SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Gardner-Webb worked through its first practice on the Huntsman Center floor Thursday afternoon and locked in for its NCAA opener against No. 2 seed Utah.

Head coach Alex Simmons and veterans Lauren Bevis, Ki'Ari Cain and Jhessyka Williams addressed the media before hitting the court with the rest of the Runnin' Bulldogs for final preparation for the Pac 12 Utes.

Gardner-Webb (29-4) is in the midst of its most impressive season in the sport and is riding a 21-game win streak – the third-longest active streak in Division I women's basketball.

The team has broken 17 individual or team single-season records in 2022-23 and is making its first appearance in the Big Dance since 2011.

Williams is having the best season of a storied career, averaging 19.8 points and 9.4 rebounds en route to Big South Player of the Year and Tournament MVP honors. The Augusta, Ga., native is a strong candidate for All-America honors as well in her final college season.

She needs just three points to move past Dina Smith on the career scoring list at Gardner-Webb and is just the third woman ever to top 2,000 points (2,029) for a career with the Runnin' Bulldogs.

Bevis (15.6 ppg) and Cain (10.0 ppg) are each averaging more points than ever before in the backcourt and do-it-all forward Alasia Smith is one of the nation's most effective defensive players who also averages 13.5 points and 8.8 rebounds per game.

Throw in improved post player Layken Cox (8.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg) and it is no surprise that Gardner-Webb not only established a new Big South mark for wins in an undefeated conference season (18-0), but also won those games by an average of more than 17 points per game.

Utah (25-4) entered the postseason ranked in the nation's top-10 in both major polls and boasts one of the top offenses in the country – churning out 83.5 points per game – which ranks No. 4 nationally.

The Pac 12 regular season champions also ranks No. 7 nationally in scoring margin (+17.6 ppg) and No. 4 in field goal percentage (48.5%).

Post player Alissa Pili has keyed the success inside, averaging 20.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per game – while shooting at a 58.5 percent clip. Gianna Kneepkens (15.4 ppg) and Jenna Johnson (11.4 ppg) also average in double figures for a team that made 249-of-699 shots from three this season.

The team won its first 14 games this season and finished by winning 10 of its last 12.

Neither Gardner-Webb nor Utah has lost two games in a row at any point in 2022-23.

Friday's game will tip at 7:30 pm on the east coast and will air live on ESPNU.

Phil Constantino and Jim Morrison will have the radio call on 730 The Game (ESPN Charlotte) and online at ESPNCLT.com.