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Marriott Center
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PROVO, Utah — Double-doubles from Lexi Eaton Rydalch and Kalani Purcell led BYU to its seventh win in a row with a 75-61 victory over Loyola Marymount at the Marriott Center on Thursday night for its seventh-consecutive win.
"It was a great win tonight," BYU head coach Jeff Judkins said. "I thought we played really well and got good leads not once, not twice, but three times. You've got to give Loyola Marymount a lot of credit for not backing down."
BYU (15-4, 7-1 West Coast Conference) beat Loyola Marymount (7-12, 3-5 WCC) in second chance points 14 to eight and in fast break points, 12 to four.
Rydalch scored 28 points and grabbed 11 boards for her second double-double of the year. She also dished out four assists. Purcell had 18 points and 16 rebounds, good for her ninth double-double. Makenzi Morrison Pulsipher also scored in double digits this game with 15 points.
Purcell got the scoring started for BYU in the first period, scoring in the opening minute. She connected on a shot again to make it 6-5 at the 6:52 mark. With 3:49 left in the period, Rydalch broke a tie to take the 13-11 lead after fighting for the offensive board and putting it back up for a layup. BYU had a 20-13 lead after the first 10 minutes. Rydalch and Purcell combined for 18 of the Cougars 20 first-period points.
The second period saw more fight from the Lions. BYU worked to extend its lead early on in the period, making its way to the charity stripe multiple times. Both Rydalch and Pulsipher both completed consecutive three-point plays to push the lead to 33-19 with 4:08 until the break.
Loyola Marymount then went on to score nine unanswered points to close out the half, holding BYU scoreless for the final four minutes. The Cougars had a 33-29 lead at the break led by double-digit scoring from Rydalch and Purcell with 15 and 13, respectively.
A three from Rydalch pushed the lead back to double digits, 40-29, with 7:12 to go in the third period. The Cougars went on a 7-0 run over two minutes to keep the Lions at a distance. A jump shot from Pulsipher with 1:30 on the clock capped off the run, making the lead 49-33. BYU had a 51-36 lead to end the third period.
Cassie Broadhead scored the first four points of the fourth period for BYU, the last bucket coming from a breakaway layup to push the lead to 58-38 with 7:50 remaining in the game. LMU made two 3-pointers in a row, but Pulsipher made a quick layup to stop the run, getting the lead back up to 62-46 with 5:50 to play.
A couple of treys from Pulsipher in the last three minutes, including one with 54 seconds to play, sealed the 75-61 win for BYU.
The Cougars will finish their four-game home stand on Saturday against Pepperdine at 2 p.m. MST. The game will be televised live on BYUtv and will be broadcast on BYU Radio on Sirius XM 143. Live stats will be available on the BYU women's basketball schedule page.
Postgame Notes
The Cougars took a four-point lead, 33-29, into halftime. BYU shot 33.3 percent from the field to LMU's 40.6 percent. Through 20 minutes of action, the Cougars went 9 for 12 from the charity stripe while the Lions went 2 for 3 from the line.
BYU finished the game winning the rebound battle 51 to 40 while also dishing out 19 assists to LMU's 11. With their 51 rebounds, the Cougars recorded a new season-high. The Lions ended the contest shooting 36.4 percent from the field to the Cougars' 35.7 percent. BYU turned the ball over 18 times while LMU gave away the ball 21 times and the Cougars scored 18 points off of turnovers to the Lions 15.
Through 40 minutes of play, BYU scored 34 points in the paint, while LMU had 30 points in the paint. The Cougars scored 14 second chance points and 12 fast break points while LMU scored eight and four, respectively. The Cougars finished the game shooting 20 for 25 from the line while the Lions shot 8 for 10. BYU led for 34:36 minutes of the game.
For the ninth time this season, three players scored in double figures: Rydalch (28), Purcell (18), Pulsipher (15).
The Cougars are now 13-0 on the year when leading at halftime and 12-0 when they dish out more assists than their opponent. BYU is currently 6-0 in January, and has won seven straight contests. The Cougars have not lost at home this season.
Player Notes
Lexi Eaton Rydalch had eight first period points. Rydalch went into halftime with a game-high 15 points, going 5 for 10 from the field. She ended the contest with a game-high 28 points and tied her season best in rebounds with 11 to record her second double-double of the season. She also tied for a game-high four assists and three steals. With her 28 points, Rydalch has now scored 20+ points in 14 games this season. Rydalch currently ranks ninth in the points per game category in the NCAA and needs eight more points to tie Jackie Beene McBride for third place in most points scored in BYU history.
Kalani Purcell started the game strong scoring 10 first period points and recording three rebounds. Purcell finished the half with 13 points and seven rebounds. Finishing the game with a new career-high 18 points and a game-high 16 rebounds, Purcell recorded her ninth double-double of the year. She also tied for game highs in assists with four and had two steals in the game.
Makenzi Morrison Pulsipher scored in double figures for the 12th time this season with 15 points. Pulsipher also recorded one rebound, assist and steal.
Amanda Wayment finished the game with eight rebounds. Her fourth game with eight or more rebounds this season.
Cassie Broadhead scored four points against the Lions, had two rebounds and recorded a game-high four assists.
