Cougar women host St. Mary's Thursday in Kids Day game

With a 17-5, 9-2 record, BYU women’s basketball is in second place in the latest West Coast Conference standings. The Cougars host St. Mary’s (14-8, 7-4) Thursday, Feb. 7, at 11 a.m. MST in the annual Kids Day game. The league game will air live on BYUtv and online at byutv.org.

BYU vs. St. Mary' Game Notes

ABOUT BYU

• Freshman Shaylee Gonzales, who has scored in double-digits in 20 of 22 games, leads the team in scoring and assists with 16.2 and 4.2 averages, respectively. Sophomore Paisley Johnson contributes 14.0 points while junior Brenna Chase puts up 11.9 points a contest. Chase leads in steals (2.6 spg).  Senior forward Jasmine Moody tops the leaderboard in rebounding, averaging 5.7 boards a game. Sophomore center Sara Hamson leads the team in blocks with a 2.2 average and second on the team in rebounding, pulling down 5.6 boards a game.
• In the WCC, the Cougars rank second in scoring defense, field goal percentage defense, blocked shots and assist/turnover ratio; third in assists, scoring margin and 3-point field goals made; and fourth in 3-point field goal percentage defense, rebounding offense, steals and turnover margin. 
• In the first meeting with St. Mary’s this year, the Cougars picked up a 74-73 victory in Moraga on Jan. 12. The league foes are currently tied in the overall series at 9-9. The Gaels are 2-6 in Provo and last won in the Marriott Center on Feb. 12, 2015, in a 76-71 overtime victory.

ABOUT ST. MARY’S

• Heading into this week’s league race, St. Mary’s has a 14-8, 7-4 and is tied in third place with Pacific.
• The Gaels have conference wins over San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Pepperdine and LMU. They swept the series with Portland and lost twice to Gonzaga.
• SMC is averaging 76.5 points and 40.2 rebounds a contest. The team shoots 48.5 percent from the field, 38.6 percent from 3-point range and 67.8 percent from the charity stripe.
• Three players are contributing double-digit points for the Gaels, led by Sydney Raggio’s 12.0 points and a team-best 8.4 rebounds per contest. Teammate Megan McKay follows with 11.8 points a game. Sam Simons is the third player putting up double-figure points with 11.3. Madeline Holland leads the way in assists, dishing out a team-high 3.6.

UP NEXT FOR BYU

After hosting St. Mary’s Thursday, the Cougar women remain home to battle Pacific on Saturday, Feb. 9, at 2 p.m. MST. The game will air live on BYUtv and online at byutv.org.