BYU gets in the win column with 65-56 victory over Washington State

LAIE, Hawaii – BYU women’s basketball used a big first half and stayed in control from start to finish, beating Washington State 65-56 on Friday at the North Shore Showcase.

Three players scored in double figures including 19 from Nani Falatea and 15 apiece from Rose Bubakar and Lauren Gustin. Gustin added 15 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the year in four games.

Bubakar went 7 of 8 from the field on a night where BYU shot 66.7 percent from the field and dominated the glass 31 to 14.

The win marked the first for head coach Amber Whiting’s collegiate career.

BYU (1-3) led at half and built as much as a 20-point advantage, making it too much for Washington State (3-1) to claw back into the game.

First quarter
BYU took a 13-7 lead after a Falatea three-point play with just over four minutes to go in the first quarter.

The Cougars stayed in control through the end of the first quarter with seven points apiece from Gustin and Falatea to power an 18-13 edge.

Second quarter
Bubakar chipped in two layups and Falatea continued to add with another bucket and BYU stayed in front 25-21 with six minutes left in until halftime. Bubakar added a midrange jumper two minutes later to stay in front 29-24.

Bubakar added a layup and a free throw while Arielle Mackey-Williams found her stroke from three inside of the last two minutes. Falatea added another buzzer-beating layup for the Cougars to take a 37-24 lead at halftime.

Third quarter
Bubakar picked up right where she left off with more buckets to start the second half. Kaylee Smiler added a triple to push BYU’s lead to 45-30 with 6:35 left in the third quarter.

Mackey-Williams got a layup to go for two and added a free throw make on the foul to keep the lead at 13 points inside of two minutes to go in the third.

Falatea made it 3 for 3 on buzzer beaters, adding another driving layup at the end of the third quarter for a 51-36 lead heading into the final frame.

Fourth Quarter
Falatea kept her foot on the gas with a layup and a 3-pointer to start the fourth, making it a 20-point game. With five minutes to go in the game BYU led 62-45.

Washington State chipped away at the end of the game but BYU’s advantage was enough in the end, hanging on to win it 65-56.

Up next, BYU plays Troy on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 3 p.m. HT (6 p.m. MT) at the Cannon Activities Center in La’ie, Hawai’i as part of the North Shore Showcase.