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PROVO, Utah – Cassie Broadhead scored a career-high 24 points, but BYU (6-5) fell 82-70 against No. 9 Washington (11-1) on Thursday afternoon at the Marriott Center.

"I was really proud of my team for coming back and cutting it down to seven or eight in the second half." BYU head coach Jeff Judkins said. "Then we relaxed for two or three minutes. Washington is so offensive--they have so many weapons that an eight-point deficit is all of a sudden up to 16 or 18."

Broadhead's total came on 8-of-16 shooting, with a 3-of-6 mark from beyond the arc. Kalani Purcell recorded her fourth double-double of the season with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Brenna Chase scored 10 points for a new career high.

It was the third time this season three players have scored in double figures for BYU.

Kristine Nielson had six of the Cougars' first nine points of the game with a pair of 3-pointers. BYU maintained a narrow lead for most of the first quarter. Broadhead helped to keep the advantage with two contested lay-ins in the last two minutes.

Washington's Natalie Romeo hit a 3 with 29 seconds left to put the Huskies up 18-16, and they held that lead as the first quarter expired.

In the second quarter, Washington outscored BYU 25-7 to lead 43-23 at the half. The nation's leading scorer, Kelsey Plum, had 13 points for the Huskies in the period. BYU was able to connect on just 3-of-19 second-quarter shots.

Shalae Salmon and Purcell combined for the first eight points of the third quarter. Broadhead scored to the next five to cap a 13-0 run as the Cougars pulled within seven at 43-36.

A 12-0 Washington run ensued as the Huskies once again extended their lead. Pulsipher had a layup and Broadhead hit a 3-pointer for the last two field goals of the third quarter as BYU trailed 62-43 heading into the fourth.

Halfway through the final period, the Cougars connected on four straight field goals to cut the lead to 70-56. After Washington went on another run, Chase's eight fourth-quarter points helped keep it wihin 15 points, as BYU fell 82-70.

BYU takes a couple of days off for Christmas before returning to action next week. The Cougars open up West Coast Conference action on the road, playing at Santa Clara on Thursday, Dec. 29. The team then returns home to host WCC foe Loyola Marymount on Saturday, Dec. 31 at 2 p.m.

Team

In its 11th meeting against the University of Washington, BYU fell 82-70. The Huskies lead the all-time series 6-5. The Cougars outscored the Huskies 47 to 39 in the second half of play.

With the loss against the Huskies, the Cougars move to 6-5 on the year as nonconference play comes to a close.

BYU beat Washington in the assist category, 17 to 16, and the Cougars scored 32 points in the paint to the Huskies' 20. BYU also led Washington 8 to 2 in fast break points and 18 to 5 in bench points.

For the third time this season, three Cougars finished in double figures – Broadhead (24), Purcell (16), and Chase (10).

Player

Cassie Broadhead picked up her 10th double figure game of the season and the 15th of her career. Broadhead went into halftime with a team-high seven points, three assists and three steals. To finish the contest, the junior guard led all Cougars in scoring. Her 24 points make for a season and career high. In the loss, Broadhead also tallied season career highs in 3-point field goals with three. The junior finished the game with a team-high four assists and a game-high three steals.

Heading into halftime, Kalani Purcell had a team-best five rebounds. Purcell helped fuel an early third period BYU 13-0 run, scoring four-straight points in the first three minutes of the second half. The All-American senior finished the game with a double-double (16 points and 10 rebounds), her fourth of the season.

Brenna Chase ended the game with a career-high 10 points against the Huskies. Chase went 2-of-3 from behind the arc, and 4-of-5 from the field.

With two early 3-point field goals to give BYU the early 9-6 lead, Kristine Nielson tallied six points in the first 20 minutes of play. 

PROVO, Utah — With a 6-4 record, BYU women’s basketball closes out its nonconference portion of the 2016-17 schedule hosting No. 9 Washington (11-1) Thursday, Dec. 22, at 2 p.m. MST. The matchup will be carried live on BYUtv and simulcast on BYU Radio. The game vs. the Huskies is just the third contest the Cougar women have played at home this year.

BYU Game Notes vs. Washington

Washington Game Notes vs. BYU

BYU AT A GLANCE
Junior guard Cassie Broadhead is one of three players averaging double digits for the Cougars with her team-best 15.7 points. Senior guard Makenzi Pulsipher follows with 13.5 points. Senior forward Kalani Purcell is next, recording 11.3 points and a team-best 8.8 rebounds per contest.

As a team, BYU is scoring 63.4 points per game while shooting 40.3 percent from the field, 28.8 percent from behind the 3-point line and 66.5 percent from the charity stripe. The Cougars pull down 36.4 rebounds a game.

In this year’s West Coast Conference preseason poll chosen by the coaches, BYU, the defending regular-season conference champion, was selected to finish second in the league race behind Gonzaga. Purcell and Pulsipher were named to the Preseason All-Conference team.

• Head coach: Jeff Judkins (Utah, ‘78), 16th season
• Team’s leading scorer: #20 C. Broadhead 15.7 ppg
• Team’s leading rebounder: #32 K. Purcell, 8.8 rpg
• Team’s assists leader: #32 K. Purcell, 4.5 apg
• Team’s steals leader: #32 K. Purcell, 2.3 spg
• Team’s blocks leader: #20 C. Broadhead, 1.2 bpg

WASHINGTON AT A GLANCE
The University of Washington, ranked No. 9 nationally, comes to Provo with an 11-1 record and is riding an eight-game win streak. Their lone loss was at No. 2 Notre Dame. Washington returns nine letterwinners who were in the Final Four of last year’s NCAA tournament.

Four players are recording double digits in points for the Huskies with Kelsey Plum’s 30.3 points per game and 5.4 rebounds leading the way. She’s followed in scoring with a double-double average from Chantel Osahor, 13.7 points and 14.2 rebounds. Aarion McDonald and Natalie Romeo round out the scoring output for Washington with 12.4 and 10.7 points, respectively.

The Huskies are averaging 90.7 points per game while shooting 49.1 percent from the field and 79.9 percent from the free-throw line.

• Head coach: Mike Neighbors (Arkansas, ‘93), Fourth season
• Team’s leading scorer: #10 K. Plum, 30.3 ppg
• Team’s leading rebounder: #00 C. Osahor, 14.2 rpg
• Team’s assists leader: #10 K. Plum, 5.7 apg
• Team’s steals leader: #10 K. Plum, 2.3 spg
• Team’s blocks leader: #34 D. Strother, 1.5 bpg

SERIES HISTORY
The series between these two teams is tied at 5-5. BYU has a 3-1 advantage when playing the Huskies in Provo. The last time the two played was on Nov. 20, 2010 in Provo. In that contest, BYU picked up the 80-55 victory.

COMING UP
With the home game vs. Washington, the Cougar women conclude their nonconference portion of the 2016-17 schedule. The defending West Coast Conference regular season champions, BYU, open up the WCC race on the road at Santa Clara on December 29, at 7 p.m. PST. That game can be seen on the Internet on the W.tv.

The Cougars return to the Marriott Center to host LMU and St. Mary’s on Dec. 31 and Jan. 5, respectively.