Thorn's 23 Points Leads BYU to First Conference Win

Provo, UTAH -- After opening conference play with a tough loss on Thursday, the Cougars rebounded for a 81-65 win over Wyoming, Saturday. The Cougars (10-5, 1-1) notched their 10th win and their first conference victory. The loss drops Wyoming to 7-7. 0-2.

All-American Erin Thorn led the attack with 23 points on 6-10 shooting from behind the arc. Junior Jennifer Leitner chipped in eight points and a team-high 12 rebounds. Freshman Danielle Cheesman contributed 10 points off the bench. Chanell Rose and Melanie Pearson chipped in nine points apiece.

"The concentration tonight was where we wanted it," said head coach Jeff Judkins. "I thought Rose played probably her best game of the season."

Both teams played tightly throughout the first half with neither team gaining a lead larger than six points. Stacy Jensen ended the half with a lay-up as time expired for a 35-29 advantage.

The Cougars came out strong in the second half on a 18-8, nailing three 3-pointers in the first eight minutes of the second half for a 16 point lead and never looked back. The Cowgirls made a push at the end, but Thorn made two quick 3-pointers to seal the victory in the final three minutes.

Darci Arsene led Wyoming with 19 points while Ann McColl came off the bench to contribute 15 points on 9-10 shooting from the line.

BYU shot 52 percent from the field and 59 percent from behing the arc making 10-17 three-point attempts. Wyoming was held to 33 percent from the floor and made only 2-12 from behing the arc.

The Cougars take their next three conference games on the road with New Mexico at the Pit on Thursday with a 7 p.m. tip-off. The Cougars then meet Air Force next Saturday at 1 p.m.

Official Basketball Box Score
WYOMING Cowgirls vs BYU Cougars
12JAN 02 1:00 PM at MARRIOTT CENTER BYU PROVO UT
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VISITORS: WYOMING Cowgirls 7-7 0-2
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
21 ARSENE, Darci....... *  7-12   0-0    5-5    1  4  5   2  19  2  4  0  1  33
24 ELLIOTT, Ashley..... *  1-3    0-0    0-0    0  2  2   0   2  3  2  0  1  15
31 LENHARDT, Kristen... *  2-5    1-2    0-4    1  2  3   1   5  1  0  0  0  12
42 BACON, Christy...... *  1-4    1-1    0-0    1  0  1   2   3  1  2  0  0  13
52 WIERSMA, Chassie.... *  1-6    0-0    2-2    2  3  5   2   4  2  0  0  0  21
11 McCANN, Lisa........    0-0    0-0    1-2    0  0  0   0   1  0  0  1  0   5
12 STUCKY, Carly.......    0-9    0-5    0-0    2  2  4   1   0  2  0  0  1  25
13 PICKUP, Brenda......    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  2  2   0   0  1  1  0  0   6
25 WIERSMA, Cherrith...    2-8    0-1    3-4    1  2  3   1   7  0  3  0  0  23
41 BACON, Carrie.......    3-7    0-2    3-5    1  1  2   3   9  1  0  0  1  19
50 McREE, Kelly........    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  0  0  0   2
51 McCOLL, Ann.........    3-6    0-1    9-10   4  1  5   2  15  0  3  0  1  26
   TEAM................                         1  2  3
   Totals..............   20-60   2-12  23-32  14 21 35  14  65 13 15  1  5 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half:  9-28 32.1%   2nd Half: 11-32 34.4%   Game: 33.3%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  1-6  16.7%   2nd Half:  1-6  16.7%   Game: 16.7%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 10-15 66.7%   2nd Half: 13-17 76.5%   Game: 71.9%    3
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HOME TEAM: BYU Cougars 10-5 1-1
                          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  4-7    0-0    1-2    1  0  1   3   9  0  3  0  1  19
31 Osguthorpe, Lisa.... f  1-2    1-1    2-2    0  3  3   2   5  3  1  0  0  21
21 LEITNER, Jennifer... c  4-10   0-1    0-0    2 10 12   1   8  3  3  1  1  28
11 Thorn, Erin......... g  7-13   6-10   3-4    1  5  6   0  23  4  3  0  2  32
22 Jensen, Stacy....... g  2-4    0-1    0-0    0  0  0   3   4  6  2  0  0  28
05 Lewis, Amy..........    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  2  2   0   0  0  0  0  0   1
12 Pearson, Melanie....    2-5    1-2    4-6    0  5  5   3   9  2  5  1  0  17
20 Larson, Brittany....    0-0    0-0    2-2    0  2  2   0   2  2  1  0  1   8
24 TUFT, Shauna........    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  0  1  0   0
25 Taylor, Kali........    0-1    0-0    1-2    0  1  1   2   1  0  1  0  0   6
45 Hansen, Lisa........    2-3    0-0    0-1    1  2  3   5   4  1  1  2  0   9
50 Cheesman, Heather...    2-5    2-2    0-0    0  2  2   0   6  0  0  0  0  14
51 Cheesman, Danielle..    5-6    0-0    0-0    1  1  2   2  10  0  0  0  0  17
   TEAM................                         2  1  3
   Totals..............   29-56  10-17  13-19   8 34 42  21  81 21 20  5  5 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 12-27 44.4%   2nd Half: 17-29 58.6%   Game: 51.8%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  2-6  33.3%   2nd Half:  8-11 72.7%   Game: 58.8%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  9-12 75.0%   2nd Half:  4-7  57.1%   Game: 68.4%    3
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Officials: CONNIE PRUDUE, MIKE CASTLE, LES WILLIAMS
Technical fouls: WYOMING Cowgirls-None. BYU Cougars-None.
Attendance:
Score by Periods                1st  2nd   Total
WYOMING Cowgirls..............   29   36  -   65
BYU Cougars...................   35   46  -   81