Defense Key in Cougar Victory Over Bengals

Pocatello, ID (Jan. 7, 2003) After an evenly played first half, the BYU women's basketball team's much stronger defensive presence in the second half led to the 69-59 victory over Idaho State University, Tuesday.

BYU appeared to have the game well in hand with a 16-point 59-43 lead with under eight minutes left in the contest, but Idaho State's 22-9 run cut the Cougar lead to eight points with 2:40 left. A couple of key blocks and steals and two final free throws by BYU's Marianne Miller sealed the road win for the Cougars.

The Bengals got off to an early 5-0 run to start of the game, with the Cougars coming right back with a 13-9 advantage at the 12-minute mark. Both teams played the rest of the first half pretty evenly with the lead trading back and forth and BYU taking a slim 27-25 lead at the break.

All-American Erin Thorn led all scores with 22 points that included five three-pointers. MWC Player of the Week Jennifer Leitner contributed wit 10 points and a game high eight rebounds. BYU finished the night shooting 43 percent from the field and 64 percent from the free throw line, going to the charity stripe just 11 times, 10 less then ISU. Despite having a sizable advantage over the Bengals, the Cougars were outrebounded 40 to 33.

"I thought our bench h play was a lot better tonight," said BYU head coach Jeff Judkins. "We played with a lot more emotion and much more aggressive. We still have to play a complete game," Judkins added.

For the Bengals, who fell to 4-6, it was Cristal Fernandez coming off the bench for a team high 16 points. Center Ashley Toner had 14 points ad eight rebounds.

The Cougars, who improved to 9-4 on the year, have the rest of the week off to prepare for MWC play that begins next week. BYU opens league play at home hosting CSU on Jan. 16 in a 4 p.m., tip off.

Official Basketball Box Score
Brigham Young vs Idaho State
1/7/03 7:05 p.m. at Reed Gymnasium, Pocatello, ID
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VISITORS: Brigham Young 9-4
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
21 LEITNER, Jennifer... f  5-5    0-0    0-0    2  6  8   3  10  2  3  1  5  35
51 CHEESMAN, Danielle.. c  3-11   0-1    0-0    4  3  7   4   6  0  2  1  0  24
11 THORN, Erin......... g  8-17   5-12   1-2    0  3  3   3  22  3  0  0  4  31
14 SULLIVAN, Julie..... g  4-7    1-2    0-1    1  1  2   3   9  7  6  0  0  29
25 TAYLOR, Kali........ g  1-5    0-2    0-0    1  2  3   1   2  2  3  0  3  20
01 SELJAAS, Nancy......    0-3    0-3    2-2    1  0  1   1   2  1  1  0  0  11
04 NELSON, Kestlee.....    2-4    2-3    1-2    1  1  2   2   7  3  2  0  1  14
10 MILLER, Marianne....    0-0    0-0    2-2    0  0  0   0   2  0  0  0  0  0+
12 GATTEN, Angie.......    0-1    0-1    0-0    0  0  0   1   0  0  0  0  0   2
15 OVERDIEK, Jen.......    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  1  1   0   0  1  0  0  0   8
20 LARSON, Brittany....    0-2    0-0    1-2    1  2  3   0   1  0  0  0  1   8
33 ANDERSON, Ambrosia..    1-4    0-2    0-0    0  1  1   0   2  0  0  1  0   5
40 CHAMBERLAIN, A......    2-3    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   1   4  0  0  0  0   6
45 HANSEN, Lisa........    1-1    0-0    0-0    1  1  2   2   2  0  1  4  1   7
   TEAM................
   Totals..............   27-63   8-26   7-11  12 21 33  21  69 19 18  7 15 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 11-33 33.3%   2nd Half: 16-30 53.3%   Game: 42.9%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  4-16 25.0%   2nd Half:  4-10 40.0%   Game: 30.8%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  1-2  50.0%   2nd Half:  6-9  66.7%   Game: 63.6%    1
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HOME TEAM: Idaho State 4-8
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
15 Hickman, Halli...... f  2-3    0-0    0-0    2  3  5   1   4  0  4  0  0  24
44 Allen, Elisha....... f  1-3    1-2    2-2    1  0  1   1   5  1  5  0  1  24
42 Toner, Ashley....... c  4-12   0-1    6-6    1  7  8   3  14  4  4  0  0  31
11 Skow, Laraine....... g  1-7    0-2    0-0    2  2  4   1   2  0  0  0  0  30
12 Udy, Merrilee....... g  0-3    0-0    1-2    1  2  3   1   1  1  4  0  1  27
05 Williams, Tiffany...    2-3    1-1    4-4    0  1  1   2   9  2  2  0  1  16
23 Gifford, Heidi......    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  0  0  0   3
32 Anderson, Annie.....    4-9    0-1    0-0    1  4  5   2   8  1  3  0  2  21
33 Fernandez, Cristal..    5-12   0-3    6-8    1  3  4   2  16  3  4  0  5  24
   TEAM................                         5  4  9
   Totals..............   19-52   2-10  19-22  14 26 40  13  59 12 26  0 10 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 10-31 32.3%   2nd Half:  9-21 42.9%   Game: 36.5%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  1-6  16.7%   2nd Half:  1-4  25.0%   Game: 20.0%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  4-4  100 %   2nd Half: 15-18 83.3%   Game: 86.4%   1,1
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Officials: John Weeks, Melissa Barlow, Pete Waylett
Technical fouls: Brigham Young-None. Idaho State-None.
Attendance: 583
Score by Periods                1st  2nd   Total
Brigham Young.................   27   42  -   69
Idaho State...................   25   34  -   59
ISU will play next at Montana on Jan. 16