Two More League Games At Home This Week

Two More Leagues Games At Home This Week

After a disappointing loss to instate rival and MWC foe Utah, BYU's women's basketball team has the opportunity to play two more league games at home. SDSU comes to the Marriott on Thurs., Feb. 3 in a 7 p.m. tip off. Sat., Feb. 5, the Cougars host UNLV in a 3 p.m., start.

Teams: BYU (11-7, 2-3) vs. SDSU (6-11, 1-4) Date: 02/03/05 Time: 7 p.m. Arena: Marriott Center

Teams: BYU (11-7, 2-3) vs.UNLV (11-8, 2-3) Date: 02/05/05 Time: 3 p.m. Arena: Marriott Center

Cougars vs. Rebels Game To Air Live on BYU-TV

Saturday afternoon's women's basketball game between BYU and Utah will be seen live on BYU-TV. Chris McGown and Holly Rowe will provide play by play and commentary.

Follow the women's basketball action live on BYU Radio

All of the women's basketball games can be heard live on BYU radio via the internet at www.byuradio.org Veteran BYU broadcaster Jay Monsen calls the action. Fans can also access BYU Radio on the Dish Network.

BYU's Probable Starters

Pos. # Name Ht. Yr. PPG RPG

G 13 Tiari Goold 5-7 So 0.9 1.0

G 14 Julie Sullivan 5-8 Sr 11.1 3.2

F 32 Kristin Kozlowski 6-2 Sr 10.4 5.2

F 35 Melinda Johnsen 5-10 So 3.4 2.1

F 51 Danielle Cheesman 6-2 Sr 8.9 9.2

Cougar Players Off The Bench

Pos. # Name Ht. Yr. PPG RPG

F 33 Ambrosia Anderson 6-2 Jr 10.8 4.9

G 30 Mallary Gillespie 5-10 Fr 8.1 2.4

C 45 Dani Kubik 6-3 So 7.1 4.0

F 50 Mary Martha Abell 6-3 Fr 2.3 1.8

C 52 Lauren Riley 6-3 Fr 2.0 1.8

G 10 Laura Stratton 5-6 Jr 0.3 0.4

2004-05 Team Stats --

-- Shooting from the field: (.431, 440-1020)

-- Shooting from the free-throw line: (.711, 229-322)

-- Shooting from three-point line: (.322, 88-273)

-- Average points per game: 66.5

Lineup Update

Starters: Record:

Seljaas, Sullivan, Kozlowski, Johnsen, Cheesman: 6-4

Sullivan, Anderson, Kozlowski, Johnsen, Cheesman: 2-1

Sullivan, Gillespie, Anderson, Kozlowski, Cheesman: 1-0

Goold, Sullivan, Kozlowski, Johnsen, Cheesman: 2-1

Sullivan, Gillespie, Kozlowski, Johnsen, Cheesman: 0-1

Previous Game Recap

Instate rivals and league foes, BYU and Utah battled in the first MWC game between the two schools this season Saturday, where the Cougars fell to Utah 53-64.

In the final minutes of the contest, Ute Camie Allen made a shot from beyond the arc to give Utah the lead with just over 5:00 to play. Not willing to go down without a fight, BYU senior guard Julie Sullivan fouled out of the game with 48 seconds left and the score 51-54. Utah would make seven free throws from this point on to finish the game and claim their fourth conference win.

Sullivan was the most dominant player on the floor for BYU, scoring 14 of her 16 points in the first half. Utah was able to hold Sullivan to just two points in the second half.

BYU came out of halftime ready to take control. The Cougars went on a 7-0 run for the first 4:30 of the half to take an 11 point lead.

Momentum switched as the Utes hit 66 percent from 3-point range in the second half. Ute guard Shona Thorburn put down four shots from the beyond the arc to lead the Utes in 3-pointers.

Three Cougars scored in double figures for the game led by Sullivan. BYU senior center Danielle Cheesman recorded her 12th career and fifth season double double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Cougar sophomore guard Tiari Goold came off the bench and contributed with a team-high six assists.

About the Cougars

--The Cougars current record: 11-7, 2-3

--The team's leading scorer is senior point guard Julie Sullivan, who tallies 11.1 points.

