Utah Forward Reese Ross Says Win Over No. 22 West Virginia was Personal

Utah women's basketball secured their second ranked win of the season, taking down No. 22 West Virginia 71-64.

Jan. 27, 2026 at 11:55pm

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The Utah women's basketball team bounced back in a big way on Tuesday night as they upset No. 22-ranked West Virginia 71-64. Utah led by as many as 13 in this game, but the Utes' stout defense and ability to play free on the offensive side of the ball propelled them to victory. Freshman LA Sneed led the Utes in the victory with a team-high 15 points, while Reese Ross recorded another double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Why it matters

This win is important for the Utes' postseason resume, and getting back in the win column before taking on rival BYU is just what the team needed after a tough loss to Texas Tech a few days earlier.

The details

Utah led by as many as 13 points in the game, and their stout defense and free-flowing offense were key factors in the victory. Freshman LA Sneed led the team with 15 points, going 3-of-4 from three-point range, while Reese Ross recorded another double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. The Utes had four players score in double figures in the win.

  • The Utah women's basketball team fell to then-No. 19 Texas Tech a few days prior to this game.
  • The team held a meeting on Sunday to discuss a few things and what they want moving forward as a team.
  • The Utes will take on rival BYU on Saturday, January 31 at 2 pm MDT in Provo.

The players

Reese Ross

A Utah forward who recorded a double-double in the win over West Virginia with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

LA Sneed

A Utah freshman who led the team in scoring with 15 points, going 3-of-4 from three-point range.

Gavin Petersen

The head coach of the Utah women's basketball team, who called his team a 'resilient group' for bouncing back from the loss to Texas Tech.

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What they’re saying

“We discussed a few things and what we want moving forward as a team, and it was a really good conversation. I think as a team, we really are buying in, and you have to, there's no nights off in this league, and it's a quick turnaround, but we bought into what we had discussed on Sunday and got right back at it on Monday morning.”

— Reese Ross, Utah forward

“I feel like we just translated what we had in that meeting. I think our connection is way better. I think that conversation was needed, and we just got back in the gym, had practice, and then got ready for West Virginia, and I feel like it translated today for us to get the win.”

— LA Sneed, Utah freshman

“You've got to have the courage to be able to miss those shots. And when you get beyond, like, not resulting in it. Is it a good shot? Then shoot it. And so I think our younger kids are starting to figure that out. It's more about the shot quality, because over time and how we train more often than not, we believe it's going to go in.”

— Gavin Petersen, Utah head coach

What’s next

The 15-6 Utes will take on rival BYU on Saturday, January 31 at 2 pm MDT in Provo.

The takeaway

This win over a ranked West Virginia team is a big boost for Utah's postseason resume and shows the team's resilience after a tough loss just a few days prior. The Utes' ability to quickly regroup and translate their team meeting into a strong performance on the court demonstrates their growth and determination as they head into a rivalry game against BYU.