LAS -- BYU women's basketball team pulled off a nail-biting win over UNLV 48-45, holding the Cougars in third place in the MWC.

Senior guard Julie Sullivan led BYU in points with 12, all made in the second half, helping to keep the score within five for the entire half.

With 15 seconds left in the game and a score of 48-45, UNLV had two opportunities to shrink BYU's lead. The Cougar's defense remained strong as time ran out for the Rebels.

"It wasn't a real pretty game," said BYU head coach Jeff Judkins. "It was a defensive battle. But it is a good win for us, we'll take it."

Freshman guard Mallary Gillespie drilled a 3-point shot with under 13:00 left in the game to give BYU their first lead 33-30.

"We stuck together and we hit baskets when we had to," Judkins said

Unlike the second half, momentum shifts gave both teams large leads during the first half. UNLV held the Cougars to only five points for more than six minutes to start the game, while they scored eight.

Despite being down by 10, BYU fought back with a 9-0 run. Four quick points from senior forward Kristen Kozlowski helped cut the Rebel lead to only one.

The score remained close the last four minutes of the half ending with a UNLV lead 19-21.

The Cougars next game will be on the road Saturday against San Diego State. The game will be broadcast via byuradio.org on tape delay starting at approximately 9 p.m.

Official Basketball Box Score
BYU vs UNLV
03/03/05 7 pm at Las Vegas, Nev. (Cox Pavilion)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VISITORS: BYU 17-9, 8-5
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
32 KOZLOWSKI, Kristen.. f  4-6    0-2    3-4    1  4  5   2  11  1  3  1  0  37
35 JOHNSEN, Melinda.... f  1-2    0-1    3-3    0  3  3   2   5  1  2  1  2  29
51 CHEESMAN, Danielle.. f  0-6    0-0    0-0    0  3  3   4   0  1  2  0  0  19
13 GOOLD, Tiari........ g  0-3    0-2    0-0    0  1  1   0   0  0  1  0  0  17
14 SULLIVAN, Julie..... g  4-6    0-1    4-5    0  3  3   0  12  4  3  0  0  33
30 GILLESPIE, Mallary..    3-8    2-6    0-0    1  0  1   2   8  2  1  1  1  27
33 ANDERSON, Ambrosia..    3-9    1-3    0-0    0  3  3   2   7  0  3  0  0  18
45 KUBIK, Dani.........    0-1    0-1    2-2    1  0  1   5   2  1  3  1  1  11
52 RILEY, Lauren.......    1-3    0-0    1-2    0  1  1   1   3  0  2  0  0   9
   TEAM................                         2  2  4
   Totals..............   16-44   3-16  13-16   5 20 25  18  48 10 20  4  4 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half:  7-19 36.8%   2nd Half:  9-25 36.0%   Game: 36.4%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  1-5  20.0%   2nd Half:  2-11 18.2%   Game: 18.8%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  4-6  66.7%   2nd Half:  9-10 90.0%   Game: 81.3%    1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOME TEAM: UNLV 15-12, 6-7
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
12 HOLMES, Sequoia..... f  2-7    1-1    2-4    1  5  6   3   7  1  3  1  1  33
21 HITCHENS, Nikki..... f  5-6    0-0    0-3    2  4  6   1  10  0  3  0  2  28
22 HENRY, RanDee....... f  3-7    0-2    1-5    5  9 14   3   7  3  3  0  2  36
00 MOORE, Sheena....... g  3-10   0-6    2-2    0  1  1   2   8  4  5  0  1  36
20 THOMAS, Brittney.... g  3-8    2-7    1-2    1  2  3   4   9  2  6  0  2  30
01 CLARK, Nejlah.......    0-0    0-0    0-0    1  0  1   0   0  0  1  0  0   2
03 SIMMONS, Kameca.....    1-2    0-0    0-0    3  3  6   1   2  1  0  0  0  17
44 COLEMAN, Shana......    0-1    0-1    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  0  0  0   6
51 LOFTUS, Amy.........    1-4    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   4   2  0  5  0  0  12
   TEAM................                         1  1  2             3
   Totals..............   18-45   3-17   6-16  14 25 39  18  45 11 29  1  8 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half:  9-20 45.0%   2nd Half:  9-25 36.0%   Game: 40.0%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  2-8  25.0%   2nd Half:  1-9  11.1%   Game: 17.6%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  1-5  20.0%   2nd Half:  5-11 45.5%   Game: 37.5%    3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Officials: Debbie Adams, Randy Campbell, Michael Fox
Technical fouls: BYU-None. UNLV-None.
Attendance: 552
Score by Periods                1st  2nd   Total
BYU...........................   19   29  -   48
UNLV..........................   21   24  -   45
ID-284889
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BYU's women's basketball team (16-9, 7-5) finishes the regular MWC season on the road this week. They plat at UNLV, 15-11, 6-6 Thursday night, and then are at San Diego State (8-17, 2-10) on Saturday afternoon.

