The University of Arizona women’s basketball team (14-8, 5-4 in Big 12) will go on the road to face the University of Utah (15-5, 6-3 in Big 12) on Friday, Jan. 31 at 6:30 p.m. in Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City.
The Wildcats are currently riding a three-game win streak most recently upsetting No. 16 West Virginia University in McKale Center 77-62 on Jan. 25. The Utes are coming off back-to-back victories against the University of Kansas and BYU. They dominated the Jayhawks at home 79-61 on Jan. 22 and escaped a close 81-76 win against the Cougars on Jan. 25.
History vs. Utah
Friday’s matchup will mark the second meeting between the two programs this season. Last time out on Dec. 31, Arizona fell to Utah 69-48 in McKale Center. Arizona has not won in Salt Lake City since Dec. 20, 2020, when Arizona won 77-60. The Wildcats look to end the four-year drought and pick up a big road win in a tough environment.
Utah players to watch
Since the last meeting, Gianna Kneepkens has improved her season averages. The junior guard leads the Utes averaging 18.8 points per game and shooting at an efficient rate of 47% from three. Her stellar three-point shooting places her first in the conference from behind the arc. Notably, Kneepkens brings in 5 rebounds a game, dishes out three assists and averages over a steal a game.
Kneepkens is playing at an elite level as of late, leading the Big 12 in free throw percentage shooting 90 percent from the charity stripe. In an 81-76 win against BYU, Kneepkens dropped a career-high 32 points going 6-for-7 from beyond the arc and securing three takeaways while hauling in a game-leading eight rebounds.
Following Kneepkens is Jenna Johnson. The senior forward only averages 7.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists yet played exceptionally well in a 79-61 victory over KU. Johnson finished with 13 points, nine rebounds and a season-high seven assists going 5-6 from the floor.
Look for Utah to take advantage of their perimeter shooting in Friday’s matchup. The Utes shoot the lights out from beyond the arc averaging 37.2% from deep, good enough for third in the conference.
Wildcats to watch
Sophomore Skylar Jones has been on a tear recently. In her last two games where the Wildcats both came away victorious, Jones is averaging 16 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals a game on 71% shooting. The sophomore guard averages just 9.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.6 steals a game, yet Jones brings a strong presence off the bench for Arizona that gives the team a chance in every game they play.
Breya Cunningham leads the team in rebounds averaging 7.6 per game to go along with 12.1 points a game and almost two rejections on average. In a 72-62 victory over the University of Cincinnati on Jan. 22, Cunningham secured a career-high 15 rebounds while scoring 9 points.
In the upset win over the Mountaineers on Jan. 25, Cunningham finished with 18 points, 9 boards, three steals and three blocks on 7-11 shooting. The sophomore forward will play a key role in the matchup against the Utes.
