BYU Women’s Hoops Named NCAA.com Team of the Week

INDIANAPOLIS — BYU women’s basketball was named the NCAA.com Women's Basketball Team of the Week for winning a trio of road matchups last week over Pepperdine, Pacific and Saint Mary’s.

The Cougars (14-3, 10-2) opened their three-game California road trip with a 57-43 victory over Pepperdine on Tuesday, Feb. 9, fueled by a game-high 20 points from Paisley Johnson Harding. The senior guard sank 5 of her 10 three-point attempts against the Waves and added five assists and a season-high five rebounds. Shaylee Gonzales backed Harding with 16 points and seven boards while Sara Hamson tied her career-high with nine blocks as BYU gave up just two fourth-quarter points to secure the win.

Two days later, BYU cruised to a 65-52 win over Pacific, holding the Tigers to just 24.6% shooting on the night. Gonzales and Harding scored 14 points apiece to pace BYU while Lauren Gustin posted a 10-point 13-rebound double-double. Maria Albiero contributed nine points, six rebounds and three assists, while Hamson totaled six points, seven rebounds and three blocks.

The Cougars won their fifth consecutive game on Saturday afternoon as Harding dropped a season-high 28 points in a 79-61 victory over Saint Mary’s. The senior guard made 12 of 20 shots from the floor, including 3 of 6 from three, and added three rebounds on the game. Gonzales posted 16 points, four rebounds and three steals while Gustin secured her 10th double-double of the season with 16 points and 12 boards.

The current five-game winning streak is the second such streak of the season for the Cougars, who sit at 10-2 in West Coast Conference play, 2.5 games behind No. 16 Gonzaga (18-2, 13-0). BYU will host the Zags Thursday, Feb. 18, at 6 p.m. MST on BYUtv.