Solid shooting gives BYU 80-65 win over Eastern Washington

PROVO, Utah – Four Cougars scored in double figures, including a career-high 14 from Shalae Salmon, as BYU beat Eastern Washington 80-65 Saturday in the Marriott Center.

Final Box Score for BYU vs. Eastern Washington

"It's good to win," BYU head coach Jeff Judkins said. "I was really proud with our effort in the first half, especially on the defensive end. I thought we were really active and that made it difficult for them."

The Cougars (2-1) went a perfect 13 of 13 from the free-throw line and 11 of 24 from beyond the arc, setting season highs in both. They scored 19 fast-break points compared to just six for the Eagles (1-2).

Brenna Chase led the team with 18 points, to go along with 10 assists and five steals for her first career double-double. Shaylee Gonzales and Paisley Johnson were the other two in double figures with 16 and 10. Gonzales also had a career-high four steals. 

"It's good to see Brenna shoot it – she's worked hard," Judkins added. "When you're not hitting it like you normally do it's tough mentally. Brenna's fought through a lot, so it's good to see her come out and hit shots and get her rhythm back."

Jasmine Moody hit a 3 at the top of the key halfway through the first quarter to extend an early Cougar lead to 10-2. Two minutes later, Maria Albiero put BYU up 16-7 with a leaning jumper from the elbow. Salmon gave the Cougars a 20-10 lead with two minutes left in the quarter with a layup. The quarter ended with BYU up 20-12.

The Cougars got off to a quick start in the second quarter. Johnson hit a three on BYU’s first possession, and Gonzales followed that with a steal and lay-in to make it 25-12.

Malli Valgardson and Chase knocked down 3-pointers on consecutive possessions to make the Cougars’ lead 38-22 with 3:45 left in the first half. In the final minute of the half, Gonzales stole a pass and finished on the other end. BYU led 40-26 at the break. Salmon, Johnson and Chase had eight points apiece.

Both offenses stalled early in the third quarter. With 4:42 on the clock, BYU led 44-32. The Eagles narrowed their deficit to 46-39 with a 7-2 run. The Cougars answered with a pair of free throws from Salmon and a lay-in from Johnson to lead 50-39.

Making her first collegiate appearance, freshman Babalu Ugwu hit a runner while being fouled late in the third quarter. She buried the free throw to complete the 3-point play and put BYU up 53-41. After two Eastern Washington free throws, Ugwu scored again for a 55-43 lead. A Gonzales 3 made it 58-43 heading into the final quarter.

Gonzales maintained the Cougars’ comfortable lead with a 3-pointer halfway through the fourth quarter to put BYU up 67-51. Chase buried a three then drove the length of the court and assisted a Gonzales bucket on back-to-back possessions to make it 77-58 for the Cougars. After an Eagle basket, Chase hit another three for BYU's final points.

BYU takes on Utah State in Logan on Tuesday, Nov. 20, at 7 p.m. The game will be streamed live at themw.com.

Postgame Notes

First Quarter

• The Cougars forced three early turnovers to open the game on a 10-0 run, leading 10-2 midway through the quarter

• Chase’s 3-pointer to open the game marked her 10th-straight game with at least one made three

• Salmon’s 3-pointer midway through the quarter was her first of the season

• 2018 WCC Defensive Player of the Year Sara Hamson made her first appearance of the season for BYU in the final seconds of the quarter

• Salmon led the team with six points and three rebounds through one period

Second Quarter

• Gonzales got her second steal of the game just seconds into the quarter, giving her at least one takeaway in every game of her three-game career

• Johnson made her first two 3-pointers of the game, giving her at least one three in every game this season

• BYU forced 17 turnovers from the Eagles in the first half, including 10 steals for a new season high. The Cougars scored 16 points off the turnovers.

• Gonzales and Chase each had three steals in the half, giving Chase her 18th consecutive game with at least one takeaway

• BYU shot an even 50 percent from the field en route to a season-best 40 points in the first half. The Cougars’ 14-point lead was also the best of the season at the half.

Third Quarter

• Salmon hit 10 points on the first play of the second half to put her in double figures for the first time this season

• Johnson also hit 10 points late in the quarter, giving her double figures in every game this season

• Ugwu scored her first points as a Cougar with 1:40 remaining the quarter on a completed and-one to put the Cougars up 53-41.

Fourth Quarter

• Gonzales reached 11 points three minutes into the fourth quarter to put her in double figures for the third-straight game

• Signe Glantz made her BYU debut with 6:35 left in the game

• Gonzales hit her second 3-pointer of the game midway through the final quarter to give her two made threes in every game this season

• Salmon hit a new career high with 14 points six minutes into the fourth quarter

• Chase hit her second three of the game to reach 11 points, giving her two threes and double-figure scoring in every game this season

• Chase got her 10th assist late in the fourth quarter to give her a double-double and a new career high in assists

• BYU’s 80 total points are a new season high for the team