Teams: BYU(16-9, 7-5) vs.UNLV (15-11, 6-6) Date: 03/03/05Time: 7 p.m. Arena: Cox Pavilion

Teams: BYU (16-9, 7-5) vs.SDSU (8-17, 2-10) Date: 03/05/05Time: 5 p.m. Arena: Cox Arena

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 at www.byuradio.org Veteran BYU broadcaster Jay Monsen calls the action. Fans can also access BYU Radio on the Dish Network.

BYU's Probable Starters

Pos. # Name Ht. Yr. PPG RPG

G 14 Julie Sullivan 5-8 Sr 11.03.5

G 30 Mallary Gillespie 5-10 Fr 8.0 2.9

F 32 Kristin Kozlowski 6-2 Sr 9.8 5.2

F 35 Melinda Johnsen 5-10 So 4.0 2.0

F 51 Danielle Cheesman 6-2 Sr 8.4 8.4

Cougar Players Off The Bench

Pos. # Name Ht. Yr. PPG RPG

F 33 Ambrosia Anderson 6-2 Jr 10.5 5.0

C 45 Dani Kubik 6-3 So 7.9 4.3

F 01 Nancy Seljaas 6-0 Jr 4.1 2.0

C 52 Lauren Riley 6-3 Fr 2.3 1.9

F 50 Mary Martha Abell 6-3 Fr 2.0 1.8

G 25 Kali Taylor 5-11 Sr 2.5 1.3

G 13 Tiari Goold 5-10 Fr 1.0 1.1

G 10 Laura Stratton 5-6 Jr 0.5 0.5

2004-05 Team Stats --

-- Shooting from the field: (.433, 611-1411)

-- Shooting from the free-throw line: (.720, 291-404)

-- Shooting from three-point line: (.318, 119-374)

-- Average points per game: 65.3

Lineup Update

Starters: Record:

Seljaas, Sullivan, Kozlowski, Johnsen, Cheesman: 6-4

Sullivan, Anderson, Kozlowski, Johnsen, Cheesman: 2-1

Sullivan, Gillespie, Anderson, Kozlowski, Cheesman: 1-0

Goold, Sullivan, Kozlowski, Johnsen, Cheesman: 2-1

Sullivan, Gillespie, Kozlowski, Johnsen, Cheesman: 5-3

Previous Game Recap

Last Thursday night, the Cougars fought back from a 18-point deficit in the second half, before falling to the Utes 68-58 at the Huntsman Center.

Utah used a 14-2 run in the second half to extend their lead to 44-29. BYU answered a few minutes later with a 7-0 run to bring the score to 51-40.

Despite shooting 38 percent from the field in the game, the Cougars continued clawing their way back and made the game close following a pair of three-point baskets by Mallary Gillespie, pulling BYU to within seven points, down 62-55. But on the ensuing possession, a three-point shot by Ambrosia Anderson bounced off the front of the rim and Utah controlled the ball and closed out the game from the free-throw line.

After defeating New Mexico at home on Saturday, the Cougars got off to a slow start against the Utes before hitting their first shot of the game, a three-point basket by Gillespie, with 16:19 to go in the half. Both teams warmed up from the field and Utah took a 30-24 lead into halftime.

Shona Thorburn led all scorers with 24 points and senior Julie Sullivan had a team-high 13 points for BYU. The Cougars did set a season high, making 10 three-point baskets in 27 attempts.

About the Cougars

-- The Cougars current record: 16-9, 7-5

-- The team's leading scorer is senior point guard Julie Sullivan, who tallies 11.0 points.

-- Senior forward Danielle Cheesman tops the list in the rebound category with 8.4 per game.

-- Cheesman notched her fifth double double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds in the Utah game on 01/29/05. It was her 12th overall.

-- Cheesman joined BYU's elite 1,000 point club when she hit a three-point bucket just minutes into the Weber State game on 12/30/04. She becomes the 14th student-athlete who has reached that similar milestone during their BYU college career.

-- Anderson picked up her first double double of the 2004-05 campaign with the 20 points and 12 rebounds against SEMO on 12/10/04.

-- Freshman Mallary Gillespie put in seven three pointers in the game vs. Nevada on 11/24/04, that's two shy of BYU's all-time record holder in three pointers, Erin Thorn. Thorn tallied nine treys vs. Arkansas Pine-Bluff at a tournament in Denver on 12/14/01.

