Utah rolls past Montana State with dominant defense in 72-53 victory

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah women's basketball team delivered a commanding 72-53 victory over Montana State Sunday night at the Huntsman Center, handing the previously unbeaten Bobcats their first loss of the season.

With a balanced attack and a defense that forced 21 turnovers, the Utes improved to 5-1 under newly appointed head coach Gavin Petersen.

"Great win for our team against a really good Montana State team," Petersen said. "They are going to compete for the Big Sky championship, no doubt in my mind. We had to find that juice, and we were able to do so over the course of four periods."

The Utah defense dominated from the opening tip, stifling Montana State and creating nine turnovers in the first quarter alone. That effort allowed Utah to jump out to a 19-12 lead.

Freshman Kylie Ray saw extended minutes, contributing energy and composure on the floor, while Gianna Kneepkens began her stellar night with sharpshooting, including a 3-pointer that electrified the crowd.

At halftime, Utah led 32-20, with Kneepkens leading with 11 points, and Maye Toure adding 4 points and two rebounds. Toure, fresh off a milestone of surpassing 1,000 career points last week, continued to establish her presence in the paint, while Utah's ball movement gave Montana State little room to operate on defense.

Kneepkens, who finished with 19 points and four rebounds, was a constant threat beyond the arc, hitting timely shots to extend the Utes' lead.

"It makes it easy when my teammates find me," Kneepkens said. "Finding the flow in our offense and getting back to moving the ball was key."

Toure also shined in the second half, scoring consecutive baskets early in the fourth quarter to push the Utes' lead to 20 and to force Montana State to call a timeout. She finished with 12 points and six rebounds, underscoring her value as a dominant inside presence.

Utah's defense set the tone all night, limiting Montana State star Marah Dykstra to tough, contested looks. Though Dykstra managed to score a game-high 22 points, her impact was minimized by Utah's relentless pressure.

"On defense, Ines (Viera) is an absolute dog," Kneepkens said of her teammate, who also recorded her 400th career assist. Viera added 9 points and directed Utah's offense with precision, setting up teammates for open looks.

Reese Ross was another standout, contributing eight rebounds to lead the team and to reinforce Utah's depth off the bench.

"What can I do that someone else can't?" Ross said, speaking about her role on the court. "Rebounding is something I take pride in, and I just go out there and do my thing."

Petersen praised his team's collective effort, calling it a "gritty performance" Sunday night.

"Slow start, but we've just gotta continue to find that flow within our offense of moving the basketball, playing for each other, and getting excited off those types of plays," he said.

The Utes will head to the Cayman Islands next, where they'll face Mississippi State on Thursday before taking on No. 6 Notre Dame on Saturday. Petersen remains optimistic about the opportunity to bond with his team in a competitive setting.

"I'm looking forward to connecting as a team and hanging out together," he said. "This is where the memories are made that last a lifetime."

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