PROVO, Utah ( Feb.1, 2007)

Shooting a conference best 80 percent from the free throw line along with strong rebounding gave BYU (16-5, 7-1 MWC) a 69-65 win over TCU (15-7, 5-3 MWC) Thursday night in the Marriot Center.

Along with shooting 80 percent from the line, the Cougars also grabbed 46 total rebounds including 15 from Dani Wright and 10 from Lauren Riley. Riley's 10 rebounds came along with her 10 points to give her her first double-double of the season.

"I'm very pleased with our rebounding," said BYU Head Coach Jeff Judkins

Solid outside shooting and great play by the BYU bench players in the first half were key in giving BYU the lead throughout the first half. The Cougar bench players accounted for 16 of BYU's 33 first-half points with Shawnee Slade leading the way with 10 first half points and five rebounds. Ashley Cheesman and Cassie King also contributed off the bench combining for six points. The team shot 45 percent from both the field and the three point line to give BYU a 33-28 lead going into the locker room at halftime.

The Cougars started the second half the way that they had left off jumping to a 36-28 lead behind a Mallary Gillespie three pointer with 19:34 left in the second half.

TCU put together a run to cut the Cougar lead to four with 15:21 remaining when Melinda Johnsen hit a three pointer of her own to extend the BYU lead to seven, 41-34.

Despite missed shots and turnovers BYU maintained a seven-point lead over the next five minutes of play.

TCU then began to put full court pressure on the Cougars which BYU handled well and kept the lead at eight, 57-49, with 6:28 left in the game.

"When you don't have a point guard it's really hard," said Coach Judkins. "I have to bring the ball up by committee."

TCU then scored five unanswered points to cut the BYU lead to four with 5:24 remaining.

BYU's Dani Wright put together a run of her own scoring four points and brining the Cougar lead back to six with 4:35 still to play in the game.

TCU and BYU traded baskets and free-throws over the next three minutes with the Cougars never leading by more than four but never trailing.

TCU hit one of two free throws to cut the BYU lead to one, 65-66 with 15 seconds left in the game. After rebounding a missed three pointer by Shawnee Slade, Mallary Gillespie was fouled and hit two free throws to extend the Cougar lead to three, 68-65 with 10 seconds left. Melinda Johnsen hit one more free throw after rebounding a TCU missed free throw and that gave BYU the 69-65 victory.

Mallary Gillespie led the Cougars with 21 points followed by Shawnee Slade with 12.

BYU next plays the Air Force Academy Thursday, February 8th at 7 p.m.,in the Marriott Center

Official Basketball Box Score
TCU LADY FROGS vs BYU COUGARS
02-01-07 7:05 pm at Marriott Center, BYU, Provo, Utah
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VISITORS: TCU LADY FROGS 15-7, 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 BUTLER-RAYFORD, Lor. f  3-9    0-0    4-4    1  5  6   4  10  3  2  0  1  33
34 DAVIS, Ashley....... f  3-6    3-5    0-0    1  1  2   3   9  0  0  1  2  24
42 BIERNACKA, Hanna.... c  7-14   0-0    1-2    2  6  8   3  15  3  2  0  2  37
11 RODEN, Helen........ g  2-9    2-7    0-2    3  3  6   1   6  4  0  0  2  28
33 ROSS, Adrianne...... g  4-13   1-4    4-6    0  1  1   2  13  0  4  0  2  32
10 KNIGHT, Moneka......    3-5    0-2    4-7    0  2  2   3  10  4  1  0  0  31
32 NUNN, Danielle......    0-1    0-1    0-0    1  0  1   3   0  0  0  0  0   9
55 YOUNGER, Micaela....    1-4    0-0    0-0    0  1  1   0   2  0  1  0  0   6
   TEAM................                         3  2  5
   Totals..............   23-61   6-19  13-21  11 21 32  19  65 14 10  1  9 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 10-31 32.3%   2nd Half: 13-30 43.3%   Game: 37.7%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  3-8  37.5%   2nd Half:  3-11 27.3%   Game: 31.6%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  5-7  71.4%   2nd Half:  8-14 57.1%   Game: 61.9%    2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOME TEAM: BYU COUGARS 16-5, 7-1
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
35 JOHNSEN, Melinda.... f  2-3    2-2    1-2    0  4  4   3   7  5  2  1  0  35
52 RILEY, Lauren....... f  5-11   0-0    0-0    4  6 10   5  10  0  4  0  2  19
45 WRIGHT, Dani........ c  3-8    0-1    2-2    7  8 15   3   8  1  7  0  1  27
15 KEELE, Jennie....... g  0-1    0-1    3-4    0  0  0   1   3  2  1  0  1  28
30 GILLESPIE, Mallary.. g  5-16   3-9    8-8    0  3  3   2  21  4  1  1  2  38
05 CHEESMAN, Ashley....    2-2    0-0    0-0    0  1  1   1   4  0  1  0  0  10
13 JUDKINS, Jaime......    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  0  0  0  0+
32 SLADE, Shawnee......    5-12   2-5    0-2    2  6  8   3  12  5  3  0  1  28
54 KING, Cassie........    1-2    0-0    2-2    0  1  1   1   4  0  1  0  0  15
   TEAM................                            4  4
   Totals..............   23-55   7-18  16-20  13 33 46  19  69 17 20  2  7 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 13-29 44.8%   2nd Half: 10-26 38.5%   Game: 41.8%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  5-11 45.5%   2nd Half:  2-7  28.6%   Game: 38.9%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  2-2  100 %   2nd Half: 14-18 77.8%   Game: 80.0%    2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Officials: Jack Jones, Eric Larsen, Laura Rahe
Technical fouls: TCU LADY FROGS-None. BYU COUGARS-None.
Attendance: 672
Score by Periods                1st  2nd   Total
TCU LADY FROGS................   28   37  -   65
BYU COUGARS...................   33   36  -   69
OFFICIAL FINAL