-- Senior forward Danielle Cheesman tops the list in the rebound category with 9.2 per game.

--Cheesman notched her fifth double double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds in the Utah game on 01/29/05. It was her 12th overall.

-- Cheesman joined BYU's elite 1,000 point club when she hit a three-point bucket just minutes into the Weber State game on 12/30/04. She becomes the 14th student-athlete who has reached that similar milestone during their BYU college career.

-- Senior point guard Julie Sullivan is one of the team's best free throw shooter, with a percentage of .790, (49-62).

--Anderson picked up her first double double of the 2004-05 campaign with the 20 points and 12 rebounds against SEMO on 12/10/04.

-- Freshman Mallary Gillespie put in seven three pointers in the game vs. Nevada on 11/24/04, that's two shy of BYU's all-time record holder in three pointers, Erin Thorn. Thorn tallied nine treys vs. Arkansas Pine-Bluff at a tournament in Denver on 12/14/01.

--Gillespie got her first start in a college game vs. Portland State on 01/08/05. She filled in for Melinda Johnsen who had the flu.

BYU By The Numbers

12 games where Julie Sullivan has scored in double figures.

10 games that senior forward Kristin Kozlowski has scored in double figures.

8 times that BYU has had at least three players scoring in double figures.

8 season-high blocks by BYU in the game vs. Wyoming on 01/13/05

7 times that Ambrosia Anderson has scored in double figures.

5 times that the Cougars have shot 50 percent or better from the field: vs. Colorado State on 01/15/05 (50.8, 31-61); vs. Portland State on 01/08/05 (51.7, 31-60); vs. USC on 12/18/04 (55.3, 26-47); vs. GW on 12/06/04 (50.0, 27-54); and vs. SUU on 11/19/04 (52.6, 30-57).

Player Injury Report

-- Nancy Seljaas broker her foot at the UNM game on 1/20/05. She will be out about four to six weeks

-- Kali Taylor broke a finger in her left hand this week and will be out four to six weeks.

--Junior forward Jennie Keele will get a medical redshirt for the rest of this season due to foot injury.

Cougars Picked Fifth in Preseason Media Poll

For the 2004-05 season, BYU's women's basketball team was picked to finish 5th in the regular MWC season.

Rk. Teams (1st votes) Points

1. UNLV (5) 134

2. New Mexico (8) 131

Utah (7) 131

4. Colorado State 92

5. BYU 88

6. Wyoming 65

7. San Diego State 43

8. Air Force 28

Abell Gets MWC Newcomer of the Year Nomination in Preseason Media Poll

Mary Martha Abell, a 6-3 freshman forward from Monroe, Louisiana and Monroe High School was picked as the top newcomer in the media's preseason poll announced in Denver in October 2004.

