Pearson Leads Cougars To Finish Second In MWC With Aztecs Win

San Diego, CA- (Mar. 2, 2002) Senior transfer Melanie Pearson came off the bench to led all with 23 points as the Cougars cruised to a 72-56 victory over San Diego State, in a late Saturday night game.

BYU tied with New Mexico for second place in the Mountain West Conference regular season, but because the Lobos swept the Cougars, the now 19-8, 10-4 team will go into next week's tournament in third place. Colorado State picked up the regular season champion honor.

From San Diego the Cougars got off to a slow start down by seven, 26-33 at the break but came back in the second half to double their points by 46 for the win.

"We started shooting better in the second half, making some critical baskets, " said BYU head coach Jeff Judkins. "We had another great defensive effort from everyone and held them (San Diego State) to 39 percent shooting from the field."

Along with Pearson's 23 points, three other Cougars got double digits point in the contest. All-American Erin Thorn had 22 points with 11 from senior guard Stacy Jensen who had a season and team high 11 assist. Freshman Danielle Cheesman contributed with 10 points and a team high seven rebounds.

Despite not playing their leading rebounder Jennifer Leitner who had a soar knee, the BYU team still out rebounded SDSU 39 to 30 and shot 43 percent from the field and chipped in 10 of 12 from the charity stripe.

For the Aztecs who end the regular season with a 10-17, 2-12 record had three players contributed in double digit scoring led by guard Jamey Cox who came off the bench for her 14 points. Claire Swinbank had 13 followed by forward Tanisha Knight's 10. In the game San Diego State shot 39 percent from the field and 79 from the free throw line.

Up next for both teams is the 2002 EAS Mountain West conference Championships in Las Vegas that begin Wed., March 6. BYU will play Wyoming in the second game of the day slated for a 2:30 p.m. PS tip off. SDSU plays the first game at noon against New Mexico, the number two seed of the tournament.

Official Basketball Box Score -- GAME TOTALS -- FINAL STATISTICS
Brigham Young vs San Diego State
03/02/02 9:20 pm at San Diego, CA (Cox Arena)
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VISITORS: Brigham Young 19-8/10-4 MWC
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
23 ROSE, Chanell....... f  0-4    0-0    1-2    3  3  6   2   1  1  2  0  0  23
31 OSGUTHORPE, Lisa.... f  1-6    0-2    2-2    1  2  3   2   4  2  0  0  1  31
51 CHEESMAN, Danielle.. c  4-9    0-0    2-2    4  3  7   4  10  1  2  0  1  25
11 THORN, Erin......... g  8-16   5-12   1-1    1  2  3   1  22  1  4  1  2  34
22 JENSEN, Stacy....... g  4-7    1-2    2-2    1  2  3   1  11 11  1  0  1  37
05 LEWIS, Amy..........    0-1    0-1    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  1  0  0   1
12 PEARSON, Melanie....    8-12   4-6    3-3    3  1  4   4  23  1  4  1  0  25
20 LARSON, Brittany....    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   1   0  0  1  0  0   4
25 TAYLOR, Kali........    0-0    0-0    0-0    1  0  1   1   0  0  0  0  0   5
32 CASPER, Aspen.......    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  0  0  0   1
45 HANSEN, Lisa........    0-3    0-0    1-2    0  5  5   1   1  0  0  4  0  14
   TEAM................                         1  6  7
   Totals..............   25-58  10-23  12-14  15 24 39  17  72 17 15  6  5 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 11-28 39.3%   2nd Half: 14-30 46.7%   Game: 43.1%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  1-7  14.3%   2nd Half:  9-16 56.3%   Game: 43.5%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  3-3  100 %   2nd Half:  9-11 81.8%   Game: 85.7%    0
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HOME TEAM: San Diego State 10-17/2-12 MWC
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
40 KNIGHT, Tanisha..... f  3-9    1-1    3-3    1  2  3   3  10  0  4  0  1  24
55 OTII, Atim.......... f  2-6    0-0    0-0    2  6  8   4   4  1  6  0  0  36
50 VARGAS, Morgan...... c  0-2    0-0    0-2    0  0  0   0   0  0  1  0  0   9
12 SWINBANK, Claire.... g  6-13   1-2    0-0    0  1  1   1  13  2  1  0  0  35
25 SCHOMAKER, Missy.... g  0-1    0-1    0-0    0  3  3   0   0  1  1  0  0   8
00 KING, Tynisha.......    0-1    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  0  0  0   1
10 WILLIAMS, Ashonda...    3-5    0-1    0-0    1  1  2   2   6  1  0  0  1  29
20 COX, Jamey..........    3-8    1-3    7-7    0  3  3   2  14  2  3  0  2  35
24 McCARTNY, Nicolette.    4-9    0-0    1-2    2  1  3   1   9  2  2  2  0  22
34 HOWARD, Valencia....    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  0  0  0   1
   TEAM................                         5  2  7
   Totals..............   21-54   3-8   11-14  11 19 30  13  56  9 18  2  4 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 13-26 50.0%   2nd Half:  8-28 28.6%   Game: 38.9%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  2-6  33.3%   2nd Half:  1-2  50.0%   Game: 37.5%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  5-6  83.3%   2nd Half:  6-8  75.0%   Game: 78.6%   1,1
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Officials: Shelley Nakasone, Carla Fujimoto, Sue Kennedy
Technical fouls: Brigham Young-None. San Diego State-None.
Attendance: 634
Score by Periods                1st  2nd   Total
Brigham Young.................   26   46  -   72
San Diego State...............   33   23  -   56