Home opener brings South Dakota State to Provo

After picking up two exhibition victories last week, the BYU women’s basketball team is set to officially start the 2013-14 campaign.The Cougar women (0-0) host first-time opponent South Dakota State (0-0), Friday, Nov. 8 at 3 p.m. The game can be seen live worldwide on BYUtv.

About BYU
In home openers, BYU head coach Jeff Judkins has a 10-2 mark. He begins his 13th season at the helm of the women’s basketball program.
This year’s squad returns nine letterwinners and two starters from a team that compiled a 23-11 record, finished tied for third in the West Coast Conference and competed for the second straight year in the postseason WNIT.
Last month the Cougar women were picked to finish fourth in the WCC regular season race behind San Diego and Saint Mary’s. Gonzaga was selected to repeat as regular season champs. Senior center Jennifer Hamson was named to the preseason poll, her second such honor.

• Head coach: Jeff Judkins (Utah, ‘78) enters his 13th season
• Team’s leading scorer: #21 Lexi Eaton, 15.6 ppg*
• Team’s leading rebounder: #5 Jennifer Hamson, 8.8 rpg*
• Team’s assists leader: #4 Kim Beeston, 2.2 apg*
• Team’s steals leader: #4 Beeston, 1.0 spg*

* Stats are from the 2012-13 season

About South Dakota State
The Jackrabbits return 10 letterwinners and three starters from last year’s team that compiled a 25-8 record, won the regular season Summit League and the conference tournament and competed in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

South Dakota State was picked to repeat as Summit League champions for the 2013-14 campaign. It also placed two players on the preseason first (Megan Waytashek) and second team (Steph Paluch).

• Head coach: Aaron Johnston (Gustavus Adolphus, ‘96), 13th season
• Team’s leading scorer: #24 Megan Waytashek, 13.6 ppg*
• Team’s leading rebounder: #24 Waytashek, 4.3 rpg*
• Team’s assists leader: #4 Gabby Boever, 3.3 apg*
• Team’s steals leader: #4 Boever, 2.4 spg*

* Stats are from the 2012-13 season

Series History
This will be the first meeting between the two schools

Up Next
The Cougar women take their first road game of the year, traveling to Las Vegas to take on former Mountain West Conference foe, UNLV on Tues. Nov. 13 at 4 p.m. PST. BYU returns home to host Boston College on Sat. Nov. 16 at 4 p.m.