PROVO -- The BYU women's basketball team gave the No. 24 Arizona Wildcats all they could handle before finally giving way, 76-73, on Saturday at the Marriott Center.

"I'm really proud of our team," BYU coach Jeff Judkins said. "We got down, but we came back. If the game had been three or four minutes longer, we'd have won."

The Cougars used a balanced effort to play even with the Wildcats. Five Cougars scored nine or more points, led by junior forward Ambrosia Anderson who scored 17 points. Julie Sullivan, Kristen Kozlowski and Danielle Chessman all scored in double figures for the Cougars, while freshman Mallary Gillespie added another nine points.

Strong rebounding leading to second chance points also helped the Cougars compete with the Wildcats.

Chessman pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds, six more than any other player in the game, to give her the eighth double-double of her career. Thanks to Chessman's efforts, the Cougars outrebounded the Wildcats 36-31, which led to 17 second-chance points.

The Cougars came out strong opening up an early 20-11 lead behind the sharp shooting of Anderson and forward Nancy Seljaas, who each nailed two 3-pointers.

Arizona came charging back behind a quick and aggressive defense that forced the Cougars into 13 turnovers by halftime. Judkins said Arizona switched defenses to get the Cougars out of their pattern.

"They've got size and quickness," Judkins said. "They can pressure. We turned the ball over too many times."

The Wildcats' defense was led by lightning-quick guard Dee-Dee Wheeler who finished the game with four steals. The change in defenses allowed the Wildcats to finish the half on a 28-8 run to go up 45-33 at half time.

BYU regrouped and came out focused and fought their way back into the game during the second half. With less than three minutes to go, Gillespie hit a jumper to cut the lead to 72-69. A little more than a minute later, Gillespie dropped in another bucket to cut the lead to 76-71. The Wildcats missed two free-throws, while Anderson hit two, cutting the lead to three, with less than 10 seconds to play.

Wheeler missed two more free throws to give the Cougars one last chance to tie the game with 6.8 seconds left, but the quick Arizona defense kept the Cougars from getting off a final shot.

Judkins said he was pleased with his team's effort and the game was a good learning experience for the Cougars.

"This is why we scheduled this game," Judkins said. "We'll face teams like this in the NCAA tournament."

The Cougars (2-1) head on the road to face the University of Portland on Tuesday, before returning home on Dec. 6 to host George Washington at 5:30 p.m. in the Marriott Center.

