BOSTON -- No. 23 BYU defeated Harvard easily, 66-51, Wednesday evening in Massachusetts as four different Cougars scored in double digits. With the win BYU jumps to 4-2 on the season, while the Crimson falls to 0-5.

"This was a really physical game, but I thought we did a good job handling their pressure, especially in the second half," head coach Jeff Judkins said. "We still have a long way to go to get to where we want to be, but I'm seeing good improvement."

Dani Kubik Wright led the Cougars with 14 points, while Cassie King chipped in a career high 11 points. Mallary Gillespie and Haley Hall also scored 10 points apiece. King led BYU with a career high six rebounds.

"Cassie (King) and Haley (Hall) each had good games and gave us a good lift off the bench," Judkins said. "I'm proud of the way they played tonight."

Kubik Wright netted the first bucket of the night just 20 seconds into the game, followed by a jumper from Niki Finelli.

Harvard then scored back-to-back baskets from Christiana Lackner and Lindssay Hallion at the 15:25 mark to extend the Crimson's lead to four, 8-4.

The two teams then traded baskets for the majority of the half until King scored consecutive layups with just over seven minutes remaining in the half to give BYU a three-point lead, 19-16.

Hallion evened the score on Harvard's next possession, netting a three-point shot.

Hall responded for BYU with a jumper off a pass from Melinda Johnsen to regain the Cougar lead, 21-19. At the 1:55 mark, Hall nailed a three pointer to extend BYU's to five points, 26-21, at the break.

Finelli scored the opening basket of the second period to cut BYU's lead to three, 26-23. Jennie Keele immediately responded for the Cougars, however, to regain BYU's five-point lead.

Both teams traded buckets back and forth until BYU went on a 6-0 run with 12 minutes remaining in the game, giving BYU a 43-35 lead. The run included two three-point buckets from King and Hall.

Katie Rollins stopped the run for just long enough for her to net two free throws at the 11:18 mark.

The Cougars then went on an 11-2 run to break open a 17-point lead with just under eight minutes to go, 54-37. BYU continued to build upon its lead for the next four minutes, leading Harvard by 23 points at the 4:29 mark when Judkins took the Cougar starters out of the game.

BYU outscored Harvard 38-20 in points scored in the paint and 30-22 in points off turnovers. The Cougars were out rebounded 43-35 on the evening.

The Cougars will challenge Hartford on Saturday in Connecticut. Tip off is slated for noon (MDT).

Official Basketball Box Score
Brigham Young vs Harvard
11/29/06 7 p.m. at Cambridge, Mass. (Lavietes Pavilion)
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VISITORS: Brigham Young 4-2
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
32 SLADE, Shawnee...... f  2-7    0-1    0-0    2  2  4   0   4  2  2  1  3  24
35 JOHNSEN, Melinda.... f  1-4    0-1    0-0    0  2  2   1   2  1  1  0  0  27
45 WRIGHT, Dani........ c  6-8    0-0    2-3    3  1  4   3  14  0  5  0  1  18
15 KEELE, Jennie....... g  2-5    0-0    0-1    1  1  2   3   4  1  1  0  0  18
30 GILLESPIE, Mallary.. g  4-11   2-5    0-0    1  4  5   2  10  4  0  2  1  29
05 CHEESMAN, Ashley....    1-2    0-0    0-0    1  1  2   1   2  2  2  0  0  14
13 JUDKINS, Jaime......    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  1  1   2   0  0  3  0  1   5
22 FADDIS, Brittany....    1-2    0-0    3-3    1  1  2   0   5  0  0  0  0   5
31 AINA, Rachel........    0-1    0-1    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  1  0  0   3
33 HALL, Haley.........    4-5    2-2    0-0    1  0  1   1  10  4  2  1  2  26
52 RILEY, Lauren.......    1-3    0-0    2-6    1  2  3   3   4  0  3  1  1  15
54 KING, Cassie........    4-6    1-1    2-4    2  4  6   0  11  1  3  2  2  16
   TEAM................                         1  2  3
   Totals..............   26-54   5-11   9-17  14 21 35  16  66 15 23  7 11 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 11-29 37.9%   2nd Half: 15-25 60.0%   Game: 48.1%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  2-6  33.3%   2nd Half:  3-5  60.0%   Game: 45.5%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  2-2  100 %   2nd Half:  7-15 46.7%   Game: 52.9%   3,1
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HOME TEAM: Harvard 0-5
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
10 Finelli, Niki....... f  8-20   1-3    0-1    5  2  7   1  17  0  3  0  2  37
14 Lackner, Christiana. f  1-5    0-0    2-4    6  5 11   5   4  1  5  0  1  20
21 Tindal, Liz......... c  1-5    0-2    1-2    3  2  5   3   3  0  0  1  2  30
31 Tay, Emily.......... g  2-8    0-0    0-2    0  3  3   0   4  3  9  1  2  31
44 Hallion, Lindsay.... g  6-12   2-2    2-2    2  3  5   2  16  5  3  0  1  38
04 Knox, Jessica.......    1-7    1-4    0-0    1  0  1   2   3  0  3  0  2  18
11 Dalton, Kyle........    0-0    0-0    0-0    1  0  1   1   0  0  0  0  0   8
41 Moretzsohn, Emma....    0-1    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   1   0  0  1  0  0   5
45 Rollins, Katie......    1-3    0-0    2-3    1  1  2   3   4  0  3  0  0  13
   TEAM................                         5  3  8             1
   Totals..............   20-61   4-11   7-14  24 19 43  18  51  9 28  2 10 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 10-28 35.7%   2nd Half: 10-33 30.3%   Game: 32.8%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  1-3  33.3%   2nd Half:  3-8  37.5%   Game: 36.4%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  0-1   0.0%   2nd Half:  7-13 53.8%   Game: 50.0%    2
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Officials: John Riardon, Geraldine Smith, Margaret Lynch-Galaleta
Technical fouls: Brigham Young-None. Harvard-None.
Attendance: 156
Score by Periods                1st  2nd   Total
Brigham Young.................   26   40  -   66
Harvard.......................   21   30  -   51