After a disappointing 10-point loss to Utah, the Cougar team looks to bounce back and remain at the top of the MWC standings. This week, BYU( 15-5, 6-1) hosts TCU (15-6, 5-2) on Thurs. Feb., 1st at 7 p.m.

Complete Broadcast Plans

On TV - The game between BYU and TCU on Thurs., Feb. 1 will air live on CSTV.

On the internet - Both road games this week will have live audio streaming on BYU Radio. Veteran broadcaster Jay Monsen will call the action. To listen log on to: http://www.byuradio.org/streaming

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 7.1 3.6

G 30 Mallary Gillespie 5-10 Jr 12.0 3.5

G/F 35 Melinda Johnsen 5-10 Sr 5.6 2.8

C 45 Dani Kubik Wright 6-3 Sr 12.9 6.4

F 52 Lauren Riley 6-3 Jr 6.6 6.4

Reserve Players

Pos. # Name Ht Yr PPG RPG

G/F 32 Shawnee Slade 5-11 So 8.3 5.3

C 54 Cassie King 6-3 So 4.2 2.8

F 05 Ashley Cheesman 6-0 Jr 1.8 1.8

F 22 Brittany Faddis 6-0 So 1.0 1.2

G 13 Jaime Judkins 5-6 Fr 0.3 0.7

G 31 Rachel Aina 5-9 So 0.2 0.1

Team Stats --

-- Shooting from the field: (.431, 465-1080)

-- Shooting from the free-throw line: (.601, 190-316)

-- Shooting from three-point line: (.323, 113-350)

-- Average points per game: 61.7

2006 Run In Preseason WNIT

The Cougar team ended their run in this year's Preseason WNIT with a disappointing 58-84 loss to No. 16 Baylor on Thurs. Nov. 16. BYU had advanced to the Final Four after a 73-50 home victory over Idaho State on Nov. 10 and then a come from behind 55-52 upset victory over No. 4 Stanford. Dani Kubik Wright was named to the All-Tournament Team.

Cougars Team Summary

After compiling the best season record in school history (26-6), making their seventh postseason NCAA Championships appearance and clinching the 2006 MWC Regular Season Champion crown, the BYU team looks to take that success and winning attitude into the 2006-07 year.

BYU returns a nucleus of four starters and five letterwinners that will make this year's squad tough to beat during its non-conference and league schedules.

Once again the Cougars should finish at the top of the MWC standings, leading the way to an eighth appearance in the NCAA Championships and advancing further in that national tournament.

2006-07 Highlights

TEAM

-- The Cougars non-conference road record finished at 4-4.

-- With the 54-49 win @ SDSU on 01/25/07, the team improved to 12-0 when leading at the half.

-- BYU is 11-2 when outrebounding opponents. (Outrebounded Utah 38-35 on 01/27/07, and on 12/30/06 at Oregon, 37-29 but loss both games.

-- The 11 turnovers BYU had vs. UNLV on 01/20/07 were the lowest of the year. They had 13 vs. CSU on 01/18/07.

-- The nine blocks at SDSU on 01/25/07 are a new team high.

-- The Cougars have had three players scoring in double figures in six games, most recently (vs. CSU, vs. WY, @ AF, @ Oregon, vs. UCR, @ Baylor). BYU has won all but two (Baylor, Oregon) of those games.

-- Seven times this season, the Cougars have had two players scoring in double figures, the most recent, at SDSU on 01/25/07).

-- The 79 points scored against Weber State are the most scored by BYU this year and the (13) three-point goals, are a new team high.

