Utah Utes guard Gianna Kneepkens (5) drives past Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs forward Christina Deng (10) during the NCAA First Round at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 17, 2023.
Utah Utes guard Gianna Kneepkens (5) drives past Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs forward Christina Deng (10) during the NCAA First Round at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 17, 2023. Laura Seitz, Deseret News
By Melissa Yack

Behind Alissa Pili’s season-high 33 points, Utah’s women’s basketball team rolled to a first-round win in the NCAA Tournament over Gardner-Webb, 103-77 on Friday night at the Huntsman Center.

Pili, the Pac-12 Player of the Year, also had 8 rebounds and 8 assists in the victory. Jenna Johnson added 20 points and Gianna Kneepkens had 17 to round out Utah’s leaders.

Second-seeded Utah awaits the winner of seventh-seeded North Carolina State and 10-seeded Princeton, which tip off later Friday night.

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Here are 3 keys to Utah’s win over Gardner-Webb.

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Utah celebrates their win against the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs during the NCAA First Round at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 17, 2023. Utah beat Gardner-Webb 103-77. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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Utah Utes forward Alissa Pili (35) drives into Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs guard Lauren Bevis (2) during the NCAA First Round at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 17, 2023. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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Utah Utes forwards Alissa Pili (35), Jenna Johnson (22) and Teya Sidberry (32) cheer during the game against Gardner-Webb during the NCAA First Round at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 17, 2023. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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Utah Utes guard Lani White (3) and Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs guard Ki'Ari Cain (1) compete for a loose ball during the NCAA First Round at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 17, 2023. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
5 of 16
Utah Utes guard Gianna Kneepkens (5) drives past Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs forward Christina Deng (10) during the NCAA First Round at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 17, 2023. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
6 of 16
Utah Utes guard Kennady McQueen (24) gets off a pass while taking down Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs guard Ki'Ari Cain (1) during the NCAA First Round at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 17, 2023. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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Utah Utes guard Ines Vieira (2) grabs a loose ball and knocks out Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs guard L'Mia Littlejohn (3) in the NCAA First Round at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 17, 2023. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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Utah Utes forward Kelsey Rees (53) shoots against Gardner-Webb in the NCAA First Round at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 17, 2023. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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Utah Utes guard Gianna Kneepkens (5) drives against Gardner-Webb in the NCAA First Round at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 17, 2023. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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Utah’s head coach Lynne Roberts has words with a referee during the game against Gardner-Webb in the NCAA First Round at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 17, 2023. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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Utah Utes forward Jenna Johnson (22) drives against Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs forward Christina Deng (10) during the NCAA First Round at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 17, 2023. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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Utah celebrates a 3-point basket in the game against Gardner-Webb during the NCAA First Round at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 17, 2023. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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Utah Utes guard Ines Vieira (2), Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs guard Lauren Bevis (2) and Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs forward Alasia Smith (30) fight for the ball during the NCAA First Round at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 17, 2023. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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Utah Utes forward Alissa Pili (35) drives between Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs forward Layken Cox (22) and guard Lauren Bevis (2) during the NCAA First Round at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 17, 2023. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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Utah Utes guard Lani White (3) smirks after scoring against Gardner-Webb during the NCAA First Round at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 17, 2023. Utah beat Gardner-Webb 103-77. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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Utah Utes guard Kennady McQueen (24) gets off a pass while taking down Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs guard Ki'Ari Cain (1) during the NCAA First Round at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 17, 2023. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
  • Utah played team ball all game, finishing with 32 assists on 37 baskets.
  • The Utes were red hot, shooting 59% from the field and 44% from behind the 3-point line.
  • Utah’s win kept its perfect home streak alive, as the Utes are undefeated in the Huntsman Center this year. Utah also has not lost back-to-back games, and kept that streak alive as well after losing to Washington State in the Pac-12 tournament earlier in the month. 
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