Johnson, BYU remain perfect in WCC play with 83-58 win over Pepperdine

PROVO, Utah – Paisley Johnson scored a career-high 24 points as BYU women’s basketball recorded a season-high 83 points in its 83-58 win over Pepperdine on Thursday at the Marriott Center.

BYU vs. Pepperdine Final Box

"We had spurts where we looked very, very good and then we had spurts where were I wondered, 'Where are we?'" BYU head coach Jeff Judkins said. "My three guards are as good of a guard line that I've had in a long time. They're playing well together and with a lot of confidence."

BYU had three players score more than 20 points in the same game for the first time this season. Johnson’s career-best 24 points came on her shooting 7 for 13 from the field, including three 3-pointers, and seven makes from the free throw line. Brenna Chase tied her season-best five 3-point makes on her way to a season-high 23 points while also adding 7 assists. Shaylee Gonzales scored 22 points and contributed seven assists and rebounds.

Gonzales opened the game with jumpers on back-to-back possessions to help the Cougars jump out to a 6-0 lead. Chase knocked down a 3-point shot and Johnson hit two free throws to give BYU (11-3, 3-0 WCC) an 11-6 lead over Pepperdine (7-5,1-2 WCC) with six minutes left in the period. Chase hit two more shots from behind the arc and Shalae Salmon added a layup as the Cougars outscored the Waves 9-2 to take a 20-8 lead with 2:22 left in the first period. Pepperdine cut the BYU lead to six points before two free throws from Johnson and a steal from Gonzales leading to a Chase layup as time expired in the period to claim a 26-16 lead.

Both teams exchanged baskets to start the second period with Johnson putting back an offensive rebound for a layup and Gonzales scoring a 3-pointer to push the Cougars’ lead 31-20. Johnson knocked down a jumper along with a pair of free throws and Chase scored her fourth make from downtown to help extend the BYU lead 40-24 with just under two minutes before the half. Pepperdine closed the half with a 5-0 run to cut the lead to 40-29 at the break.

Pepperdine briefly brought the deficit to single digits before Chase scored two layups to reclaim a 45-33 lead with 7:38 in the third. Gonzales capitalized on a steal from Chase scoring a fast break layup while drawing a foul and hitting the ensuing free throw to put BYU up 51-33. Jasmine Moody hauled in a lob pass from Sara Hamson to give the Cougars a 20-point lead 53-33 with four minutes left in the period. The Waves climbed back with an 11-0 run to bring the score back to single digits before Johnson made a jump shot and Gonzales added a free throw to give the Cougars a 56-44 lead to end the period.

Johnson opened the fourth period with a 3-pointer to give BYU a 15-point lead 59-44. Chase made her fifth 3-point shot starting the Cougars on a 15-2 run that included 3-point makes from Gonzales and Johnson to push the lead to 76-53 with three minutes left. Johnson and Ashley Beckstrand each added 3-pointers to help close out the game and give BYU the win 83-58 over Pepperdine.

The Cougars will look to continue their winning streak against Loyola Marymount at the Marriott Center on Saturday, January 5, at 2 p.m. MDT. The game will be broadcast on BYUtv.

Team Notes

• BYU’s 83 points is a season-high and is the second game the Cougars have scored 80 or more points.
• Three players scored in double figures for the fifth time this season as Paisley Johnson (24), Brenna Chase (23) and Shaylee Gonzales (22) led the way, making it the first game BYU had three players score over 20.
• The Cougars tied their season-high 3-point field goal percentage (45.8) after hitting 11 from beyond the arc.

Player Notes

• Paisley Johnson scored a career-high 24 points after shooting 7 of 13 from the field and 3 of 5 from beyond the arc. She also recorded five rebounds, two assists and two steals.
• Brenna Chase tallied a season-best 23, including five treys to tie her season-high. Chase added seven assists, two steals and two rebounds.
• Shaylee Gonzales had an impressive all-around game after contributing 22 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and three steals.
• Sara Hamson grabbed 10 rebounds, six of which were defensive. She added five blocks, two assists and two points. Her 10 rebounds and five blocks were a season-best.