-- The Cougars picked up season bests in 3-point field goal percentage .542 (13-24) in the Weber State game on 12/14/06.

-- To date, BYU has shot over 50 percent from the field in two games (vs. Weber State .542 on 12/14/06 and vs. UCR .521 on 12/20/06)

-- The Cougars have had four players score in double figures three times this year: (vs. SCU, @ Harvard, and @ UVSC).

-- In the game at home vs. Santa Clara University on 11/22/06, the .839 (26-31) free throw percentage was the best for the team so far this season.

-- The 55 total rebounds grabbed in the game vs. CSUN on 12/09/06 are a new season high for the team.

PLAYER

-- Dani Wright picked up her third season and fourth career double double with the 21 points and 10 rebounds.

-- Dani Wright has scored in double figures in 13 games including five MWC games.

-- Dani Kubik Wright - Preseason WNIT All-Tournament Team

-- Dani Wright - In the game @ Stanford - played a total of 35 minutes, the most minutes played in her college career.

-- Mallary Gillespie has scored in double figures in a total of 13 games this season.

-- Melinda Johnsen - team's assist leader: (284) for her career, 88 this season, as of 01/29/07.

Injury Update -

Freshman point guard Haley Hall is out for the rest of the season. She tore her ACL in her left knee at the New Mexico State game on 12/06/06.

Head Coach - Jeff Judkins

Overall Record:118-57

2006-07: 15-5, 6-1

2006 MWC Coach of the Year Jeff Judkins begins his sixth year as head coach of the women's basketball program. Prior to heading up the women's program, he served one year (1999-2000) as Director of Basketball Operations for the BYU men's team. In 2000 he became an assistant coach on the women's team.

Last season under Judkins, the Cougars compiled their best finish in school history with a 26-6 record, clinched their first MWC regular season title since 1992 and received a no. 7 seed in the NCAA tournament, the highest seed for any BYU program.

For the first time since the 2002-03 season, the team and its 13-1 record to start the year broke into the women's basketball collegiate polls, ranked No. 23 by the AP Poll and the USA Today/Espn/WBCA Coaches Poll. They would rank as high as 18 and 16 in the two respective polls, finishing the year at No. 20. Last season Judkins picked up his 100th win, a 69-67 victory over CSU on Mar. 2, the same time the team clinched the league's regular season title.

Under Judkins tutelage, the women's basketball program has had consistent success with four postseason appearances including three NCAA Championships, guiding the team to its first ever Sweet Sixteen finish in 2002. In 2005, the 19-11 team played in the first round of the WNIT.

Judkins has also coached two All-Americans in Erin Thorn and Ambrosia Anderson. Both have gone on to play in the WNBA for the New York Liberty. Thorn has been with the team for the past four years while Anderson just completed her first year playing professionally.

The longtime University of Utah coach and player came to Provo with a proven record of success dating back to his high school days at Highland HS in Salt Lake City. An all-state selection in basketball, football and baseball, Judkins went on to play for the University of Utah from 1974-78.

While playing at Utah, Judkins helped lead the Utes to one conference championship and two berths in the NCAA tournament. He was a second-team academic All-American and three-time District VII academic selection. He also earned three first team All-WAC honors and was a member of the 1977 United States World Games team that captured the gold medal.

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

After his NBA career, he returned to Utah in 1989 and was an instrumental part of that program's success during his 10 years, recruiting such players as Keith Van Horn, Andre Miller, Mike Doleac, Hanno Mottola, Alex Jensen, Trent Whiting, Garner Meads, Jeff Johnsen and Britton Johnsen.

Judkins, graduated from the University of Utah in 1978 with a degree in health and physical education. He and his wife Mary Kaye are the parents of five children: Jessica (26), (married to Paul), Jordan (24), Jenna (22), Jaime, who plays on the basketball team, (19), and Jaxson (16). Jenna plays on the volleyball team at BYU.

Hobbies: Waterskiing, horseback riding, hunting, golf, softball, and watching ESPN.

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

IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE THIS WEEK

January 31 (Wednesday)

San Diego State @ New Mexico - 7 p.m.

February 1 (Thursday)

Colorado State @ UNLV - 7 p.m. (mtn.)

TCU @ BYU - 7 p.m. (cstv)

Utah @ WYO - 7 p.m.

February 3 (Saturday)

TCU @ UNLV - 1 p.m.

Utah @ San Diego State - 2 p.m.

February 4 (Sunday)

Air Force @ Colorado State - 2 p.m.

Wyoming @ New Mexico - 1 p.m.