Tracking the Cougars vs. MWC as of Feb. 1

Category Conference Games All Games

Scoring Offense 3rd, 63.2 3rd, 66.5

Scoring Defense 7th, 63.8 5th, 60.5

Scoring Margin 5th, -0.6 6th, +6.0

Field Goal Pct. 5th, .404 2nd, .431

Free Throw Pct. 6th, .680 6th, .711

3-Point Field Goal Pct. 5th, .319 3rd, .322

Rebounding Offense 1st, 40.0 2nd, 40.1

Rebounding Defense 6th, 35.4 3rd, 33.2

Blocked Shots 4th, 2.80 6th, 2.50

Assists 5th, 13.60 1st, 15.89

Steals 5th, 6.40 6th, 7.78

Assist/Turnover Ratio 3rd, .81 4th, .85

3-Point Field Goals Made 6th, 4.40 4th, 4.89

Offensive Rebounds 2nd, 14.60 5th, 12.72

Defensive Rebounds 3rd, 25.40 2nd, 27.33

Tracking BYU Players in the MWC as of Feb. 1

Name Category Conf. Games All Games

Sullivan, J. Scoring 7th, 15.0 12th, 11.1

Cheesman, D. Scoring 14tht, 10.4 20th, 8.9

Anderson, A. Scoring 20tht, 8.8 13th, 10.8

Kozlowski, K. Scoring 23rd, 8.4 14th, 10.4

Gillespie, M. Scoring 27th, 6.6 25th, 8.1

Kubik, D. Scoring 29tht, 6.0 ----

Sullivan, J. FG Pct. 8th, .466 14th, .419

Kozlowski, K. FG Pct. ---- 2nd, .548

Chessman, D. FG Pct. 11th, .435 8th, .453

Anderson, A. FG Pct. 14th, .415 10th, .443

Cheesman, D. Rebounding 2nd, 9.4 2nd, 9.2

Kozlowski, K. Rebounding 8th, 6.8 14th, 5.2

Kubik, D. Rebounding 19tht, 4.2 ----

Sullivan, J. Assists 6th, 3.20 6th, 3.83

Goold, T. Assists 9tht, 2.80 11th, 2.50

Sullivan, J. FT Pct. 12th, .727 4th, .790

Kozlowski, K. FT Pct. 13th, .714 8th, .754

Sullivan, J. 3-PF FG Pct. 1st, .714 ----

Anderson, A. 3-PT FG Pct. 7th, .400 5th, .380

Cheesman, D. Blocked Shots 5tht, 0.80 15tht, .053

Kubik, D. Blocked Shots 10tht, 0.60 ----

Anderson, A. Steals 7tht, 1.80 ----

Anderson, A. 3-PT FG Made 10tht, 1.20 14tht, 1.06

Sullivan, J. 3-PT FG Made 13tht, 1.00 ----

Cheesman, D. Offensive Reb. 1st, 4.60 3rd, 3.24

Kozlowski, K. Offensive Reb. 4tht, 2.80 2nd, 3.28

Kubik, D. Offensive Reb. 14tht, 1.60 ----

Cheesman, D. Defensive Reb. 8th, 4.80 2nd, 5.94

Kozlowski, K. Defensive Reb. 10th, 4.00 ----

About San Diego State University

To date, SDSU has compiled a 6-11, 1-4 record after playing five games. The Aztecs won their first league game 76-60 over UNLV in San Diego, before losing their next four. Toping the list in scoring is Michelle Elliott whose averaging 12.1 points and 3.8 rebounds. The leading rebounder on the team is freshman Ashley Cheesman who's grabbing 5.9 boards a game. Ashley is Danielle Cheesman's youngest sister. The two will play against each other at Thursday night's league contest. SDSU is shooting 35 percent from the field and 72 percent at the free throw line. When shooting from behind the arc, they average 27 percent. After 17 games played, the Aztecs are averaging 55.6 points and allowing opponents to score 62.4 points per game.

San Diego State Probable Starters

Pos. # Name Ht. Yr. PPG RPG

G 21 Veronica Shaw 5-7 Jr 14.2 6.9

G 05 Michelle Elliott 5-11 So 9.6 3.0

F 20 Michelle Strawberry 5-10 Jr 16.7 9.4

F 42 Lindsey Casey 6-1 Sr 5.4 3.6

C 50 Ashley Cheesman 6-2 Fr 8.6 4.4

Series Record: 18-9 in favor of the Cougars

Last Meeting: In last season's games between the Aztecs and Cougars, BYU won both contests, 82-50 in San Diego on 02/07/05, and 56-45 in Provo on 03/04/04. SDSU has a 2-10 record when playing at the Marriott Center.

About UNLV

Midway through the MWC season, the Rebels of UNLV are tied with BYU in this week's standings with identical 2-3 records. The Rebels play at Utah on Thursday prior to the matchup with the Cougars on Saturday afternoon. Their overall record stands at 11-8. UNLV has two players who are scoring in double figures. Junior guard Sheena Moore leads the team with 15.8 points and 3.4 rebounds a game. Teammate RanDee Henry follows with 15.2 points and team high 8.9 boards a game. The Rebels are shooting 44 percent from the field, 71 percent at the free throw line, and 31 percent from three-point range. UNLV is scoring an average of 70.5 points a game and holding opponents to 61.5 points.

