West Hartford, Conn. (Dec. 2, 2006) -- The University of Hartford Hawks upset the No. 22 Cougars Saturday afternoon, 60-43, as shooting woes and Hawk defense held the Cougars to their lowest scoring game of the season.

"Hartford is a good team, well coached, and very physical," BYU head coach Jeff Judkins said. "We started off slow and we didn't seem to ever get in gear. We didn't execute well and we didn't play defensively well either."

Hartford, the 2006 American East Conference Champion, jumped out to an early 13-6 lead, and never looked back. The first eight points for the Cougar points came from Mallary Gillespie as she hit two three-pointers in two attempts and a lay-up, but Gillespie could not stay hot and neither could her teammates.

BYU's first-half woes stemmed from Hartford's double-team defense in the paint and poor shooting on the part of the Cougars. The blue and white struggled in the first half getting open shots, but their tenacious play and three-point philosophy kept the game within reach. With a 13-10 lead and 13:28 to go in the first half, the Hawks scored four unanswered points before Cassie King hit one from down town to bring the game back within four.

Every time the Cougars went on a run during the game, however, the Hawks would go on a better one. After King's three, the Hawks went on another 8-2 run by getting open lay-ups and hitting free throws to take the largest lead of the half at 25-15.

The brightest point of the game for the Cougars was the end of the first half as they cut the Hawk lead to four going into the locker room after an 8-2 run. Dani Kubik Wright led the way as she broke the Hawk double team and went six for six in the half with 12 points.

After a slow start, the Cougars improved their shooting percentage to 39 percent in the first half while the Hawks shot an impressive 51 percent. Both teams had eight turnovers in the first half, but the four-point difference came from Hartford's perfect six for six from the foul line as the Cougars went two for four.

The Hawks came out swinging in the second half as they forced a quick turnover and hit a three to push the lead back to seven in the first minute of the half. Another BYU turnover led to a Hartford fast-break lay-up and the lead shot to nine. Hartford's Lisa Etienne hit a three to take the lead to 12 before BYU gave up another turnover and quick lay-up to give the Hawks a 14-point lead, 39-25.

Cougar freshman Haley Hall stopped the ten-point Hawk run with a three with 16:27 to go in the game. Once again the Hawks kept the pressure on as Danielle Hood returned fire with a two-point jumper of her own on the next possession. The battle continued as BYU's King hit a short hook shot on the next possession, followed by another Etienne lay-up, keeping the Hawk lead at 13.

Both teams were quiet for the next three minutes before the silence was broken by a Hall free throw to cut the lead to 12. Hartford's Ikea Witt scored her tenth point on the ensuing possession, giving the Hawks another 14 point lead. Then Hartford's Courtney Gomez stole the ball from Melinda Johnsen and gave it up to Marylynne Schaefer so that she could hit her third tre of the game. Down 48-31, BYU's Jennie Keele hit her first shot of the game, a deep three, to take the score to 48-34.

The Hawks put on the full court press with ten minutes left in the game to try to seal the upset victory and forced the 16th Cougar turnover. Ten minutes in to the second half, the upset appeared imminent as BYU had only nine points to the Hawks' 21.

After Keele's three, the Cougars did not score again for another four minutes until she hit another lay-up. Hartford's Katie Kelly came back with another quick jumper give her team a 20-point lead and squelch the visiting team's hopes of ever cutting into it. The Hawks outscored the Cougars 31-18 in the second half, making the final score 60-43. The 43-point outing is the lowest on the season for the no. 22 ranked BYU team.

The Cougars had 20 turnovers in the game to the Hawks' 16. BYU shot 33 percent from the field (16-49) and 28 percent from three-point-land (5-18). Wright was the Cougars' leading scorer with 16 points, seven for seven from the field, and the only Cougar to reach double figures.

"A couple of my key players didn't play well tonight and no one else stepped up," Judkins said.

The loss brings the Cougars' record to 4-3. Their next game will be at New Mexico State on Wednesday, December 6 at 7 p.m. The team's next home game will be against Cal State Northridge on Saturday, December 9 at 4 p.m., in the Smith Fieldhouse.

