PROVO -- The BYU women's basketball team ran the length of the floor enough to make even the fans tired in a well-fought 67-65 loss against North Carolina State Wednesday.

Previously one of only nine undefeated teams in the country, the Cougars (8-1) fell to NC State (8-3) in a battle that lasted to the final seconds of a game filled with intensity.

With one minute remaining, BYU's Ambrosia Anderson hit a three-pointer to even the score at 65-65 but the Wolfpack's Billie McDowell responded on the other end to give NC State a two-point advantage with 41 seconds on the clock. The Cougars failed to get a shot off on their next possession and were forced to foul with five seconds left. After the NC State free throw by Ashley Key was no good, Anderson tried to push the ball upcourt but had the ball knocked loose without a call as time expired.

"NC State is a very good team. They hit big baskets when they had to hit them and we had our chances," BYU coach Jeff Judkins said. "Tonight was the first time in a long time I saw us make mental mistakes and we can't afford to do that."

The game began fast-paced and aggressive with strong defense leading to several fouls and frustration. Anderson, BYU's leading scorer on the season, struggled in the beginning, making only one of 10 attempts in the first 10 minutes of the game, including a miss on her first seven attempts. She did eventually recover though and made three 3-point shots in the second 10 minutes of the first half to excite the crowd and her teammates.

The Cougars began to show their skill late in the first half and left for the locker room at the half with an 11-point lead at 39-28.

NC State returned from halftime on fire and made four consecutive shots, including a 3-point jumper, to cut BYU's lead to two with a 9-0 run.

"I think the key to the game tonight was the start of the second half," Judkins said. "We turned it over three out of four times and not just turned it over, gave them baskets. We just didn't come out in the second half with the energy that we needed."

The Cougars went nearly six minutes without a basket as the Wolfpack women continued to build momentum. NC State took its first lead since the beginning of the first half when Tiffany Stansbury converted at the 10:43 mark to give the Wolfpack a 45-44 advantage.

NC State persevered in their second-half rally, even though the Cougars tied the score on five occasions and never trailed by more than three points in the final nine minutes of the contest.

There were highlights in this let-down loss against NC State. Cougar three-pointers were a guiding light as the two teams fought to get ahead. Nancy Seljaas added her three 3-pointers to Anderson's four and Mallary Gillespie added one of her own.

Anderson led in points for the Cougars, totaling 21 on the night. NC State's Stansbury led her team with 20 points.

BYU will try to get back in the win column after the Christmas holiday with a game against Weber State in Ogden, Utah on Dec. 28. They will then return to the Marriott Center on Dec. 30 for a 2 p.m. tipoff against Portland.

Official Basketball Box Score -- GAME TOTALS -- FINAL STATISTICS
NC State Wolfpack vs BYU Cougars
12-21-05 7:00 PM at MARRIOTT CTR, BYU, PROVO, UT
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VISITORS: NC State Wolfpack 8-3
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
01 WHITTINGTON, Khadija *  5-13   0-0    2-3    4  3  7   4  12  1  2  0  3  26
11 POPE, Monica........ *  0-1    0-1    0-0    0  1  1   0   0  3  0  0  1  17
13 MCDOWELL, Billie.... *  4-7    1-3    0-0    0  5  5   3   9  1  5  0  0  20
15 KEY, Ashley......... *  6-14   2-6    1-3    0  6  6   3  15  3  1  0  3  34
44 STANSBURY, Tiffany.. *  8-16   0-0    4-5    3  1  4   2  20  0  5  1  1  31
03 BROWN, Keisha.......    1-2    0-0    0-0    0  1  1   0   2  1  1  0  0  12
04 REAVES, Sasha.......    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   2   0  0  0  0  0   3
12 DICKENS, Marquetta..    1-3    1-2    0-0    0  1  1   0   3  2  1  0  1  21
32 MCCOLLINS, Tiffany..    2-3    0-0    2-4    2  5  7   0   6  2  3  0  2  28
35 WILHELM, Danielle...    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  0  0  0   4
55 GORING, Gillian.....    0-2    0-0    0-0    0  1  1   0   0  0  0  2  0   4
   TEAM................                         1  5  6
   Totals..............   27-61   4-12   9-15  10 29 39  14  67 13 18  3 11 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 10-27 37.0%   2nd Half: 17-34 50.0%   Game: 44.3%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  1-4  25.0%   2nd Half:  3-8  37.5%   Game: 33.3%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  7-12 58.3%   2nd Half:  2-3  66.7%   Game: 60.0%    4
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HOME TEAM: BYU Cougars 8-1
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
33 ANDERSON, Ambrosia.. f  8-23   4-11   1-2    0  8  8   2  21  3  4  0  2  34
35 JOHNSEN, Melinda.... f  2-2    0-0    0-0    1  4  5   2   4  1  3  0  2  28
45 KUBIK, Dani......... c  2-6    0-1    1-2    1  2  3   4   5  0  1  1  1  21
15 KEELE, Jennie....... g  3-3    0-0    1-2    0  2  2   3   7  3  3  0  2  21
30 GILLESPIE, Mallary.. g  2-9    1-5    0-0    1  3  4   2   5  5  2  0  1  33
01 SELJAAS, Nancy......    4-8    3-5    1-1    0  2  2   0  12  1  3  0  2  19
10 STRATTON, Laura.....    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   1   0  1  0  0  0   6
24 HUTSON, Vanessa.....    0-0    0-0    0-0    1  0  1   0   0  4  0  0  0  11
32 SLADE, Shawnee......    1-2    0-0    0-0    0  1  1   0   2  0  1  0  0   9
52 RILEY, Lauren.......    4-9    0-0    1-2    2  3  5   1   9  1  0  1  2  19
   TEAM................                         3  1  4
   Totals..............   26-62   8-22   5-9    9 26 35  15  65 19 17  2 12 201
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 15-34 44.1%   2nd Half: 11-28 39.3%   Game: 41.9%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  5-12 41.7%   2nd Half:  3-10 30.0%   Game: 36.4%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  4-7  57.1%   2nd Half:  1-2  50.0%   Game: 55.6%    2
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Officials: JACK JONES, ROBERT STRONG, KENT JOHNSON
Technical fouls: NC State Wolfpack-None. BYU Cougars-None.
Attendance: 563
Score by Periods                1st  2nd   Total
NC State Wolfpack.............   28   39  -   67
BYU Cougars...................   39   26  -   65
OFFICIAL FINAL