UNLV Probable Starters

Pos. # Name Ht. Yr. PPG RPG

G 00 Sheena Moore 5-7 Jr 15.8 3.4

G 44 Shana Coleman 5-9 Sr 7.2 2.9

F 12 Sequoia Holmes 6-1 Fr 8.3 4.6

F 21 Nikki Hitchens 5-11 Jr 9.7 5.3

F 22 RanDee Henry 6-1 Sr 15.2 8.9

Series Record: 15-9 favoring the Cougars

Last Meeting: During last year's regular season MWC race, BYU lost both contest against UNLV. In Las Vegas, the Rebels won 77-64, then in Provo they defeated the Cougars 67-59. These two teams also met in the first round of the MWC Championships in Denver where once again UNLV prevailed, this time by a slim three-point margin, 60-57. It was the first time the BYU had lost in the first round of the MWC tournament.

Head Coach - Jeff Judkins

Overall Record: 69-42, begins his fourth season at BYU.

Under Coach Judkins, the team has gone to back-to-back NCAA appearances as well as to the title games of the MWC Championships, winning the title game in 2001-02.

An all-state selection in basketball, football and baseball, Judkins played basketball for the University of Utah Utah from 1974-78. While playing for the Utes, he helped the team win one conference championship and two berths in the NCAA Tournament.

He was a second-team academic All-American and three-time first-team District VII academic selection. Judkins earned three first-team All-WAC honors and was a member of the 1977 United States World Games team that captured the gold medal.

He played five years in the NBA for the Boston Celtics, Portland Trailblazers, Detroit Pistons and the Utah Jazz. He was a second-round pick by the Celtics in 1978, the same year the Celtics selected Larry Bird with the sixth pick overall.

After his NBA career, he returned to the U of U in 1989, and remained with the men's program for 10 years. Judkins, a Salt Lake City native, graduated from Utah in 1978 with a degree in health and physical education. He is a member of the Utah Sports Hall of Fame and the Crimson Club Hall of Fame.

He and his wife Mary Kay, are the parents of five children: Jessica (24), Jordan (22), Jenna (20), Jaime (17), Jaxson (14).

Judkins Record vs. MWC Schools

School Record In 2005

Air Force 6-0 1-0

CSU 1-5 1-0

New Mexico 2-6 0-1

San Diego State 6-0 ----

UNLV 5-4 ----

Utah 3-4 ----

Wyoming 5-2 0-1

2004-05 Cougar Roster Breakdown

Seniors (4):

Danielle Cheesman, Kristen Kozlowski, Julie Sullivan, Kali Taylor

Juniors (5):

Ambrosia Anderson, Julie Cross, Jennie Keele (Overdiek), Nancy Seljaas, Laura Stratton

Sophomore (3):

Dani Kubik, Tiari Goold,Melinda Johnsen

Freshman (4):

Mary Martha Abell, Mallary Gillespie, Lauren Riley, Summer Sykes

By Position

Forward (6):

Mary Martha Abell, Ambrosia Anderson, Danielle Cheesman, Kristen Kozlowski,

Summer Sykes

Guard (6):

Julie Cross, Mallary Gillespie, Tiari Goold, Laura Stratton, Julie Sullivan, Kali Taylor

Guard/Forward (3):

Melinda Johnsen, Jennie Keele, Nancy Seljaas

Center /Forward(2):

Dani Kubik, Lauren Riley

Team's Practice Schedule/Media Interviews

The BYU team practices at the Marriott Center from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m., on Monday's, Wednesday's, Thursday's, and Friday's. On Tuesday's , practice time is from 1 to 3 p.m.

Media interviews with coach Judkins and players can be done prior to or at the end of practice. All interviews must be scheduled in advance with the women's basketball athletic communications director, Norma Collett at 801-422-4908, 801-372-0989 during regular business hours or via email at: collett@byucougars..com

No interviews will be given the day of a game until after the game. Updated information on the women's basketball team is available 24 hours a day on the BYU web site at www.byucougars.com/basketball_w/

Stats on the team are updated on the web site every Monday morning. Media members may contact Norma Collett to receive news releases and game notes via email.

All working media personnel will be put on a media gate list for entry into the arena. The list will be available by the elevators near the main ticket office in the Marriott Center. No other credentials are needed. Media will be assigned a seat on press row to cover each home game.

What's Next

The Cougars will take to the road once again for more league games. BYU faces CSU on Thurs., Feb. 10 in a 7 p.m., start and then travel to Laramie for a Saturday contest against Wyoming. That game tips off at 2 p.m.