Home games vs. LMU and PEP this week
PROVO, Utah — Tied for first place in the most recent West Coast Conference standings with San Diego and on a six-game win streak, BYU women’s basketball (14-4, 6-1), is home this week hosting two league games.
The Cougars host LMU (7-11, 3-4) Thursday, Jan. 21, at 6 p.m. On Saturday, Jan. 23, Pepperdine (5-13, 1-6) comes to the Marriott Center for a 2 p.m. tilt. The Waves play at San Diego on Thursday night. Both home games this week air live on BYUtv and are simulcast on BYU Radio.
BYU at a Glance
Three players are scoring in double digits for BYU led by 23.2 points from All-American senior guard Lexi Eaton Rydalch. She ranks second on the team in rebounds, pulling down 5.4 boards a game. Junior Makenzi Morrison Pulsipher contributes 11.4 points to the Cougars offensive threat. All-American Kalani Purcell, a JC transfer from Hutchinson Community College and Hamilton, New Zealand, rounds out the scoring with her 10.8 points and with a team best 11.8 rebounds is averaging a double-double. Purcell tops the league in rebounds and in assists and is coming off her second straight WCC Player of the Week honor. Rydalch needs 36 points to tie Jackie Beene McBride for third place all-time in scoring and she’s 64 points shy of tying Alex Cowling for the top spot in the WCC record book (2,219). Currently, Rydalch leads the conference in scoring.
The Cougars are scoring 68.1 points and grabbing 38.2 rebounds while shooting 42.1 percent from the field, 67.3 percent from the free throw line and 35.8 percent from 3-point range. BYU is holding opponents to 60.6 points per game.
• Head coach: Jeff Judkins (Utah, ‘78) 15th season
• Team’s leading scorer: #21 L. Eaton Rydalch, 23.2 ppg
• Team’s leading rebounder: #32 K. Purcell, 11.8 rpg
• Team’s assists leader: #32 K. Purcell, 4.3 apg
• Team’s steals leader: #23 M. Morrison Pulsipher, 2.1 spg
• Team’s blocks leader: #32, K. Purcell, .78 bpg
LOYOLA MARYMOUNT at a Glance
Loyola Marymount enters this week’s league action with a 7-11, 3-4 record. The Lions have captured wins over Portland, Pepperdine and Pacific while losing to Gonzaga, Saint Mary’s, San Francisco and Santa Clara. When playing on the road, LMU is 1-1 in WCC play.
The Lions return eight letterwinners including three starters from last year’s squad that ended the year with a 7-24, 4-14 record and finished eighth in the WCC regular season race. Head coach Charity Elliott is in her fourth season at the helm of LMU’s women’s basketball program.
LMU has three players that are putting up double figures in points with a team-best 12.1 points from Sophie Taylor. Cheyanne Wallace contributes 11.8 points and Leslie Lopez-Wood chips in 10.1 points. Taylor is the team’s leading rebounder, grabbing 8.6 boards a game.
The Lions are scoring 67.6 points and grabbing 41.0 rebounds a game. They shoot 37.0 percent from the field, 30.4 percent from 3-point range and 70.5 percent from the free throw line.
• Head coach: Charity Elliott, Fourth Year
• Team’s leading scorer: #20 S. Taylor, 12.1 ppg
• Team’s leading rebounder: #20 S. Taylor, 8.6 rpg
• Team’s assists leader: #11 A. Velasco, 3.9 apg
• Team’s steals leader: #20 S. Taylor, 2.1 spg
• Team’s blocks leader: #04 C. Wallace, 2.2 bpg
Series History
BYU leads the overall series over LMU 10-1.
During last year’s WCC race, the Cougars swept the series vs. the Lions. In the first meeting in Los Angeles on Jan. 8, the Cougars picked up the 71-63 win. Then on Feb. 7 in Provo, BYU won the home game, 74-59.
LMU has never won a game in Provo in the series that dates back to 1996.
PEPPERDINE at a Glance
In the latest WCC standings, the Waves are in ninth place with a 1-6 mark in league games. Their overall record is 5-13. Pepperdine’s lone conference win is over Portland. They play at San Diego on Thursday night before making the trip to Provo for Saturday’s matchup.
The Waves return eight letterwinners and have seven newcomers on this year’s team. Two new assistant coaches also joined this year’s squad.
On the year, Erica Ogwumike tops the leaderboard in scoring with 16.9 points and also leads the way in rebounding, pulling down 7.2 boards a game for Pepperdine. The Waves shoot 38.3 percent from the field, 33.6 percent from 3-point range and 72.8 percent at the free throw line while scoring 63.8 points per contest.
• Head coach: Ryan Weisenberg, Second Year
• Team’s leading scorer: #13 E. Ogwumike, 16.9 ppg
• Team’s leading rebounder: #13 E. Ogwumike, 7.2 rpg
• Team’s assists leader: #11 P Fecske, 3.6 apg
• Team’s steals leader: #13 E. Ogwumike, 1.9 spg
• Team’s blocks leader: #44 K. Brockway, .50 bpg
Series History
BYU leads the series with Pepperdine, 10-2.
Last season, the Cougars swept the series with an 84-78 road win on Jan. 10 and a 77-58 victory at home on Feb. 5. Pepperdine has never won a game in Provo.
Coming Up
After four straight games at home, BYU returns to the road to southern California for matchups at LMU and Pepperdine next Thursday and Saturday.