BYU By The Numbers

48 rebounds grabbed in the AF game on 2/17/05, the most against an MWC opponent this season.

25 assists vs. UNLV on 2/05/05, the most vs. an MWC foe this year.

16 games where Julie Sullivan has scored in double figures.

14 steals in the game vs. AF on 2/17/05, the most against an MWC opponent this season.

13 games that senior forward Kristin Kozlowski has scored in double figures.

13 times that BYU has had at least three players scoring in double figures.

10 three-pointers made @ Utah on 2/24/05, the most this season.

10 times that Ambrosia Anderson has scored in double figures.

8 season-high blocks by BYU in the game vs. Wyoming on 01/13/05

5 times that the Cougars have shot 50 percent or better from the field: vs. Colorado State on 01/15/05 (50.8, 31-61);

vs. Portland State on 01/08/05 (51.7, 31-60);

vs. USC on 12/18/04 (55.3, 26-47);

vs. GW on 12/06/04 (50.0, 27-54); and vs. SUU on 11/19/04 (52.6, 30-57).

1 time that BYU has shot 60 percent: vs. UNLV on 2/05/05 (60.4,32-53)

Player Injury Report/Update

-- Nancy Seljaas is back in the lineup off the bench after she broke her foot at the UNM game on 1/20/05.

-- Kali Taylor is back in her off the bench role. She broke a finger in her left hand.

-- Junior forward Jennie Keele will get a medical redshirt for the rest of this season due to foot injury.

Cougars Picked Fifth in Preseason Media Poll

For the 2004-05 season, BYU's women's basketball team was picked to finish 5th in the regular MWC season.

Rk. Teams (1st votes) Points

1. UNLV (5) 134

2. New Mexico (8) 131

Utah (7) 131

4. Colorado State 92

5. BYU 88

6. Wyoming 65

7. San Diego State 43

8. Air Force 28

Abell Gets MWC Newcomer of the Year Nomination in Preseason Media Poll

Mary Martha Abell, a 6-3 freshman forward from Monroe, Louisiana and Monroe High School was picked as the top newcomer in the media's preseason poll announced in Denver in October 2004.