Enjoying an 8-0 record, the Cougar women's basketball team plays one more home game before a short Christmas break. BYU hosts NC State on Wed., Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. It will be the first time the Wolfpack has played in the Marriott Center

Teams: BYU(8-0) vs.NCST (7-3) Date: 12/217/05 Time: 7 p.m. Arena: Marriott Center

Follow the women's basketball action live on BYU Radio

All of the women's basketball games can be heard 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.

CougarTV

Fans are now able to watch video streaming of the team's home games via the computer through CougarTV. Log on to www.byucougars.com to sign up.

BYU's Probable Starters

Pos. # Name Ht. Yr. PPG RPG

G/F 15 Jennie Keele 5-10 Jr 3.8 3.5

G 30 Mallary Gillespie 5-10 So 10.8 3.8

F 35 Melinda Johnsen 5-10 Jr 4.9 5.0

F 33 Ambrosia Anderson 6-2 Sr 21.3 9.3

C 45 Dani Kubik 6-3 Jr 9.1 6.0

Cougar Players Off The Bench

Pos. # Name Ht. Yr. PPG RPG

F 01 Nancy Seljaas 6-0 Sr 3.1 1.6

G 10 Laura Stratton 5-6 Sr 1.4 0.9

G 23 Brit Brown 5-7 So 0.8 0.4

G 24 Vanessa Hutson 5-8 Fr 3.4 1.8

G/F 32 Shawnee Slade 5-11 Fr 2.6 1.3

F 41 Brittany Faddis 6-0 Fr 1.6 0.6

C 52 Lauren Riley 6-3 So 7.4 6.6

2005-06 Team Stats --

-- Shooting from the field: (.431, 211-489)

-- Shooting from the free-throw line: (.622 , 89-143)

-- Shooting from three-point line: (.340, 49-144)

-- Average points per game: 70.0

Notables in 2005-06

-- Leading scorer: Ambrosia Anderson - 21.3ppg

-- Leading rebounder: Ambrosia Anderson - 9.3 rpg

-- Assist leader: Mallary Gillespie- 3. 5apg

-- Blocks leader: A. Anderson - 5 to date

-- Steals leader: Melinda Johnsen - 15 to date, 1.9 spg

-- BYU continues its best record and start in school history. During the 2002-03 season they went 5-0 through the first five games before the team's first loss.

-- BYU has outrebounded all of its opponents to date.

By The Numbers

1 game where the Cougars have shot at least 50 percent, vs. NAU, 50.8

2 games where four players have scored in double figures (@ Stony Brook and @ UC Riverside)

5 games in which two players have scored in double figures

8 games where BYU has outrebounded opponents

34 biggest margin of victory, vs. NAU 82-48

Cougar Honors To Date

Ambrosia Anderson was named the M WC Player of the Week on Nov. 28, marking her first career honor.

