Utes Open Season With Exhibition Against Chadron State

Utah is coming off a 23-10 season.

Kalee Whipple averaged 17.0 points per game last year.

Nov. 5, 2009

SALT LAKE CITY - The Utah women's basketball team opens its season with a scrimmage against Chadron State at 7:00 p.m. on Friday.

The Utes are coming off a 23-10 season in which the team won the Mountain West Conference Tournament and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Utah returns starters Kalee Whipple and Halie Sawyer. Whipple, a returning first-team all-conference player who was named to the preseason All-MWC team, was second in the MWC in scoring (17.0 ppg) last season and 10th in rebounding (6.2 rpg). Sawyer was in the top five in the conference in rebound (7.0 per game) and blocks (1.21 per game).

Other key returning players are Janita Badon (point guard), Sasha McKinnon (guard) and Josi McDermott (guard). Utah also has six newcomers, led by Preseason MWC Freshman of the Year Taryn Wicijowski.

Chadron State was 11-16 last year in Division II play. Their top returning player is Alysa Lyman, who averaged 14 points and 4.1 rebounds for the Eagles last season.

Utah opens the regular season on the road at Utah State on Nov. 13.