Balanced team effort lifts BYU over Montana State, 75-54

BYU vs. Montana State Box Score

PROVO, Utah – Balanced team play on both sides of the ball lifted BYU over Montana State, 75-54, Friday afternoon at the Marriott Center.

“It was a good game today, we did some things that we have been trying hard to improve,” BYU head coach Jeff Judkins said. “It was a hard preseason this year. The key is to learn for conference play. Montana State is a good team. They are well coached and execute very well. It’s a good win.”

After a slow start, the Cougars (5-6) finished shooting 50 percent from the field and had 15 steals to the Bobcats’ (6-5) four. Cassie Broadhead Devashrayee led all scorers with 17 points, seven assists and four steals. Brenna Chase added 14 points and five assists while Malia Nawahine contributed 11 points and a game-high five steals. Sara Hamson and Shalae Salmon pulled down nine and seven boards, respectively.

The teams traded baskets early in the game before the Montana State edged BYU at the end of the period, 15-13.

In the second quarter, the Bobcats took a seven-point lead, 20-13, but the Cougars cut it to two, 23-21, on layups from Chase, Hamson and Devashrayee. Chase later passed the ball to Paisley Johnson, who then scored on a layup, giving BYU a one-point lead, 27-26, with 2:43 in the half. Devashrayee soon stole the ball and dished it to Nawahine for a jumper and a 29-26 lead at halftime.

The Cougars came out of the locker room energetic and went on a 7-2 run. A 3-pointer from Nawahine gave BYU an eight-point advantage, 36-28, with eight minutes left in the quarter. The offensive outburst continued as BYU scored nine-straight points, including six-consecutive points from Salmon, to go up 53-37 with under two minutes left. Maria Albiero hit a jumper with seven seconds on the clock, putting the Cougars up 17, 56-39, to end the period.

BYU extended its lead in the fourth quarter to as many as 21 points, finishing the game ahead 75-54.

The Cougars now head to Portland, Oregon, on December 28 to take on the Pilots at the Chiles Center. The game will be broadcast live on TheW.tv with live stats available on the BYU women’s basketball schedule page.

BYU vs. Montana State Postgame Notes

Team 
After trailing by seven in the second quarter, BYU fought back and took the narrow 29-26 lead into halftime. The Cougars led the entire second half and recorded their fifth victory of the season, edging Montana State 75-54. BYU is now 3-0 on the year when the team leads at the half.

For the fourth time this season, three Cougars scored in double figures: Devashrayee (17), Chase (14) and Nawahine (11).

BYU turned the ball over just eight times, while Montana State tallied 22 turnovers. The Cougars recorded 26 points off turnovers and the Bobcats had two.

The Cougars scored 42 points in the paint to the Bobcats 16, and BYU had eight fast break points, while Montana State had zero.

BYU recorded 12 second chance points to MSU’s five. The Cougars tallied 22 assists as a team, while the Bobcats had 16. BYU had 15 steals to Montana State’s four.

Player
For the ninth time this season, Cassie Broadhead Devashrayee led the Cougars in scoring, finishing the game with a game-high 17 points. The senior dished out a game-high seven assists for her second 5+ assist-game of the season. Devashrayee, who ranks third in minutes played per game in NCAA Division I women’s basketball, played 35 minutes against the Bobcats. 

Brenna Chase scored in double digits for the ninth time this season, with 14. Chase went 6 of 10 from the field, and made a team-high two 3-pointers. Chase also recorded five assists.

Malia Nawahine scored 11 points for the Cougars, on 5 of 9 shooting. She also brought down six rebounds and recorded four assists. Nawahine had a game-high five steals.

Shalae Salmon had seven points and seven rebounds for the Cougars.

Amanda Wayment scored eight points in the win, finishing 4 of 5 from the field. 

Sara Hamson chipped in six points for BYU to go along with nine rebounds and three blocks.

Khaedin Taito checked in to the game for the first time this season at the 9:06 mark on the second quarter. Taito played seven minutes for the Cougars in the win.