Anderson led the Cougars to a 71-67 road victory over Pac-10 foe UCLA and a 72-39 routing of UC Santa Barbara.ý She tallied a career-high 26 points and nine rebounds against the Bruins. In the home opener against UCSB, Anderson tallied 21 points and pulled down 12 boards, marking her first double-double of the season, and seventh overall.

Last Game

vs. UTAH VALLEY STATE 12/17/05

BYU overcame a slow start and 37 percent shooting from the floor, holding on with defense to beat Utah Valley State 61-54.

After trading buckets with the Wolverines and shooting only 27 percent from the field in the first nine minutes, the Cougars started showing signs of life behind the play of senior forward Ambrosia Anderson. Anderson led the Cougars on a 10-0 run in just two minutes, scoring all 10 points herself, to give the Cougars the lead at 20-10. Anderson finished the game with 15 points and 10 boards for her third double-double of the season and ninth of her career. Anderson has also scored in double figures in every game this season.

The Cougars used the energy from the run to carry them into halftime with a 35-23 lead, which was good news for the team. BYU is now 7-0 on the year when leading at halftime.

BYU did not relinquish the lead after the 10-0 run, but did have to fend off their opponent the rest of the way with strong defense and rebounding. BYU scored 21 points on 21 Wolverine turnovers, fueled mainly by Mallary Gillespie and Melinda Johnsen, each of whom had three steals. The two made huge contributions on offense as well, as Gillespie netted a team-high 17 points on 50 percent shooting from the field and four three-pointers. Johnsen tied her career high with 9 points.

The Cougars also capitalized on 31 percent shooting by the Wolverines by pulling down 30 defensive rebounds and 50 boards on the day, making the Cougars 8-0 when they out rebound their opponent.

Even with those things going for them, the second half provided a battle that lasted to the buzzer. After two UVSC buckets, the Cougars went on another 10-0 run to put them up 45-27. However, the Wolverines refused to go away as they answered with an 8-0 run of their own and clawed their way back by scoring 10 points off of 13 BYU turnovers in the second half. The two teams traded baskets until 6:26 remaining in the game, when the Cougars withstood another 8-0 Wolverine run and a scoring drought that lasted 6:40 when Johnsen hit a free throw with 10 seconds to go, and the Cougars left the floor with the victory.

Player Injury Report

Sophomore forward Mary Martha Abell, from Monroe, Louisiana suffered a torn ACL injury to her knee in the exhibition game against Westminster College on Nov. 1. She will use this season as an injury redshirt year.

Head Coach - Jeff Judkins

Overall Record: 85-46, in his fifth season at BYU.

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 (25), Jordan (23), Jenna (21), Jaime (18), Jaxson (15).

This Week's Cougar Opponent

North Carolina State University

The Wolfpack have compiled a 7-3 record to date. Most recently they competed at the Duel in the Desert Tournament in Las Vegas hosted by MWC foe UNLV. Three players are scoring in double figures for NC State, led by senior forward/center Tiffany Stansbury who is averaging 14.5 points and a team high 7.3 rebounds per game. Billie McDowell is next inline with 12.3 points and 3.2 boards a game. She's followed by Khadijah Whittington who is contributing 10.8 points and a team high 8.5 rebounds. As a team, the Wolfpack is shooting 45 percent from the field, 61 percent at the free throw line and 33 percent from the three-point line. The team is tallying 71.5 points a game and holding opponents to just 59.4 points. Coach Kay Yow is in her 32nd season at the helm of the women's program.

NC State Probable Starters

Pos. # Name Ht. Yr. PPG RPG

F 01 Khadijah Wittington 6-1 So 14.5 7.3

G 11 Monica Pope 5-6 Sr 6.6 3.1

F 12 Marquetta Dickens 6-0 Jr 4.6 4.1

G 15 Ashley Key 6-0 Jr 9.9 2.3

F/C 44 Tiffany Stansbury 6-3 Sr 14.5 7.3

Series Record: 1-0 in favor of the Cougars

Last time: In the first ever meeting between the two schools in Raleigh, North Carolina on Dec. 14, 2002, the visiting Cougars picked up the 68-57 road win.

Up Next

After Christmas the Cougars will play at Weber State on Dec. 28 at 8 p.m., before finishing the year and pre-conference schedule hosting Portland on Dec. 30. That game tips off at 2 p.m.

The MWC race begins on Jan.5 as BYU hosts Air Force at 7 p.m.