League play continues with two games

With a 15-6 record and a 6-2 mark in West Coast Conference action, BYU women’s basketball resumes league play this week with two contests. This Thursday, the Cougars host San Diego (15-7, 7-3) in an early 6 p.m. MST tip. The game will air live on BYUtv.

BYU then travels to Moraga, Calif., to battle Saint Mary’s (14-6, 6-2) on Saturday at 2 p.m., PST. Fans can listen to the game live on BYU Radio, Sirius XM 143 and online at byuradio.org.

GAME PROMOTIONS - San Diego (White Out)
Everyone is encouraged to wear white.
White pom-poms will be handed out to fans.
Come participate in halftime contests
Get on the floor to do the very popular Chicken Dance with the kids

BYU Capsule
The Cougar team has outrebounded its opponents in 13 of the games played.  The BYU bench has outscored the opponent’s bench 412-254. When comparing points in the paint, the Cougars have scored 540 points to 464 from opponents. BYU has enjoyed a halftime lead in all but five games to date (vs. SMC, at USF, at Gonzaga, vs. Seattle and at Washington State). In only four contests (at USF, at Gonzaga, at Boston College and at Washington State) the Cougars did not record more assists than their opponents. Balanced scoring has added to the team’s success this year. To date, three players have put up double figures in points in 10 games and four players finished with double-digit scoring in three games.

• Head coach: Jeff Judkins (Utah, ‘78), enters his 12th season
• Team’s leading scorer: #4 Kim Beeston, 10.7 ppg
• Team’s leading rebounder: #5 Jennifer Hamson, 7.5 rpg
• Team’s assists leader: #33 Haley Steed, 7.7 apg
• Team’s steals leader: #33 Steed, 2.3 spg

BYU’S PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
#33 Haley Steed– (5-4 guard, GS.) 10.1 ppg; 4.1 rpg; 7.7 apg
#4 Kim Parker Beeston– (5-11 guard, Jr.) 10.7 ppg; 3.9 rpg; 2.1 apg
#12 Stephanie Vermunt Seaborn – (6-0 guard/forward, Jr.) 6.6 ppg; 2.5 rpg; 1.3 apg
#45 Keilani Unga– (6-2 forward, Sr.) 6.3 ppg; 4.2 rpg; 0.8 apg
#5 Jennifer Hamson– (6-7 center, Jr.) 9.8 ppg; 7.5 rpg; 0.5 apg

San Diego Capsule
Entering the week, the University of San Diego has compiled a 7-3 mark in WCC play and is 15-7 overall. The Toreros’ three conference losses have been to Gonzaga and to BYU. USD returns nine letterwinners and two starters from last year’s team that finished the year with a 26-9, 12-4 record (tied for second with BYU in WCC action) and went to the Final Four of the WNIT.

• Head coach: Cindy Fisher is in her seventh year at San Diego
• Team’s leading scorer: #10 Amy Kame, 16.8 ppg
• Team’s leading rebounder: #21 Klara Wischer, 7.6 rpg
• Team’s assists leader: #10 Kame, 4.0 apg
• Team’s steals leader: #10 Kame, 2.6 spg

Series History
The Cougars lead the series 5-0.

Last Meeting
These two teams met once already this season on Jan. 10 in San Diego. In the closely fought game, BYU came away with the three-point 57-54 win in overtime. Three Cougars scored in double figures, with Stephanie Vermunt Seaborn leading the way scoring 16. She shot 6 for 9 from the field and 3 for 5 from beyond the arc. Jennifer Hamson put up 13 points and Kim Beeston had 10, including two 3-pointers of her own. Hamson also led on the boards with nine. Haley Steed dished out 10 assists.

BYU shot 47.1 percent from 3-point land, 38.5 percent overall, and held the Toreros to shooting 31.3 percent. San Diego outrebounded BYU 47-34.

The Toreros were led in scoring by Amy Kame who had a game-best 25 points along with eight rebounds and five steals. Felicia Wijensberg also put up double digits in points with 14.

Saint Mary’s Capsule
The Gaels have compiled a 14-6, 6-2 record to date. They host Portland Thursday night before battling the Cougars on Saturday afternoon. Saint Mary’s two league losses were to San Diego in Moraga, Calif., on Jan. 17 and to BYU on Jan. 31 in Provo. On this year’s team, the Gaels return 10 letterwinners including three starters from last year’s team that went 22-11 and advanced to the second round of the WNIT.

• Head coach: Paul Thomas enters his seventh year with Saint Mary’s
• Team’s leading scorer: #3 Jackie Nared, 18.4 ppg
• Team’s leading rebounder: #54 Danielle Maulding, 11.3 rpg
• Team’s assists leader: #24 Morgan Hatten, 3.3 apg
• Team’s steals leader: #54 Maulding, 1.4 spg

Series History
BYU leads the series 2-1.

Last Meeting
On January 31, these two conference foes met in Provo where BYU picked up the 66-58 victory behind 14 points each from Kim Parker Beeston and Haley Steed.
Keilani Unga also finished with double digits in scoring with 13.  Jennifer Hamson led the Cougar team in the rebound category with eight. Steed dished out a game-high nine assists to go along with five steals.
For the game, BYU shot 38 percent form the field, 40 percent from behind the arc and 72 percent from the free-throw line. 
The Gaels shot 34 percent from the field, 29 percent from 3-point range and 67 percent from the line. Jackie Nared finished the game with a double-double from 18 points and 11 boards. Danielle Mauldin and Kate Gaze scored 10 points apiece.

What’s Next
On Feb. 14, the Cougar women return home for their next league game when they host Santa Clara at 7 p.m. MST. The game can be seen live on BYUtv. Then it’s off to southern California for a second meeting with WCC foe Pepperdine. The Cougars and Waves play Saturday, Feb. 16 in a 2 p.m. PST tip off.