Official Basketball Box Score
AZ vs Brigham Young
11-27-04 2:00 PM at MARRIOTT CTR, BYU, PROVO, UT
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VISITORS: AZ 3-1
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
00 POLK,Shawntinice.... *  7-14   0-0    0-1    0  6  6   2  14  3  1  5  0  30
11 WHEELER, Dee-Dee.... *  6-10   0-2    7-10   0  1  1   4  19  8  2  0  4  31
20 ARNOLD, Jessica..... *  3-7    3-4    0-0    0  2  2   2   9  2  2  0  0  27
23 JONES, Natalie...... *  5-9    1-3    0-0    1  1  2   2  11  2  3  0  3  35
50 HOBSON, Shannon..... *  6-9    0-0    0-0    3  2  5   4  12  1  3  0  0  26
10 PACE, Linda.........    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   1   0  0  1  0  1   3
12 WHISONANT, Ashley...    2-6    0-1    1-3    0  4  4   2   5  3  2  1  3  22
22 OH, Che.............    1-1    0-0    0-0    1  3  4   3   2  2  1  0  0  21
33 SMITH, Chari........    2-2    0-0    0-0    1  1  2   0   4  0  2  0  0   5
   TEAM................                         3  2  5
   Totals..............   32-58   4-10   8-14   9 22 31  20  76 21 17  6 11 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 19-34 55.9%   2nd Half: 13-24 54.2%   Game: 55.2%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  3-7  42.9%   2nd Half:  1-3  33.3%   Game: 40.0%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  4-6  66.7%   2nd Half:  4-8  50.0%   Game: 57.1%    2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOME TEAM: Brigham Young 2-1
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
01 SELJAAS, Nancy...... *  2-6    2-4    0-0    1  3  4   1   6  1  1  0  0  22
14 SULLIVAN, Julie..... *  2-8    0-2    6-6    1  1  2   4  10  4  4  0  0  31
32 KOZLOWSKI, Kristen.. *  4-8    0-0    5-7    1  2  3   1  13  2  3  0  0  28
35 JOHNSEN, Melinda.... *  0-1    0-1    0-0    0  0  0   1   0  0  2  0  1  20
51 CHEESMAN, Danielle.. *  5-9    0-0    2-2    6  7 13   2  12  2  1  0  1  28
10 STRATTON, Laura.....    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  0  0  0  0+
13 GOOLD, Tiari........    1-1    1-1    0-0    0  0  0   1   3  3  1  0  0  10
15 KEELE, Jennie.......    1-3    1-2    0-0    0  0  0   1   3  1  0  0  0   3
30 GILLESPIE, Mallary..    4-10   0-6    1-2    1  1  2   2   9  1  1  0  1  25
33 ANDERSON, Ambrosia..    4-11   2-3    7-8    1  6  7   2  17  1  3  1  1  26
50 ABELL, Mary Martha..    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  0  0  0   1
52 RILEY, Lauren.......    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   2   0  0  3  0  1   6
   TEAM................                         4  1  5
   Totals..............   23-57   6-19  21-25  15 21 36  17  73 15 19  1  5 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 11-27 40.7%   2nd Half: 12-30 40.0%   Game: 40.4%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  5-10 50.0%   2nd Half:  1-9  11.1%   Game: 31.6%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  6-7  85.7%   2nd Half: 15-18 83.3%   Game: 84.0%    1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Officials: RANDY CAMPBELL, SUE KENNEDY, & RICK MORRIS
Technical fouls: AZ-None. Brigham Young-None.
Attendance: 661
Score by Periods                1st  2nd   Total
AZ............................   45   31  -   76
Brigham Young.................   33   40  -   73

After a decisive 20-point win over SUU, the Cougar women look to go 2-0 when they host Nevada, Wed. Nov. 24 at 7 p.m. BYU then takes on No. 24 Arizona on Sat., Nov. 27 in a 2 p.m. tip off.

Teams: BYU (1-0) vs. Nevada (2-0) Date: Nov. 24 Time: 7 p.m. Arena: Marriott Ctr.

Teams: BYU (1-0) vs. Arizona (2-1) Date: Nov. 27Time: 2 p.m. Arena: Marriott Ctr.

Follow the women's basketball action live on BYU Radio

All of the women's basketball games can be heard live on BYU radio via the internet. Veteran BYU broadcaster Jay Monsen calls the action. Fans can also access BYU Radio on the Dish Network, Direct TV.