The No. 23 (3-2) BYU women's basketball team makes another road trip in its non-conference schedule, heading to Massachusetts and Connecticut for a Nov. 29 game at Harvard (0-4) and a Dec. 2 meeeting with Hartford (4-2).

Complete Broadcast Plans

On the internet - a live audio stream of all of the women's basketball games will be available on BYU Radio. Veteran broadcaster Jay Monsen will call the action. To listen log on to: http://www.byuradio.org

Live stats - fans can follow the game action via stats by clicking on:

http://www.byucougars.com/Schedule.jsp?SP=112&YR=2006

BYU Probable Starters

Pos. # Name Ht Yr PPG RPG

G/F 15 Jennie Keele 5-10 Sr 7.8 3.8

G 30 Mallary Gillespie 5-10 Jr 10.2 4.4

G/F 35 Melinda Johnsen 5-10 Sr 6.4 3.8

C 45 Dani Kubik Wright 6-3 Sr 9.4 5.6

G/F 32 Shawnee Slade 5-11 So 11.4 6.6

Reserve Players

Pos. # Name Ht Yr PPG RPG

G 33 Haley Hall 5-4 Fr 5.6 1.6

F 52 Lauren Riley 6-3 Jr 4.6 4.6

C 54 Cassie King 6-3 So 5.0 1.8

G 13 Jaime Judkins 5-6 Fr 1.5 1.5

F 22 Brittany Faddis 6-0 So 1.0 2.5

G 31 Rachel Aina 5-9 So 1.0 0.5

F 05 Ashley Cheesman 6-0 Jr 0.8 1.8

PREVIOUS GAME RECAP

BYU vs. SCU - 77-63 won by BY

Shawnee Slade had an outstanding performance in the game recording her second double double of the season with 22 points and 10 rebounds to lead all scores.

Nine minutes into the game the three-point shot was clearly the difference maker. The Broncos were five for eight and the Cougars were two for four and SCU had a two-point lead, 19-21. Keele hit another three with 10:30 left in the half to put BYU up by one and, although the Broncos kept the game close, the Cougars did not allow Santa Clara to lead again the rest of the half.

With the game tied at 29 with three minutes to go in the first, Slade stole the ball and scored a fast break lay-up to give the Cougars the lead at 31-29. SC's Graham would not be denied, though, and hit a deep three to tie the game at 32 before BYU's Mallary Gillespie answered right back with a three of her own to give the Cougars a 35-32 lead into the locker room.

Both teams stepped away from the three point shot in the second half as BYU had not shot a single one more than six minutes into the half and SC was only 0-1 from behind the arc. Instead of both teams racking up threes, they were racking up fouls. After not going to the line at all in the first half, 10 of the Cougars' first 12 points in the second half came from free throws as they went 10 for 12 and by 13 minutes to go in the game both teams were already in the bonus. BYU's Cassie King had five of those points in the first eight minutes of the half.

With the Cougars up by two, the Broncos leading scorer for the game, Graham, knocked down a three to give her team the lead for the first time in the half. But Gillespie knocked down a quick jumper to give the Cougars the lead again at 52-50 with 7:52 to go in the game.

The Broncos decided to go back to the all-important trey and tied the game at 53-53 with a long-range jumper from Martin. At 55-55 with 6:31 to go, the Cougars put up their first three of the game as Johnsen knocked one down from the wing and was fouled on the play. After hitting her free throw BYU took the lead at 59-55.

SC's Graham hit her fifth shot from down town with five minutes to go to bring her team back within two at 61-59. Wright hit a lay-up with five on the shot clock to put the Cougars up by four and Slade hit two more free throws as the Cougars went up again by six with four minutes to go. Slade was eight for eight from the line as she put the Cougars up by seven and then hit another jumper as the Cougars went up 69-60 with three minutes to go. With two and a half minutes to go, BYU took their biggest lead of the game at ten points, 71-61, with another Gillespie jump shot.

