BYU beats Loyola Marymount 77-54 at home

PROVO, Utah — BYU defeated Loyola Marymount 77-54 on Thursday in the Marriott Center. The win brings BYU’s record to 22-2 with three games remaining in the regular season.

"We talk about it every time the game starts that we don't lose a home game," BYU head coach Jeff Judkins said. "If you want to have a good team, you don't lose a home game."

BYU has won 29 games in a row at the Marriott Center over the last two seasons.

The Cougars shot 45.7 percent from the field against LMU (8-16, 3-11) with the Lions just behind at 41.9 percent. BYU forced 23 turnovers and outrebounded LMU 40-26, including grabbing 21 offensive boards. 

Shaylee Gonzales led the Cougars with 19 points in the game, adding eight rebounds, three assists and a steal. Paisley Harding gave BYU 18 points, recording three assists and three steals, while Sara Hamson added nine points with three rebounds, two blocks and two steals. 

Box Score

First Quarter
The Cougars gained a lead early in the game, with a 6-0 scoring run putting BYU up 8-2 just under four minutes in.

Loyola Marymount responded with back-to-back three-pointers, taking the lead at 10-9.

The teams tied the score at 12-12, and an offensive rebound by Hamson allowed a three-pointer from Tegan Graham, bringing BYU back into the lead at 15-12 at the end of one quarter of play.

Second Quarter
A jumper from Gonzales followed by a three-pointer from Harding brought BYU’s lead to 20-12 to begin the second quarter.

Baskets from Harding and Gustin helped BYU to quickly increase its lead to 31-16 and start a 9-0 scoring run for the Cougars.

Back-to-back layups by Hamson brought BYU’s lead to 35-18, and Loyola Marymount responded with two three-pointers, ending the half with the Cougars leading 35-24.

Third Quarter
A layup from Harding started the second half, pushing BYU’s lead to 37-24.

An 8-0 scoring run by the Lions narrowed the scoring gap at 43-36, but a layup from Gonzales kept the Cougars moving forward.

A steal by Harding helped Hamson put down a layup, bringing BYU’s edge to 51-38 with just over a minute left in the quarter, and three free throws from Harding paired with another layup by Hamson finished the quarter at 56-38.

Fourth Quarter
A three-pointer by Nani Falatea kept BYU’s lead growing and brought the score to 59-38 at the start of the fourth.

Points from Harding and Albiero put BYU up 63-41, and the Cougars kept their momentum going through the final quarter, bringing in five players off the bench to finish the game. Emma Calvert put down three baskets in the final five minutes and a jumper by Rose Bubakar gave BYU its final points of the game, securing the win at 77-54.

Next up, the Cougars will face Gonzaga on Saturday, Feb. 19 in the Marriott Center for senior day. The game will begin at 2 p.m. MST and will be available on BYUtv and the BYUtv app.