Official Basketball Box Score
Brigham Young vs HARTFORD
12/02/06 2:00 pm at West Hartford, CT (Chase Arena)
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VISITORS: Brigham Young 4-3
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
15 KEELE, Jennie....... *  2-7    1-3    0-0    2  1  3   1   5  0  4  0  0  19
30 GILLESPIE, Mallary.. *  3-9    2-6    0-0    0  1  1   1   8  2  3  0  2  29
32 SLADE, Shawnee...... *  0-7    0-2    0-0    1  4  5   1   0  2  2  1  2  26
35 JOHNSEN, Melinda.... *  1-6    0-2    0-0    0  1  1   1   2  4  2  0  0  34
45 WRIGHT, Dani........ *  7-7    0-0    2-3    4  4  8   3  16  0  2  1  0  28
05 CHEESMAN, Ashley....    0-1    0-1    1-4    1  2  3   0   1  0  1  0  0   6
13 JUDKINS, Jaime......    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  0  0  0   2
22 FADDIS, Brittany....    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  1  1   0   0  0  0  0  0   5
31 AINA, Rachel........    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  0  0  0   2
33 HALL, Haley.........    1-6    1-3    3-4    1  2  3   1   6  3  2  0  2  23
52 RILEY, Lauren.......    0-2    0-0    0-0    1  2  3   3   0  0  3  0  0  15
54 KING, Cassie........    2-4    1-1    0-0    0  0  0   1   5  0  1  0  0  11
   TEAM................                         2  1  3
   Totals..............   16-49   5-18   6-11  12 19 31  12  43 11 20  2  6 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 10-26 38.5%   2nd Half:  6-23 26.1%   Game: 32.7%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  3-10 30.0%   2nd Half:  2-8  25.0%   Game: 27.8%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  2-4  50.0%   2nd Half:  4-7  57.1%   Game: 54.5%    1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOME TEAM: HARTFORD 5-3
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
14 WITT, Ikea.......... *  5-8    0-0    2-2    0  4  4   1  12  2  1  0  0  29
23 ETIENNE, Lisa....... *  4-9    1-2    4-4    1  2  3   1  13  2  1  0  5  23
24 HOOD, Danielle...... *  4-10   0-0    0-2    3  3  6   0   8  2  5  0  0  29
32 BEVERLY, Erica...... *  4-4    0-0    4-4    2  2  4   2  12  1  2  0  1  21
33 SCHAEFER, MaryLynne. *  3-5    3-5    0-0    0  7  7   2   9  0  0  0  2  26
03 Pratt, Kacey........    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   1   0  0  0  0  0   1
04 McCabe, Jamie.......    0-5    0-4    0-0    0  1  1   0   0  0  1  0  0  15
10 GOMEZ, Courtney.....    0-1    0-1    0-0    1  1  2   2   0  0  0  0  2  18
11 PETERSON, Jenna.....    0-0    0-0    0-0    2  0  2   0   0  0  0  0  0   2
15 DIDONATO, Kate......    0-1    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  0  0  0   2
22 MATULIS, Danielle...    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  1  1   1   0  0  1  0  0   6
40 DELVA, Diana........    1-3    0-0    0-0    1  0  1   0   2  1  0  0  0  10
44 KELLEY, Katie.......    2-5    0-0    0-0    0  1  1   2   4  1  3  1  0  18
   TEAM................                         1  2  3
   Totals..............   23-51   4-12  10-12  11 24 35  12  60  9 14  1 10 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 11-21 52.4%   2nd Half: 12-30 40.0%   Game: 45.1%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  1-5  20.0%   2nd Half:  3-7  42.9%   Game: 33.3%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  6-6  100 %   2nd Half:  4-6  66.7%   Game: 83.3%    1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Officials: John Palermo, Jack Riordan, Duane Mack
Technical fouls: Brigham Young-None. HARTFORD-None.
Attendance: 1207
Score by Periods                1st  2nd   Total
Brigham Young.................   25   18  -   43
HARTFORD......................   29   31  -   60

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.