BYU's Probable Starters

Pos. # Name Ht. Yr. PPG RPG

F 51 Danielle Cheesman 6-2 Sr 9.0 10.0

F 35 Melinda Johnsen 5-10 So 6.0 2.0

F 32 Kristin Kozlowski 6-2 Sr 4.0 5.0

G 14 Julie Sullivan 5-8 Sr 9.0 2.0

G/F 01 Nancy Seljaas 6-0 Jr 7.0 2.0

Cougar Players Off The Bench

Pos. # Name Ht. Yr. PPG RPG

F 33 Ambrosia Anderson 6-2 Jr 10.0 7.0

G/F 25 Kali Taylor 5-11 Sr 1.0 1.0

G 13 Tiari Goold 5-7 So 2.0 0.0

G 10 Laura Stratton 5-6 Jr 0.0 0.0

G 30 Mallary Gillespie 5-10 Fr 12.0 0.0

F 50 Mary Martha Abell 6-3 Fr 14.0 3.0

C 52 Lauren Riley 6-3 Fr 2.0 4.0

2004-05 Team Stats -- after one game

4 Shooting from the field: (.526, 30-57)

4 Shooting from the free-throw line: (.474, 9-19)

4 Shooting from three-point line: (.538, 7-13)

4 Average points per game: 76.0

Previous Game Recap

The team opened up the 2004-05 campaign with a 76-56 win over SUU in front of over 1,900 fans. Mary Martha Abell came off the bench to lead all scores with 14 points and three rebounds. Two other players scored in double figures with 12 from freshman Mallary Gillespie and 10 from Ambrosia Anderson. Both players came off the bench in the game. Senior forward Danielle Cheesman led the team in the rebound category, grabbing 10 boards and chipping in nine points just one shy of her first double- double of the season. BYU shot 53 percent from the field, something they had done twice all of last season.

2004-05 Cougar Notables

uThree all-conference performers in Julie Sullivan (Second Team), Danielle Cheesman and Ambrosia Anderson (Honorable Mention) return to the BYU team.

uThis year's team returns four starters from last year's lineup (Sullivan, Cheesman, Keele, Taylor)

uThe top leading scorer on the BYU team, Julie Sullivan, (10.4 ppg) and the top leading rebounder , Danielle Cheesman, (5.8 rpg) are back for their final year in the Cougar blue.

uThe 2004-05 team returns 11 letterwinners and four starters from last year's team that compiled a 15-14 record and finished 5th, 5-9, in conference play. For the first time, BYU did not play in the championship game of the MWC tournament. The Cougars lost in the quarterfinals 57-60 to UNLV.

u Cougar fans will get to see five new faces on the roster that include three freshmen and one transfer from Auburn University. The freshmen are Mary Martha Abell, from Monroe, Louisiana, Mallary Gillespie, from Vineyard, Utah and Mountain View High School, and Lauren Riley, a 6-3 center from San Clemente, Calif. Dani Kubik is a sophomore center from Lawrenceville, Georgia. She played one season at Auburn and will be eligible to play for BYU beginning in December.

Injury Update

Junior guard/forward Jennie Keele fractured her right foot during the team's first practice of the year. She's expected to return to action in early December.

About Nevada

Nevada comes to the Marriott Center riding a two-game wining streak with wins over Cal State Fullerton and Colorado. After two home games the Wolf Pack are led in scoring by Talisha Anderson with 15.5 points and 3.5 rebounds a game. Meghan McGuire follows with 11 points and 3.5 boards. Amber Young tops the list in the rebound category as she grabs 9.5 boards a game. Nevada is shooting 44 percent from the field, 77 percent from the free throw line, and 37 percent from behind the arc.

Nevada Probable Starters

Pos. # Name Ht. Yr. PPG RPG

G 02 Talisha Anderson 5-10Sr 15.7 3.5

G 10 Traci Graham 5-6 So 7.0 6.0

G/F 04 April Bankston 6-1 Sr 7.0 2.5

G 33 Amber Young 5-10 Sr 9.0 9.5

F 32 Meghan McGuire 6-1 Fr 11.0 3.5

Series Record: 2-0 favoring BYU. This is the first time the Wolf Pack has played in the Marriott Center.

Last Meeting: The Cougars met Nevada last season in Reno where the visiting BYU team won by a 10-point margin, 63-53.

About Arizona

The Wildcats come in to Provo with a 2-1 record and a No. 24 ranking. Their wins are over St. Mary's and Rice, and a loss at Ohio State. Junior center Shawntinice Polk leads the Arizona offense with 17.0 points and a team-high 12.0 rebounds per game. Dee-Dee Wheeler a 5-6 senior guard follows in scoring with 11.7 points and 4.7 boards, with Shannon Hobson contributing 10.3 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. After three games, the Wildcats are shooting 43 percent from the field, 56 percent from the free throw line, and 21 percent from three-point range. The team is getting 66.7 points per game and holding opponents to 64.3 points per game.

