SAN -- Led by a career-high 28 points from senior Jennifer Leitner, the No. 19 BYU women's basketball team remained undefeated as it beat the University of San Francisco 68-65 in a close game, Thursday. The Cougars improve to 5-0 on the season while the Dons fall to 2-4.
Down 39-38 at the half, both team traded baskets evenly through the second half with neither team ever leading by more than five. Leitner stepped up with a huge three-point basket, her second of the night, to give the Cougars a five-point lead with just under three minutes in the game.
San Francisco threatened to win the game by closing the gap to one with just under a minute to play. After the Cougars grabbed a crucial offensive rebound, Leitner was fouled and sunk two critical free throws to seal the undefeated start for BYU.
Leitner finished with 28 points and 11 boards. This marks her 13th career double-double and her second this season with her first coming against Boise State.
"Leitner was the reason we won tonight," said assistant coach Alli Bills.
All American Erin Thorn finished with 12 points and seven assists. After hitting eight three-pointers against Southern Utah on Tuesday, the senior guard made only 1-4 three's but distributed the ball well to her teammates. Sophomore guard Julie Sullivan also chipped in 12 points.
"Julie has been playing real solid this season," Bills added. "Erin has been playing with a cold and lacked energy late in the game, but others like Julie and Kestlee Nelson stepped up tonight with solid defense."
BYU jumped out to an early 11-2 lead to start the game, but the Dons battled back to take several four-point leads midway through the first half. Thorn scored five straight points in the final minute to bring the Cougars within one by the half. Both team shot near 60 percent in the first half.
To start the second half, both team scored 13 points apiece and remained close until Leitner's late three point shot. San Francisco went 0-8 from beyond the arc in the half, making only 3-15 for the game.
Lisa Whiteside led San Francisco with 23 points while Carey Sauer was the only other player in double-digits with 19.
"Even when we don't play our best, we are finding ways to win and that is the sign of a good team," Bills said. "I think we learn a lot from these close games."
BYU will face PAC-10 foe Oregon at the Rose Garden in Portland on Saturday with a tip-off of 4 p.m. MST. The game will broadcast via the Internet on www.byuradio.org with Jay Monson calling the action.
Official Basketball Box Score#19 Brigham Young vs USF
12/5/02 7:00 PM at San Francisco, CA
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VISITORS: #19 Brigham Young 5-0
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
11 THORN, Erin......... * 5-9 1-4 1-2 0 2 2 2 12 7 3 0 1 37
14 SULLIVAN, Julie..... * 5-10 2-3 0-0 2 2 4 2 12 3 5 0 1 34
21 LEITNER, Jennifer... * 12-15 2-3 2-2 3 8 11 2 28 2 4 0 2 38
45 HANSEN, Lisa........ * 3-5 0-0 0-0 1 1 2 2 6 0 1 0 0 11
51 CHEESMAN, Danielle.. * 1-8 0-1 4-5 2 3 5 3 6 2 4 0 1 25
01 SELJAAS, Nancy...... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
04 NELSON, Kestlee..... 0-1 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 1 0 1 3 0 0 17
15 OVERDIEK, Jen....... 0-0 0-0 2-2 0 1 1 2 2 0 0 0 0 9
20 LARSON, Brittany.... 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 2 0 1 1 0 0 7
25 TAYLOR, Kali........ 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 2 2 1 0 1 1 0 2 14
33 ANDERSON, Ambrosia.. 1-2 0-1 0-0 1 1 2 0 2 1 1 0 0 7
TEAM................ 1 1
Totals.............. 27-52 5-13 9-11 9 21 30 17 68 18 23 0 7 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 17-28 60.7% 2nd Half: 10-24 41.7% Game: 51.9% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 3-6 50.0% 2nd Half: 2-7 28.6% Game: 38.5% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 1-1 100 % 2nd Half: 8-10 80.0% Game: 81.8% 1
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HOME TEAM: USF 2-4
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
04 WHITESIDE, Lisa..... * 9-12 0-0 5-6 3 2 5 2 23 3 2 0 0 36
11 RUSSELL, Toni....... * 3-13 0-8 0-0 0 4 4 2 6 5 3 0 6 36
22 HOLLINGSWORTH, Joy.. * 2-7 1-4 0-0 1 0 1 0 5 2 1 0 1 32
23 KRUEGER, Mary Jane.. * 3-4 0-0 0-2 1 4 5 3 6 1 10 1 1 34
42 SAUER, Carey........ * 6-11 1-1 6-6 1 5 6 5 19 1 2 0 1 36
02 JONES, Jennifer..... 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 11
13 LEATHERMAN, Merisa.. 1-3 1-2 3-4 1 1 2 1 6 0 1 0 1 15
TEAM................
Totals.............. 24-51 3-15 14-18 7 17 24 13 65 12 19 1 10 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 16-27 59.3% 2nd Half: 8-24 33.3% Game: 47.1% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 3-7 42.9% 2nd Half: 0-8 0.0% Game: 20.0% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 4-6 66.7% 2nd Half: 10-12 83.3% Game: 77.8% 3
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Officials: Anita Myles, Michelle Russi, Lisa Baptista
Technical fouls: #19 Brigham Young-TEAM. USF-None.
Attendance: 372
Score by Periods 1st 2nd Total
#19 Brigham Young............. 38 30 - 68
USF........................... 39 26 - 65
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