Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
- Kennady McQueen hit five 3-pointers, leading Utah to an 87-34 victory.
- Utah's dominant performance included 14 made 3-pointers and forcing 23 turnovers.
- Coach Petersen praised the team's focus and highlighted McQueen's special moment at the Delta Center.
SALT LAKE CITY — The only thing cooling Kennady McQueen down in the first few minutes of the game was a trip to the bench.
The veteran guard drilled three quick 3-pointers in the first five minutes of the game, and Utah jumped out to a 19-0 run after Utah State made the first two baskets of the game to quickly put distance on the Aggies as the teams met in the Delta Center Wednesday.
The hot shooting by McQueen amid the 19-point start jumpstarted what ended up being a 50-20 lead at halftime. Utah added to the lead in the second half but could have stayed put with its halftime score as Utah went on to a 87-34 win over Utah State.
"I told these guys, we've just got to set the tone early. ... We play a tempo and a style of play that you can practice against, and you can sustain over minutes in a game, but sooner or later, we're going to go on a run," Utah head coach Gavin Petersen said. "So it's really good to see us start that way, and, again, I think once we start hitting sidelines, establishing that the press wasn't going to slow us down, I think it just opened everything up for us."
McQueen finished with 17 points, six rebounds and six assists as one of five Utah (7-2) players in double figures on the night in a total team effort in the win.
For McQueen, a Utah native who grew up coming to Utah Jazz games at the Delta Center, being able to play on that same court — a first for Utah women's basketball — was a dream come true.
"Just growing up in Utah and coming to Jazz games, what a surreal moment for me to play in the same — I was at so many Jazz games growing up courtside, like, just wanted to be involved and loving that," McQueen said. "So to be able to play on the same court as some of the best basketball players in the world, it's a really cool opportunity, and what a moment for women's sports."
"We got a really cool deal to come here and play in the Delta Center," Petersen added. "I told our kids, just look around and enjoy the moment, because these experiences will be ones you'll remember forever. And so I'm super proud of our focus. I truly believe we've continued to build on what we started in the Cayman Islands, and I'm excited to see where this goes next game."
Reese Ross came off the bench and finished with 14 points in an aggressive style of play that helped contribute to Utah's 40 points in the paint on 56% shooting for the game. Maye Toure, who was unguardable in the first half, finished with 14 points and four rebounds; and Gianna Kneepkens added 13 points, six rebounds and five assists.
Toure and Ross were largely responsible for the Aggies only making 40 points in the paint. Utah also added eight blocks and 10 steals in the win.
"One of our keys was dominate the paint, and there's a lot of little bullet points under that, but I think the message was sent, and I think we established some inside presence tonight," Petersen said. "And then that just opens it up, because you have to guard the 3-point line against us — and we're going to shoot them."
Though Utah was effective in the post, the team combined for 14 made 3-pointers on the night on 47% shooting.
Utah also forced Utah State (1-8) into 23 turnovers, which in turn led to 32 points on the other end, in what was an all-around dominant performance over Utah State.
The Aggies failed to have a player score in double figures in the low-scoring affair, but was led in scoring by Taliyah Logwood, who finished with 9 points in the loss. Utah State shot just 16% from the field.