The Broncos' leading scorer, Cronk, came into the game averaging 20 points a game, but was held to only seven against the Cougars. After allowing seven threes in the first half, the Broncos were held to only three in the second.

In all, the Cougars had four players in double figures for the first time this season: Slade, 22; Gillespie, 14; Keele, 12; and Johnsen, 10.

BYU Picked Second In MWC Preseason Media Poll

School (First-place votes) Points

1. New Mexico (8) 137

2. BYU (7) 134

3. TCU (4) 126

4. Utah 102

5. Wyoming 96

6. UNLV 71

7. San Diego State 41

8. Air Force 39

9. Colorado State 36

Preseason All-MWC Team

Dionne Marsh, Jr., F, New Mexico

Hanna Zavecz, Jr., F, Wyoming

Dani Kubik Wright, Sr., C, BYU

Adrianne Ross, Jr., G, TCU

Katie Montgomery, Sr., G, New Mexico

Top Returning Player

Dionne Marsh, Jr., F, New Mexico

Top Newcomer

Justyna Podziemska, Jr., F, Wyoming

ABOUT BYU'S UPCOMING OPPONENTS

HARVARD UNIVERSITY (11/29/06)

The Ivy League's Harvard University is currently 0-4 on the year. Harvard returns two starters and 12 letterwinners from a team that went 12-15, 8-6, finishing fourth in the Ivy League last season. Three players are currently scoring in double figures led by Niki Finelli and her 14.8 points and 4.5 rebounds. Emily Tay follows with 13.0 points and 3.3 boards a game, and Lindsay Hallion with her 11.0 points and 4.0 rebounds. Christiana Lackner is the team's leading rebounder grabbing 7.3 boards a game. Head coach Kathy Delaney-Smith begins her 25th year with Harvard.

HARVARD UNIVERSITY Probable Starters

Pos. # Name Ht Yr PPG RPG

F 10 Niki Finelli 5-11 So 14.8 4.5

F 14 Christiana Lackner 6-1 Sr 5.8 7.3

C 45 Katie Rollins 6-3 So 8.3 5.3

G 31 Emily Tay 5-8 So 13.0 3.3

G 44 Lindsay Hallion 5-9 Jr 11.0 4.0

Stat Comparisons BYU HU

Field Goals: .410 .397

Free Throws: .658 .697

Three-Pointers: .349 .386

Points Per Game: 62.8 64.8

Rebounds Per Game: 40.2 37.2

Series Record

This is the first meeting between the two schools

UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD (12/02/06)

Both Hartford and BYU competed in this year's Preseason WNIT with the Hawks advancing to the Second Round where they lost to eventual champion Purdue. To date, Hartford has compiled a 4-2 record. This year's squad has three starters and nine letterwinners from a team that had an impressive 27-4, 15-1 record and advanced to the Second Round of the NCAA tournament. Toping the list in points is Ikea Witt, a 5-8 senior guard, who is averaging 12.2 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. Danielle Hood follows with 11.2 points and grabs 5.0 boards a game. Erica Beverly tops the list in the rebound category with 6.7 per contest. At the helm of the Hartford program is Jennifer Rizzotti who is in her eighth year, and has compiled a 119-89 record.

HARTFORD Probable Starters

Pos.# Name Ht Yr PPG RPG

F 24 Danielle Hood 6-1 Jr 11.2 5.0

F 32 Erica Beverly 6-0 So 7.2 6.7

G 14 Ikea Witt 5-8 Sr 12.2 4.8

G 23 Lisa Etienne 5-6 So 5.3 3.3

G 33 MaryLynne Schaefer 5-10 So 5.3 3.2

Stat Comparisons BYU UH

Field Goals: .410 .446

Free Throws: .658 .683

Three-Pointers: .349 .338

Points Per Game: 62.8 62.2

Rebounds Per Game: 40.2 40.8

Series Record

This is the first meeting between the two schools.

Travel Plans

Flight: Departs Tues., Nov. 28 on Delta #1079 at 9:55 a.m., arrives in Boston at 4:59 p.m.

Returns: Sun. Dec. 3, Delta # 1500 at 6:05 a.m., then Delta # 793 at 9:00 a.m., arrives in Salt Lake City at 10:50 a.m.

Hotels: Newton Marriott, 2345 Commonwealth Avenue, in Newton, 617-969-1000, 617-527-6914, fax.

Marriott Farmington in Farmington, 15 Farm Spring Road, 860-678-1000, 860-677-8849.

Up Next

Another WAC opponent is on the schedule for the Cougars, traveling to Las Cruces, New Mexico for a contest against New Mexico State on Dec. 6. The team returns to host Cal State Northridge on Sat., Dec. 9 at the Smith Fieldhouse with a 4 p.m., tip off. On Thurs., Dec. 14 instate rival Weber State comes to the Marriott Center for a 7 p.m. game.