 0-2

BYU Cougars  ||  10-8, 1-6  ||  Big 12 Conference

WHAT'S AT STAKE  ||  With a win, the Cougars would snap the two-game skid to Utah and earn Coach Whiting’s first win over the Utes. 

SECOND-HALF CONFERENCE WOES  ||  BYU started the year dominating the third quarter, outscoring opponents by 6.5 points in the frame while shooting 50.6 percent. Since the start of Big 12 play, the Cougars have struggled coming out of the half. BYU has been outscored 20.6-15.1 in the third and 19.0-16.3 in the fourth while surrendering 47.4 percent in the third and 42.3 percent shooting to opponents.

VALUING THE BASKETBALL  ||  Ball security is crucial for BYU. In seven Big 12 games this season, the Cougars have committed 19.4 turnovers and opponents are scoring 20.6 points off giveaways per game. In wins this season, the Cougars only cough it up 13.6 times, 5.8 less than in losses, and give up just 11.0 points off turnovers.

Against Iowa State, the Cyclones forced 19 BYU turnovers and scored the second-most points off turnovers this year against the Cougars (28). 

DEFENSE IS THE CALLING CARD  ||  Coach Whiting calls defense the silver bullet to her team’s success. In BYU’s ten wins, the Cougars have held opponents to 59.9 points and 36.2 percent from the field. In losses, opponents have shot 41.5 percent from the floor, 35.3 percent from deep and 73.2 points. BYU has only allowed 70 or more points five times this season, but all have come in Big 12 play, four in losses.

COUGAR ASSIST CLUB  ||  BYU has assisted on 270-of-458 (.590) field goals this year and has had three or more players finish in double-figures in 11 of 18 games. In wins this season, BYU averages 17.2 assists in comparison to just 12.4 in losses. In BYU’s conference win over Houston, BYU assisted on 70 percent of its made field goals (23-of-33).

DELANEY'S DREAM START  ||  Delaney Gibb has been named the Big 12 Freshman of the Week five times – Nov. 11, Dec. 16 & 23, Jan. 13 & 20 – so far this season. The Canada native is scoring 16.9 points per game on 47.8 percent shooting and 40.7 percent from deep. Gibb averages 4.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.5 steals. The freshman has scored over 14 points in 15-of-18 games this year including six games of 20 or more points.

Gibb's 16.9 points per game ranks fourth in the country for freshmen and leads the Big 12. The freshman also holds the fourth-highest field goal percentage in the country among first-year players. 

Head Coach – Amber Whiting

• Alma Mater: BYU, 2001
• Division I Career Record: 42-42  ||  3rd Season
• Record at BYU: 42-42  ||  3rd Season

Utah Utes  ||  14-5, 5-3  ||  Big 12 Conference

MINNESOTA CONNECTION  ||  Utah’s Gianna Kneepkens and Jenna Johnson are a dynamic duo who combine to average 25.8 points, 9.0 rebounds and 5.8 assists while each shoots over 44 percent from the floor.

Kneepkens is the leading scorer for the Utes at 18.1 points while shooting 50.2 percent from the field. The junior’s 44.8 percent from three is good for third in the conference and 18th in the country. She also ranks 12th in the country in made triples with 56 on the season. In Utah’s win over Kansas on Wednesday, Kneepkens scored a career-high 30 points while grabbing 10 rebounds, eight assists and a steal.

Despite struggling early in the season, Johnson found her groove against the Jayhawks as the senior forward scored 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting, going 2-for-3 from deep while contributing nine rebounds and seven assists in the 79-61 win. 

INES THE MOSQUITO  ||  Ines Vieira is the motor of this Utah team and plays 4.1 more minutes per game than any of her teammates. In her 33.2 minutes per game, Vieira only averages 6.2 points but picks up the opposing point guard full court, averages 1.7 steals per game and dishes 5.2 assists.

LIVE AND DIE BY THE THREE  ||  Utah shoots 26.7 threes and makes 9.7 per contest. Every Ute that averages 6.2 or more points per game has attempted 33 or more threes this season, including the forwards. Five of the seven players shoot over 30 percent with three Utes shooting over 39.8 percent.

ROAD STRUGGLES  ||  The Utes have a 3-3 record in road contests this season but have lost their last two games away from the Huntsman Center, falling to TCU and Baylor in back-to-back games.

Head Coach – Gavin Petersen

• Alma Mater: Hawaii Pacific, 2013
• Career Record: 11-4  ||  1st Season
• Record at Iowa State: 11-4  ||  1st Season