Tracking the Cougars vs. MWC as of Feb. 28

Category Conference Games All Games

Scoring Offense 5th, 62.6 4th, 65.3

Scoring Defense 3rd, 58.6 4th, 58.9

Scoring Margin 3rd, +4.0 4th, +6.4

Field Goal Pct. 3rd .423 1st, .433

Free Throw Pct. 4th, .715 4th, .720

3-Point Field Goal Pct. 5th, .312 4th, .318

Rebounding Offense 1st, 39.9 2nd, 40.0

Rebounding Defense 3rd, 33.8 4th, 33.0

Blocked Shots 2nd, 4.17 3rd, 3.24

Assists 3rd, 15.17 3rd, 16.00

Steals 3rd, 7.83 5th, 8.08

Assist/Turnover Ratio 4th, .85 4th, 0.86

3-Point Field Goals Made 6th, 4.42 5th, 4.76

Offensive Rebounds 3rd, 13.50 4th, 12.72

Defensive Rebounds 1st, 26.42 2nd, 27.28

Tracking BYU Players in the MWC as of Feb. 28

Name Category Conf. Games All Games

Sullivan, J. Scoring 9th, 12.5 13th, 11.0

Anderson, A. Scoring 17th, 9.3 16tht, 10.5

Cheesman, D. Scoring 22ndt, 8.3 22nd, 8.4

Kozlowski, K. Scoring 25th, 8.3 18th, 9.8

Kubik, D. Scoring 27th, 7.6 ----

Gillespie, M. Scoring 28th, 7.4 24th, 8.0

Chessman, D. FG Pct. 8th, .4621 9th, .461

Kozlowski, K. FG Pct. 11th, .443 2nd, .534

Anderson, A. FG Pct. 12th, .414 13th, .427

Sullivan, J. FG Pct. 15th, .400 ----

Cheesman, D. Rebounding 4th, 7.5 3rd, 8.4

Kozlowski, K. Rebounding 10th, 5.9 14th, 5.2

Kubik, D. Rebounding 16th, 4.5 ----

Anderson, A. Rebounding 18tht, 4.2 15th, 5.0

Sullivan, J. Assists 7th, 3.58 6th, 3.84

Goold, T. Assists 8th, 3.50 10th, 2.92

Sullivan, J. FT Pct. 13th, .711 7th, .765

Gillespie, M. 3-PF FG Pct. 13th, .320 9th, .361

Kubik, D. Blocked Shots 7th, 0.91 ----

Cheesman, D. Blocked Shots 9th, 0.75 13tht, 0.52

Sullivan, J. Blocked Shots 12tht, 058 13tht, 0.52

Anderson, A. Steals 12tht, 1.50 ----

Gillespie, M. Steals 15tht, 1.25 ----

Gillespie, M. 3-PT FG Made 10tht, 1.33 5th, 1.72

Cheesman, D. Offensive Reb. 1st, 3.42 2nd, 3.08

Kozlowski, K. Offensive Reb. 9tht, 2.25 10th, 2.16

Cheesman, D. Defensive Reb. 7tht, 4.08 2nd, 5.28

Kozlowski, K. Defensive Reb. 10th, 3.67 ----

About UNLV

UNLV is in fourth place heading into the last week of MWC play with a 15-11, 6-6 record. Sheena Moore and RanDee Henry are the two players scoring in double figures for the Rebels. Henry also tops the list in rebounds, grabbing 8.4 boards per game. The team is shooting 43 percent from the field, 72 percent at the free throw line and 31 percent from the three-point line. UNLV is scoring 69.1 points per game and holding opponents to 62.1 points. During the regular MWC race, they have a perfect 5-0 record at home.

UNLV Probable Starters

Pos. # Name Ht. Yr. PPG RPG

G 00 Sheena Moore 5-7 Sr 15.2 3.3

G 20 Brittney Thomas 5-7 Jr 6.1 1.1

G 21 Nikki Hitchens 5-10 Jr 8.9 5.3

F 12 Sequoia Holmes 6-1 Fr 8.2 4.5

F 22 RanDee Henry 6-1 Sr 14.6 8.4

Series Record: 16-9 in favor of the Cougars

Last Meeting: The two conference foes played once already this season. The game was played in Provo where BYU got the 74-48 win at the Marriott Center. BYU has a 6-6 record when playing in Las Vegas. The last time the Cougars won in Las Vegas was on 2/28/02 with a 64-48 victory.

About SDSU

The Aztecs along with the Air Force Academy are currently tied for seventh place in the MWC standings with 2-10 identical league record. Michelle Elliott is the lone player scoring in double figures for SDSU with 11.9 points. Freshman Ashley Cheesman is the team's leading rebounder with an average of 5.3 boards per game. Ashley is also the younger sister to BYU's Danielle Cheesman who leads the Cougars in the same category. The team is shooting 37 percent from the field, 69 percent at the free throw line and 29 percent from three-point range. At home, SDSU has a 1-4 record in MWC games. After 25 games this season, the Aztecs are scoring 57.7 points and allow opponents a total of 63.0 points per game.

SDSU Probable Starters

Pos. # Name Ht. Yr. PPG RPG

G 21 Veronica Shaw 5-7 Jr 4.6 2.8

G 20 Michelle Strawberry 5-10Jr 9.6 2.7

F 05 Michelle Elliott 5-11So 11.9 3.5

F 42 Lindsey Casey 6-1 Sr 8.0 4.9

C 50 Ashley Cheesman 6-2 Fr 7.4 5.3

Series Record: 19-9 in favor of the Cougars

Last Meeting: The two MWC foes have already played once this year. The first game was played at the Marriott Center where BYU got the 62-49 victory. When playing at the Cox Arena, the Cougars have a 7-7 record. During the last three conference seasons, BYU has swept the series.

Head Coach - Jeff Judkins

Overall Record: 74-43, 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).

Judkins Record vs. MWC Schools

School Record In 2005

Air Force 6-0 2-0

CSU 1-5 2-0

New Mexico 2-6 1-1

San Diego State 6-0 1-0

UNLV 5-4 1-0

Utah 3-4 0-2

Wyoming 5-2 0-2

2004-05 Cougar 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 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m., on Monday's, Wednesday's, Thursday's, and Friday's. On Tuesday's , practice time is from 1 to 3 p.m.

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.

Travel Plans

The Cougar team departs for Las Vegas on Wed., Mar. 2 on Delta flight # 4604 at 5:44 p.m., arriving at 6:03 p.m., in Las Vegas.

BYU will stay at the AmeriSuites at 4520 Paradise Road, 702-369-3366, 702-369-0009, fax.

On Friday, Mar. 3 the team departs for San Diego on America West flight# 6588, arriving in San Diego at 10:38 a.m.

During their stay, the team's hotel will be the Mission Valley Marriott, 8757 Rio San Diego Dr., 619-692-3800, 619-692-0769, fax.

BYU departs on Sun., Mar. 6 at 9:10 a.m., on Delta flight# 1892, arriving in Salt Lake City at 11:59 a.m.

What's Next

BYU will be in Denver for the 2005 MWC Championships from Mar. 8-12. All tournament games will be played at the Pepsi Center. The MWC Championship winner receives and automatic berth into this year's NCAA tournament.