Women’s hoops hosts Media Day

PROVO, Utah (Oct. 14, 2015) — BYU women’s basketball held its annual Media Day today at the Marriott Center to preview the upcoming 2015-16 season. BYU head coach Jeff Judkins and selected players met with the local media. Coach Judkins and Lexi Eaton Rydalch were also interviewed on BYUtv’s Sports Nation.

Head coach Jeff Judkins quotes from Sports Nation
On the team
I’m excited for the season. I think we are going to be a fun team to watch. We are quicker than we were last year."  

"Kalani Purcell is what everyone said she’d be and more. She’s a very good player.I really like our three freshmen I think they are going to be very good and then our returning players have gotten a lot better. I think Lexi has improved and tried to work on her game. Makenzi had a great WCC tournament run last year and Kylie has gotten stronger. I think all of those are all real positives for us."

On the schedule
"We’re going to have a hard schedule. I wanted us to have a good schedule that will give us a high RPI. We have three of the toughest games on neutral sites."

"We’re playing a top five team in Texas A&M at BYU-Hawaii. Oklahoma will probably be a top 12 team and we play them on their home court. They’ll be at our place next year. Colorado State has a great chance of winning their conference again. Utah State has everybody back this year. Hawaii will be a great matchup for us. They won their league last year and we will play them at BYU-Hawaii. And then we are at Weber State and that’s going to be another tough road challenge for us."

"Hopefully we’ll be able to win a lot of those games that will give us a high enough RPI when it comes to the NCAA tournament."

Lexi Eaton Rydalch quotes from Sports Nation
On her senior year
"Of course we are expecting big things, another championship ring and of course and we also want a regular season championship ring and go deep in the NCAA tournament. I’m excited about this team. I think we have what it takes."

On this year's schedule
"I’m excited to play the big games of course like Texas A&M, and Oklahoma. I’m pumped for those, that’s where you can test your level and see how good you really are and how tough you are and that’s what I live for."

MORE FROM MEDIA DAY

Kylie Maeda - Senior
Pre-game rituals: I don't really have any.

What I did during the offseason: I worked a lot on getting a quicker release on my shot over the summer. Coach Judkins wanted me to do it, and hopefully the hard work pays off.

Goals for the year: We would like to win the conference championship and tournament. Gonzaga has won it many years in a row, and we’d like to win it. We’d also like to make a far run in the NCAA tournament like we have in past years.”

Makenzi Morrison Pulsipher - Junior
Pre-game Rituals: I always do homework up until about an hour and a half before the game, and then I like to go out about 15 minutes before everyone else and shoot around so I can get in a rhythm by shooting consecutive shots.

What I did in the offseason: I’ve tried to take the initiative and better my game. I’ve continued to work on shooting. People know me now as a shooter, and I have been working on getting open and learning how others will guard me differently now. I’ve been working a lot on readings screen and being patient coming off those screens.

Goals for the year: We’d like to win a conference championship.

Kristine Fuller Nielson - Junior
Pre-game rituals: I'm boring this way. I don't have to do anything before a game.

Three things I did in the offseason: I got married in May, so that was a big thing. I also went to Canada for the first time and worked on my basketball game.

Goals for the season: For the team, we want to win the conference championship and make a run in the NCAA tournament. For me, I want to be more consistent in my play, like knocking down shots when I’m open.

Micaelee Orton - Junior 
Pre-game ritual:  Last season I watched Gilmore Girls, but I finished that so I have to find a new Netflix show to watch before games. Also, I put my right shoe on before the left and make sure my teeth are brushed. 

Three things I did in the offseason: I shot a lot and lifted a ton. I met with the dietician to make sure my body was healthy. Also, I went to St. George with my family and went to Lake Powell with the team. 

Goals for the season: Personally, I’d like to be a bigger offensive threat since I’ll be getting more playing time this year. As a team we want to win the WCC championship again and go farther in the NCAA Tournament. 

Kalani Purcell - JC Transfer
Favorite food: Anything, I'm not fussy.

Warm-up song: I don’t have a single song or genre, I just have to listen to anything.

Pre-game rituals: I don’t like to be superstitious, but the one thing I always do is put my left before my right on everything. Left sock, left shoe, anything.

Three things I did in the offseason: I went home to New Zealand and played for my national team. I also was the maid of honor in my sister’s wedding.

Goals for the season: My biggest goal is that I’m contributing to the team in some way. Anything that the team needs me to do, I want to be able to do it. I also want to be the Newcomer of the Year for the team.

Alohi Robins-Hardy - Sophomore
Favorite food: Hawaiian food.

What’s your warm-up song: Anything by G-Eazy

Pre-game ritual: Nothing really specific. I just listen to music as long as I can while I’m getting ready and then just warm up.

