![]() The game marked only the second time in program history, and the first since early in the 2000 season, that Utah hosted a non-conference matchup between top-25 programs. (Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Utes guard Gianna Kneepkens (5) looks for an open teammate as the University of Utah hosts the Oklahoma Sooners in women’s NCAA basketball in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Nov. From the start, we said pedal to the metal, so I just tried my best every play, whatever that looked like, I tried to make sure I did that.” “I wasn’t able to play in the game last year, so I was just super excited to be given the chance to play with my teammates against Oklahoma. “I think just knowing what happened last year, it puts a chip on your shoulder,” said McQueen, a Henefer native who missed last season’s matchup. For three quarters, she was right as Utah built an 11-point lead, only to have the Sooners rip off a 32-point fourth quarter to steal an 83-76 decision. ![]() Last season, Roberts thought she had enough to walk her team into a Power Five building before Christmas. You can’t predict injuries, and the NCAA Transfer Portal has radically changed year-to-year roster dynamics, but the point stands. When you agree to multiple-team events more than a year in advance, or home-and-homes that bleed into two or more seasons, you’re trying to project what your team could be down the road, and whether or not that particular matchup lines up with what you think you have at your disposal. That is long enough to understand that college basketball scheduling is an inexact science. ![]() Roberts is in her 21st season as a head coach across three different schools. ![]() There was more reminiscing Wednesday night about last season, specifically a late-December trip to face Oklahoma for the front end of a home-and-home agreement. National relevancy began showing itself last winter when the Utes advanced to the championship game of the Pac-12 Tournament, returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011, and beat Arkansas in the first round before bowing out to Texas two days later. ![]()
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