Cougar MWC Season Honors to date for 2006-07

Player of the Week - Mallary Gillespie (Dec. 18, 2006)

Player of the Week - Shawnee Slade (Nov. 12, 2006)

ABOUT THIS WEEK'S MWC OPPONENT

TCU - Provo, UT (02/01/07)

Heading into this week's MWC action, TCU is tied in third place with New Mexico with 5-2 league records. Their two losses were at Utah 61-72, and at Wyoming 51-66. The Lady Frogs have an 14-5 overall record and are receiving votes in both polls. In conference games the team has three players scoring in double figures led by junior guard Adrianne Ross. She's averaging 16.1 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. Next is Hanna Biernacka who contributes 12.3 points and grabs 4.3 boards. Senior guard/forward combo Ashley Davis rounds out the double digit scoring with 11.9 points and 5.1 rebounds per contest. Toping the rebound category is Lorie Butler-Rayford who averages 8.3 boards a game. Head Coach Jeff Mittie is in his eighth season with TCU.

TCU Probable Starters

Pos. # Name Ht Yr PPG RPG (conf. gm. stats)

F 14 Lorie Butler-Rayford 5-11 Jr 5.7 8.3

F 42 Hanna Biernacka 6-1 Sr 12.3 4.3

G 11 Helen Roden 5-8 Jr 8.7 3.3

G 33 Adrianne Ross 5-8 Jr 16.1 4.3

G 34 Ashley Davis 6-0 Sr 11.9 5.1

Stat Comparisons BYU TCU (conf. game stats)

Field Goals: .431 .420

Free Throws: .544 .753

Three-Pointers: .323 .311

Points Per Game: 59.7 74.7

Rebounds Per Game: 36.4 42.7

Series Record

The series between TCU and BYU is 6-2 in favor of the Cougars. In Provo, the Lady Frogs have a 1-2 record.

Last Meeting

In last year's MWC schedule the two teams played three times with BYU sweeping the regular season and then in the MWC Championships the two foes met in one of the semifinal games where the Cougars picked up the 10-point, 63-53 victory.

Media Information

Thursday Shootaround - Feb. 1, 2007

-- Both TCU and BYU will have a one-hour shootaround Thurs., Feb. 1

TCU is scheduled to practice from 11 a.m, to noon.

BYU will practice from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Regular Team Practice Times

-- The team practices are held at the Marriott Center MWF from 11:30 a.m., to 1:30 p.m. On Tuesday's, practice is scheduled for 1 to 3 p.m., and on Thursday's it is 12:30 to 3 p.m.

-- Coach Judkins and players are available for interviews prior to or after their practices. All interviews are scheduled in advance. Norma Collett is the Media Director for the team and can be contacted by phone or email. She travels to all of the away games. Office phone is 801-422-4908, cell phone is 801-372-0989 and email is norma_collett@byu.edu

Up Next

BYU opens the second leg of the MWC race hosting foes Air Force on Feb. 8 at 7 p.m., also on the mtn. network. On Sat., Feb. 10 the Lobos of New Mexico will make a visit to the Marriott Center. That contest tips off at 2 p.m.

BYU Women's Basketball 2006-07 Numerical Roster

No.Name Pos. Ht. Cl. Exp.Hometown/Previous School

5 Ashley Cheesman* F 6-0 Jr 2V Orem,UT/MountainView HS/SDSU

13 Jaime Judkins' G 5-6 Fr HSSalt Lake City, UT/Skyline HS

15 Jennie Keele G/F 5-10 Sr 3V Syracuse, UT/Clearfield HS

22 Brittany Faddis F 6-0 So RS Houston, TX/ Kingwood HS

30 Mallary Gillespie G 5-10 Jr 2V Orem, UT/Mountain View HS

31 Rachel Aina G 5-9 So 1VForest Grove,OR/ForestGrove HS

32 Shawnee Slade G/F 5-11 So 1VTaylorsville,UT/Taylorsve HS

33 Haley Hall G 5-4 Fr HS Syracuse, UT/Clearfield HS

35 Melinda Johnsen G/F 5-10 Sr 3V Murray, UT/Murray HS

45 Dani Kubik Wright C 6-3 Sr 3VLawrenceve,GA/CollinsHill HS/Auburn

52 Lauren Riley C 6-3 Jr 2VSan Clemente,CA/SanClemente HS

54 Cassie King C 6-3 So 1V Provo, UT/Provo HS

Amy Alletto' G 5-9 Fr HS Parker, CO/Ponderosa HS

Erica Eyestone' G 5-6 Fr HS Orem, UT/Mountain View HS

Jaime Ribera' G 5-7 Fr HSDanville,CA/SanRamon Valley HS

Kaitlyn Rice' F 6-0 Fr HS Albuquerque, NM/La Cueva HS

Head Coach: Jeff Judkins

Assistant Coaches: Alli Bills, Jonas Chatterton, Stacy Jensen

Director of Basketball Operations: Erin Thorn

Athletic Trainer: Carolyn Billings

'Walk-ons for 2006-07