Arizona Probable Starters

Pos.# Name Ht. Yr. PPG RPG

G 11 Dee-Dee Wheeler 5-6 Sr 11.7 4.7

G 20 Jessica Arnold 5-4 Fr 9.0 2.3

F 23 Natalie Jones 5-10 Jr 6.0 6.0

F 50 Shannon Hobson 6-2 So 10.3 5.7

C 00 Shawntinice Polk 6-5 Jr 17.0 12.0

Series Record: 5-4 in favor of the Cougars. At the Marriott Center, BYU has a 2-0 advantage. On the road, the record is 2-3 for Arizona.

Last Meeting: Both teams met last year in Tucson with Arizona getting an 83-69 victory over the Cougars. The Wildcats have won the last two contests, both played at the McKale Center.

Head Coach - Jeff Judkins

Overall Record: 59-35, begins his fourth season at BYU.

Under Coach Judkins, the team has gone to back-to-back NCAA appearances as well as to the title games of the MWC Championships, winning the title game in 2001-02.

An all-state selection in basketball, football and baseball, Judkins played basketball for the University of Utah Utah from 1974-78. While playing for the Utes, he helped the team win one conference championship and two berths in the NCAA Tournament.

He was a second-team academic All-American and three-time first-team District VII academic selection. Judkins earned three first-team All-WAC honors and was a member of the 1977 United States World Games team that captured the gold medal.

He played five years in the NBA for the Boston Celtics, Portland Trailblazers, Detroit Pistons and the Utah Jazz. He was a second-round pick by the Celtics in 1978, the same year the Celtics selected Larry Bird with the sixth pick overall.

After his NBA career, he returned to the U of U in 1989, and remained with the men's program for 10 years. Judkins, a Salt Lake City native, graduated from Utah in 1978 with a degree in health and physical education. He is a member of the Utah Sports Hall of Fame and the Crimson Club Hall of Fame.

He and his wife Mary Kay, are the parents of five children: Jessica (24), Jordan (22), Jenna (20), Jaime (17), Jaxson (14).

2004-05 Roster Breakdown

Seniors (4):

Danielle Cheesman, Kristen Kozlowski, Julie Sullivan, Kali Taylor

Juniors (5):

Ambrosia Anderson, Julie Cross, Jennie Keele (Overdiek), Nancy Seljaas, Laura Stratton

Sophomore (3):

Dani Kubik, Tiari Goold,Melinda Johnsen

Freshman (4):

Mary Martha Abell, Mallary Gillespie, Lauren Riley, Summer Sykes

By Position

Forward (6):

Mary Martha Abell, Ambrosia Anderson, Danielle Cheesman, Kristen Kozlowski,

Summer Sykes

Guard (6):

Julie Cross, Mallary Gillespie, Tiari Goold, Laura Stratton, Julie Sullivan, Kali Taylor

Guard/Forward (3):

Melinda Johnsen, Jennie Keele, Nancy Seljaas

Center /Forward(2):

Dani Kubik, Lauren Riley

Team's Practice Schedule/Media Interviews

The BYU team practices at the Marriott Center from 11 a.m., to 2 p.m., on Monday's, Wednesday's and Friday's. On Tuesday's , practice time is from 1 to 3 p.m., and from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m., on Thursdays.

Media interviews with coach Judkins and players can be done prior to or at the end of practice. All interviews must be scheduled in advance with the women's basketball athletic communications director, Norma Collett at 801-422-4908, 801-372-0989 during regular business hours or via email at: collett@byucougars.com

No interviews will be given the day of a game until after the game. Updated information on the women's basketball team is available 24 hours a day on the BYU web site at www.byucougars.com/basketball_w/

Stats on the team are updated on the web site every Monday morning. Media members may contact Norma Collett to receive news releases and game notes via email.

All working media personnel will be put on a media gate list for entry into the arena. The list will be available by the elevators near the main ticket office in the Marriott Center. No other credentials are needed. Media will be assigned a seat on press row to cover each home game.

What's Next

BYU will travel to Oregon to play the University of Portland on Tues., Nov. 30 in a 7 p.m. tip off from the Chiles Center. The team returns for one more home game against George Washington who will be making their first trip to Provo and the Marriott Center. That game is on Dec. 6 at 5:30 p.m. It is scheduled to air live on BYU-TV.