Three things you did in the offseason: I went home to Hawaii. I worked out, had fun, and spent some quality time with my family. We did some hikes and went to the beach.

What are your goals for the season: As a team, win the WCC championship again. Personally, I just want to get better every day in practice and in games so that I can help the team the best way I can. 

Brooke Romney - Sophomore
Favorite food: Mexican, I love tacos

Warm-up song: “All I do is Win” 

Pre-game rituals: I usually just listen to music, just kind of relax. We usually eat Zupas as a team. Occasionally if I need a little extra spiritual help I read some scriptures. No lies. I’ve got to get that in, it makes me feel good.

What I did in the offseason: I visited my parents in the Dominican Republic. They’re there as MTC presidents right now. I also went to Disney Land with my brother Bryce, who is in Vocal Point, so I got to see them perform. I also went boating a lot. Mostly at Lake Powell and Deer Creek.

Cassie Broadhead - Sophomore
Favorite food: Pizza. I'm from New York, so it's New York pizza

Warm-up song: “The Champ," by Nelly.

Pre-game rituals: I always eat an egg sandwhich and apple juice before, ever since high school. There’s that and I always put on my left sock and shoe before I put on my right sock and shoe.

What I did in the offseason: I went home to New York because I can’t go back during the school year. I always work on skill development too. And I always try to lift and get my body right before the season. We also go to the beach and go boating.

Goals for the year: Just to do anything to keep the energy on the floor. Anything to help my team win. I don’t have any goals for stats or anything, just anything my team needs. Just wins. Just care about wins.

Amanda Wayment - Sophomore
Favorite food: Salmon. I love sea food. Sushi is so good too.

Warm-up song: Anything by One Direction

Pre-game rituals: I just like to have fun with my team and listen to music. I always wore the same socks in high school, but now we always get new socks.

What I did in the offseason: I went with Alohi and Kylie to Hawaii because that’s where they’re from. We also went to Lake Powell with the team. Then I went to school.

Goals for the season: Just to go and give positive energy when I go into the game, rebound and help my team.

Jasmine Moody - New Freshman
Warm-up song: “My House” by Flo Rida

Pre-game rituals: I have to mentally prepare myself before the game, so I sleep and visualize what I need to do before the game

Favorite food: Anything that is Mexican

Three things I did in the offseason: Basketball workouts and spending time with family

Goals for the season: Anything that I can do to help the team. I know that I probably won't play as much as a freshman, but I want to help my team get better. 

Biggest change from high school to college: The pace in college is so fast. To get into that mindset and catch up with what’s going on is hard. In high school, it was pretty chill and slow.

MaCayla Hanks - New Freshman
What’s your warm-up song: I like listening to just about any country song besides the love, romantic ones. Those don’t really get you pumped up.

Pre-game ritual: It really just depends on the day.

Favorite food: Chicken strips and fries.

Three things you did in the offseason:  I went sail boating at Bear Lake, went to Arizona, and spent time with family.

What are your goals for the season: Personally, work on getting better at defense and rebounding. For the team, give it all I have to help my teammates.  

Most difficult adjustment to make since coming to BYU: I think it’s basketball. You have class all morning and then you have basketball all afternoon and then you have study hall all night. Time management is probably the hardest thing. 

Shelbee Molen - New Freshman
What’s your warm-up song: It’s really weird. I like pump up music, but I have to listen to “Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride” from the movie Lilo and Stitch on gameday. It makes me feel calm and happy. It’s weird but it helps.

Pre-game ritual: Not really right now since I’m just getting started at BYU. But I’m sure I will since I’m kind of superstitious.

Favorite food: Macaroni and cheese

Three things you did in the offseason: I recovered from some stress fractures I got during my senior year of high school. I went on my senior trip to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and that was awesome. I also spent lots of time with my family because I knew that I was leaving for college soon.

What are your goals for the season: Personally I want to continue to improve every day and learn the program. I also want to be the best teammate I can be so that whatever my role is this year as a freshman, I can succeed. As a team, of course we want to be as successful as we can. Winning a conference championship and a conference tournament, those are definitely our goals.  

Most difficult adjustment to make since coming to BYU: Adjusting to not living with your family and being on your own

Eternity Galeai - New Freshman
Warm-up song: “All I do is Win” by DJ Khaled

Pre-game rituals: I have a pre-game playlist that is only for games. I say a prayer and then I call and talk to my dad for motivation and tips on what I can do better.

Favorite food: Loco Moco

Three things I did in the offseason: I went to Lake Powell, did basketball workouts, and went to school.

Goals for the season: I want to find my role on the team and play it as well as I can. I also want to have a good bond with my teammates and win as many games that we can.

Biggest change from high school to college: The tempo is so fast.  When you are coming from high school, you are one of the star players and you think you’re in shape, but at this level you aren’t. Also, I’m no longer the tallest on the team