Home games vs. LMU and PEP this week

BYU vs. LMU Game Notes

LMU vs. BYU Game Notes

PROVO, Utah — Tied for first place in the most recent West Coast Conference standings with San Diego and on a six-game win streak, BYU women’s basketball (14-4, 6-1), is home this week hosting two league games.

The Cougars host LMU (7-11, 3-4) Thursday, Jan. 21, at 6 p.m. On Saturday, Jan. 23, Pepperdine (5-13, 1-6) comes to the Marriott Center for a 2 p.m. tilt. The Waves play at San Diego on Thursday night. Both home games this week air live on BYUtv and are simulcast on BYU Radio.

BYU at a Glance
Three players are scoring in double digits for BYU led by 23.2 points from All-American senior guard Lexi Eaton Rydalch. She ranks second on the team in rebounds, pulling down 5.4 boards a game. Junior Makenzi Morrison Pulsipher contributes 11.4 points to the Cougars offensive threat. All-American Kalani Purcell, a JC transfer from Hutchinson Community College and Hamilton, New Zealand, rounds out the scoring with her 10.8 points and with a team best 11.8 rebounds is averaging a double-double. Purcell tops the league in rebounds and in assists and is coming off her second straight WCC Player of the Week honor. Rydalch needs 36 points to tie Jackie Beene McBride for third place all-time in scoring and she’s 64 points shy of tying Alex Cowling for the top spot in the WCC record book (2,219). Currently, Rydalch leads the conference in scoring.

The Cougars are scoring 68.1 points and grabbing 38.2 rebounds while shooting 42.1 percent from the field, 67.3 percent from the free throw line and 35.8 percent from 3-point range. BYU is holding opponents to 60.6 points per game.

• Head coach: Jeff Judkins (Utah, ‘78) 15th season
• Team’s leading scorer: #21 L. Eaton Rydalch, 23.2 ppg
• Team’s leading rebounder: #32 K. Purcell, 11.8 rpg
• Team’s assists leader: #32 K. Purcell, 4.3 apg
• Team’s steals leader: #23 M. Morrison Pulsipher, 2.1 spg
• Team’s blocks leader: #32, K. Purcell, .78 bpg

LOYOLA MARYMOUNT at a Glance
Loyola Marymount enters this week’s league action with a 7-11, 3-4 record. The Lions have captured wins over Portland, Pepperdine and Pacific while losing to Gonzaga, Saint Mary’s, San Francisco and Santa Clara. When playing on the road, LMU is 1-1 in WCC play. 

The Lions return eight letterwinners including three starters from last year’s squad that ended the year with a 7-24, 4-14 record and finished eighth in the WCC regular season race. Head coach Charity Elliott is in her fourth season at the helm of LMU’s women’s basketball program.

LMU has three players that are putting up double figures in points with a team-best 12.1 points from Sophie Taylor. Cheyanne Wallace contributes 11.8 points and Leslie Lopez-Wood chips in 10.1 points. Taylor is the team’s leading rebounder, grabbing 8.6 boards a game.

The Lions are scoring 67.6 points and grabbing 41.0 rebounds a game. They shoot 37.0 percent from the field, 30.4 percent from 3-point range and 70.5 percent from the free throw line.

• Head coach: Charity Elliott, Fourth Year
• Team’s leading scorer: #20 S. Taylor, 12.1 ppg
• Team’s leading rebounder: #20 S. Taylor, 8.6 rpg
• Team’s assists leader: #11 A. Velasco, 3.9 apg
• Team’s steals leader: #20 S. Taylor, 2.1 spg
• Team’s blocks leader: #04 C. Wallace, 2.2 bpg

Series History
BYU leads the overall series over LMU 10-1.

During last year’s WCC race, the Cougars swept the series vs. the Lions. In the first meeting in Los Angeles on Jan. 8, the Cougars picked up the 71-63 win. Then on Feb. 7 in Provo, BYU won the home game, 74-59.

LMU has never won a game in Provo in the series that dates back to 1996.

PEPPERDINE at a Glance
In the latest WCC standings, the Waves are in ninth place with a 1-6 mark in league games. Their overall record is 5-13. Pepperdine’s lone conference win is over Portland. They play at San Diego on Thursday night before making the trip to Provo for Saturday’s matchup.

The Waves return eight letterwinners and have seven newcomers on this year’s team. Two new assistant coaches also joined this year’s squad.

On the year, Erica Ogwumike tops the leaderboard in scoring with 16.9 points and also leads the way in rebounding, pulling down 7.2 boards a game for Pepperdine. The Waves shoot 38.3 percent from the field, 33.6 percent from 3-point range and 72.8 percent at the free throw line while scoring 63.8 points per contest.

• Head coach: Ryan Weisenberg, Second Year
• Team’s leading scorer: #13 E. Ogwumike, 16.9 ppg
• Team’s leading rebounder: #13 E. Ogwumike, 7.2 rpg
• Team’s assists leader: #11 P Fecske, 3.6 apg
• Team’s steals leader: #13 E. Ogwumike, 1.9 spg
• Team’s blocks leader: #44 K. Brockway, .50 bpg

Series History
BYU leads the series with Pepperdine, 10-2.

Last season, the Cougars swept the series with an 84-78 road win on Jan. 10 and a 77-58 victory at home on Feb. 5.  Pepperdine has never won a game in Provo.

Coming Up
After four straight games at home, BYU returns to the road to southern California for matchups at LMU and Pepperdine next Thursday and Saturday.