Big First Half Fuels Victory over CSU

PROVO -- In their second conference game of the season, the Cougars stopped the Colorado State Rams dead in their tracks, 74-54, Saturday.

"It was a nice win," said head coach Jeff Judkins. "There was a great effort by these girls tonight."

After losing to Wyoming on Thursday, the Cougars were eager to prove themselves on the court. The first half showed strong play with BYU leading by as much as 20 points. In a sudden burst of power Ambrosia Anderson made a steal, followed by a great block by Danielle Cheesman, which resulted in a three point field goal by Anderson with 6:40 remaining in the first half.

The Cougars ended the half 41-25, the most points CSU had given up in a first half all season. Leading individual total points in the first half was CSU forward Melissa Dennett. Mallary Gillespie, Kristen Kozlowski, and Melinda Johnsen came in second with 6 points each.

"You saw flashes of how these girls can play," said Judkins. " It's how we practice, but not always how we play."

Starting out the second half, the Cougars remained strong. Julie Sullivan, Gillespie, Dani Kubik, and Cheesman all scored double figures, making this the fifth straight game where at least three BYU players have scored in double digits. CSU's Lindsay Thomas scored the highest with 18 points. Gillespie and Anderson both had two three-point field goals, the highest of the game. BYU ended the game with a 50.8 percent shooting average.

"CSU runs very good stuff, and they execute it very well," said Judkins. "Tonight, we were lucky to stop them."

Tonight's game was an important one for the Cougars, who are anxious to win the conference this year. This game gives them a chance.

"It was one of the most nervous games I've coached in my life," Judkins said.

BYU is now 10-5 and 1-1 in conference play. The Rams have dropped to 9-6 and 0-2.

Next week the Cougars on are on the road to face New Mexico, Thursday at 7 p.m., and Air Force, Saturday at 2 p.m.

Official Basketball Box Score
Colorado State vs Brigham Young
01-15-05 4:00 PM at MARRIOTT CTR, BYU, PROVO, UT
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VISITORS: Colorado State 9-6; 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
31 O'DYWER, Kylee...... f  1-5    0-4    3-5    1  3  4   2   5  1  3  0  1  21
32 DENNETT, Melissa.... f  6-8    0-0    1-2    4  5  9   1  13  1  6  0  0  31
45 THOMAS, Lindsay..... c  8-14   0-1    2-2    5  6 11   2  18  1  0  2  1  35
05 ESPINOZA, Vanessa... g  1-10   0-3    0-0    0  0  0   1   2  2  4  0  2  21
20 NOHR, Molly......... g  3-7    0-3    2-2    1  0  1   2   8  0  1  0  0  20
04 HUNTER, Sara........    1-6    1-4    2-2    1  1  2   1   5  0  5  0  0  21
15 KRAMER, Liz.........    1-1    1-1    0-0    0  2  2   0   3  1  2  0  1  19
21 WALSETH, Annika.....    0-3    0-3    0-0    0  0  0   1   0  2  2  0  2  26
43 TOR-AGBIDYE, Msur...    0-0    0-0    0-2    0  0  0   2   0  0  1  0  0   6
   TEAM................                            1  1
   Totals..............   21-54   2-19  10-15  12 18 30  12  54  8 24  2  7 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 10-26 38.5%   2nd Half: 11-28 39.3%   Game: 38.9%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  2-6  33.3%   2nd Half:  0-13  0.0%   Game: 10.5%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  3-7  42.9%   2nd Half:  7-8  87.5%   Game: 66.7%    1
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HOME TEAM: Brigham Young 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
32 KOZLOWSKI, Kristen.. f  5-8    1-1    1-2    7  2  9   3  12  0  3  0  2  25
51 CHEESMAN, Danielle.. c  5-10   0-2    0-0    3  6  9   3  10  1  1  2  0  25
13 GOOLD, Tiari........ g  1-2    0-0    0-0    0  4  4   2   2  6  1  0  2  20
14 SULLIVAN, Julie..... g  5-11   1-1    1-2    0  1  1   1  12  5  5  0  1  23
35 JOHNSEN, Melinda.... g  4-5    0-1    0-0    0  1  1   0   8  2  0  0  1  21
01 SELJAAS, Nancy......    2-4    1-3    0-0    1  1  2   1   5  1  1  0  0  13
05 CROSS, Julie........    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  1  0  0   1
10 STRATTON, Laura.....    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  1  1   0   0  0  1  0  0   3
21 COOK-TOWNER, Jenn...    0-0    0-0    0-0    1  0  1   0   0  0  0  0  0   2
30 GILLESPIE, Mallary..    2-4    2-4    0-0    0  0  0   2   6  3  2  0  1  23
33 ANDERSON, Ambrosia..    3-9    2-4    0-0    0  1  1   0   8  1  3  0  3  14
45 KUBIK, Dani.........    4-6    0-0    3-6    2  4  6   5  11  0  2  0  1  17
50 ABELL, Mary Martha..    0-1    0-0    0-0    1  0  1   0   0  0  1  0  0   6
52 RILEY, Lauren.......    0-1    0-0    0-0    0  1  1   0   0  0  0  0  0   7
   TEAM................                         1  3  4
   Totals..............   31-61   7-16   5-10  16 25 41  17  74 19 21  2 11 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 17-31 54.8%   2nd Half: 14-30 46.7%   Game: 50.8%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  4-8  50.0%   2nd Half:  3-8  37.5%   Game: 43.8%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  3-4  75.0%   2nd Half:  2-6  33.3%   Game: 50.0%    1
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Officials: ROBERT STRONG, CHUCK GONZALEZ, ROB BRYSON
Technical fouls: Colorado State-None. Brigham Young-None.
Attendance: 962
Score by Periods                1st  2nd   Total
Colorado State................   25   29  -   54
Brigham Young.................   41   33  -   74
OFFICIAL FINAL