Thorn, Cheesman Combine to Lead BYU to 87-70 Win Over Montana State

PROVO -- Senior guard Erin Thorn's season-high 34 points propelled BYU to an 87-70 win over Montana State in a Monday matinee at the Marriott Center on Dec. 30. Thorn, who added eight assists, a block and two steals, just missed her career-best mark of 36 points.

"If she doesn't play like this, we lose," said head coach Jeff Judkins. "She took the ball more comfortably and let it come to her." With the win, BYU improves to 7-3 while Montana State suffers only its second loss of the season to fall to 8-2.

Sophomore standout Danielle Cheesman had career night, contributing 21 points in 20 quality minutes, a career high, and also adding four rebounds and three assists. The 6'2" forward scored eight early points to help the Cougars build an 18-10 lead over the Bobcats with11: 53 remaining in the first half.

After Montana State drew within three, 19-16, BYU went on a 22-11 run to close out the half up 41-27.

The Bobcats battled back in the second half, however, closing the gap to only eight points on several occasions, the last coming with 7:51 remaining in the match to trail the Cougars 71-63.

"We did a real nice job defensively in the first half and then we just lost intensity in the second half," Judkins said. "We just let people beat us one-on-one. There's no secret to it, it's just competing."

BYU's defense tightened down on Montana State, only allowing the Bobcats seven more points, while the Cougar offense poured in 16 points to seal the victory. Thorn hit two free throws, a field goal and a three-pointer to ensure the win.

The Cougars, 7-3 head to Southern California to face Santa Barbara on Thursday, Jan. 2 at 2 p.m. and then return home to host Denver at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 4.

Official Basketball Box Score
Montana State vs BRIGHAM YOUNG Cougars
12/30/02 3:00 PM at Brigham Young University
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VISITORS: Montana State 8-2
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
25 STUBBS, Isabel...... f  6-8    0-0    8-10   3  3  6   4  20  0  2  0  2  27
32 BURROWS, Kati....... f  5-11   0-1    7-8    0  3  3   3  17  2  5  0  0  32
23 WILCOX, Candis...... g  0-5    0-3    2-2    1  5  6   2   2  6  6  0  2  38
24 LEWIS, Brandi....... g  1-2    1-2    2-4    0  1  1   1   5  1  1  0  0  25
33 HUTCHINSON, Sheila.. g  6-10   0-2    2-2    2  1  3   2  14  0  3  0  1  36
10 WESLEY, Tabitha.....    0-1    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  0  0  0   0
22 JERESEK, Jinnifer...    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  1  0  0  0   5
30 JOHNSON, Cassie.....    3-6    0-2    0-0    0  2  2   4   6  0  0  1  0  12
54 STUBBS, Belinda.....    3-7    0-0    0-0    0  4  4   2   6  0  1  0  0  25
55 FOY, Megan..........    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  0  0  0  0+
   TEAM................                         1  2  3
   Totals..............   24-50   1-10  21-26   7 21 28  18  70 10 18  1  5 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 10-22 45.5%   2nd Half: 14-28 50.0%   Game: 48.0%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  1-4  25.0%   2nd Half:  0-6   0.0%   Game: 10.0%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  6-9  66.7%   2nd Half: 15-17 88.2%   Game: 80.8%    2
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HOME TEAM: BRIGHAM YOUNG Cougars 7-3
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
51 CHEESMAN, Danielle.. f 10-13   1-2    0-1    2  2  4   5  21  3  2  0  0  20
25 TAYLOR, Kali........ c  1-2    0-0    1-2    0  0  0   2   3  0  2  0  1  17
11 THORN, Erin......... g 13-27   6-12   2-2    0  5  5   2  34  8  1  1  2  38
14 SULLIVAN, Julie..... g  1-4    0-1    3-4    0  1  1   4   5  4  5  1  0  34
21 LEITNER, Jennifer... g  3-4    0-0    0-0    5  7 12   1   6  4  1  0  0  32
01 SELJAAS, Nancy......    2-6    1-4    0-0    0  0  0   2   5  0  0  0  0   7
04 NELSON, Kestlee.....    1-1    0-0    0-0    0  1  1   0   2  4  1  0  2  15
10 MILLER, Marianne....    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  1  1   2   0  0  0  0  0   3
15 OVERDIEK, Jen.......    1-1    0-0    1-1    0  1  1   1   3  1  1  0  0  10
20 LARSON, Brittany....    0-1    0-0    0-0    0  1  1   1   0  0  0  0  0   7
33 ANDERSON, Ambrosia..    1-4    0-0    0-0    3  0  3   2   2  0  2  0  0   9
45 HANSEN, Lisa........    2-3    0-0    2-7    3  3  6   2   6  0  1  0  0   8
   TEAM................                            2  2
   Totals..............   35-66   8-19   9-17  13 24 37  24  87 24 16  2  5 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 17-34 50.0%   2nd Half: 18-32 56.3%   Game: 53.0%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  5-12 41.7%   2nd Half:  3-7  42.9%   Game: 42.1%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  2-6  33.3%   2nd Half:  7-11 63.6%   Game: 52.9%    4
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Officials: Mike Petty, Schel Brown, Anita Myles
Technical fouls: Montana State-None. BRIGHAM YOUNG Cougars-None.
Attendance: 1838
Score by Periods                1st  2nd   Total
Montana State.................   27   43  -   70
BRIGHAM YOUNG Cougars.........   41   46  -   87