BYU Holds on against Utah Valley State

PROVO -- BYU overcame a slow start and 37 percent shooting from the floor, holding on with defense to beat Utah Valley State 61-54 Saturday in the Marriott Center. The win puts the Cougars at a perfect 8-0 on the season.

"It was a very poor game for us," said Coach Jeff Judkins. "We've got to give Utah Valley a lot of credit. They played with a lot of heart and desire. Hopefully we'll learn from this."

After trading buckets with the Wolverines and shooting only 27 percent from the field in the first nine minutes, the Cougars started showing signs of life behind the play of senior forward Ambrosia Anderson. Anderson led the Cougars on a 10-0 run in just two minutes, scoring all 10 points herself, to give the Cougars the lead at 20-10. Anderson finished the game with 15 points and 10 boards for her third double-double of the season and ninth of her career. Anderson has also scored in double figures in every game this season.

The Cougars used the energy from the run to carry them into halftime with a 35-23 lead, which was good news for the team. BYU is now 7-0 on the year when leading at halftime.

BYU did not relinquish the lead after the 10-0 run, but did have to fend off their opponent the rest of the way with strong defense and rebounding. BYU scored 21 points on 21 Wolverine turnovers, fueled mainly by Mallary Gillespie and Melinda Johnsen, each of whom had three take-aways. The two made huge contributions on offense as well, as Gillespie netted a team-high 17 points on 50 percent shooting from the field and four three-pointers. Johnsen tied her career high with 9 points.

The Cougars also capitalized on 31 percent shooting by the Wolverines by pulling down 30 defensive rebounds and 50 boards on the day, making the Cougars 8-0 when they out rebound their opponent..

Even with those things going for them, the second half provided a battle that lasted to the buzzer. After two UVSC buckets, the Cougars went on another 10-0 run to put them up 45-27. However, the Wolverines refused to go away as they answered with an 8-0 run of their own and clawed their way back by scoring 10 points off of 13 BYU turnovers in the second half. The two teams traded baskets until 6:26 remaining in the game, when the Cougars withstood another 8-0 Wolverine run and a scoring drought that lasted 6:40 when Johnsen hit a free throw with 10 seconds to go, and the Cougars left the floor with the victory.

"We gave them a lot of confidence and we can't let that happen," said Anderson.

BYU will next face North Carolina State on Dec. 21 at the Marriott Center.

Official Basketball Box Score
WOLVERINES vs BYU Cougars
12-16-05 3:00 PM at MARRIOTT CTR, BYU, PROVO, UT
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VISITORS: WOLVERINES 2-7
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
20 GRIMM,Ashley........ f  2-6    0-0    1-4    2  4  6   1   5  2  3  0  3  34
24 PALKKI,Miriam....... f  5-10   2-7    1-2    4  5  9   5  13  1  2  1  0  33
25 BEAMAN,Hollie....... g  3-10   2-4    5-6    1  4  5   4  13  3  6  0  2  34
34 MARVIN,Sandy........ g  1-12   1-4    0-0    2  6  8   0   3  1  4  0  0  32
44 FAIRBANKS,Robyn..... *  8-15   1-2    2-5    3  0  3   4  19  2  1  0  1  23
14 SCABBY,Jessica......    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  1  1  0  1   6
15 SCHOTT,Mallory......    0-3    0-0    1-2    0  1  1   0   1  1  0  0  0  10
21 CORNEJO,Susie.......    0-0    0-0    0-0    1  1  2   0   0  0  2  0  0   4
22 WHITEAR,Veva........    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  0  0  0  0+
23 FALES,Rebekah.......    0-5    0-2    0-0    2  2  4   3   0  1  1  0  2  21
32 LYNN,Meredith.......    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   1   0  0  1  0  0   3
   TEAM................                         3  3  6
   Totals..............   19-61   6-19  10-19  18 26 44  18  54 12 21  1  9 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half:  8-30 26.7%   2nd Half: 11-31 35.5%   Game: 31.1%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  3-11 27.3%   2nd Half:  3-8  37.5%   Game: 31.6%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  4-8  50.0%   2nd Half:  6-11 54.5%   Game: 52.6%    3
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HOME TEAM: BYU Cougars 8-0
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
15 KEELE, Jennie....... f  2-6    0-3    0-0    1  3  4   2   4  1  3  0  0  26
33 ANDERSON, Ambrosia.. f  6-21   3-6    0-1    2  8 10   1  15  3  4  0  1  33
45 KUBIK, Dani......... c  1-4    0-0    1-2    3  3  6   5   3  0  1  1  1  17
30 GILLESPIE, Mallary.. g  6-12   4-6    1-4    4  4  8   3  17  4  3  0  3  29
35 JOHNSEN, Melinda.... g  4-10   0-2    1-3    1  4  5   0   9  3  1  0  3  33
01 SELJAAS, Nancy......    0-2    0-1    0-0    0  2  2   1   0  1  2  0  0  12
10 STRATTON, Laura.....    1-2    0-1    0-0    0  0  0   2   2  1  0  0  0   6
24 HUTSON, Vanessa.....    0-0    0-0    0-2    0  0  0   1   0  0  1  0  0  12
32 SLADE, Shawnee......    1-3    0-0    0-0    1  0  1   0   2  1  0  0  0   9
52 RILEY, Lauren.......    4-6    0-0    1-2    5  3  8   3   9  0  3  1  3  19
54 KING, Cassie........    0-1    0-0    0-0    0  2  2   1   0  0  1  1  0   4
   TEAM................                         3  1  4
   Totals..............   25-67   7-19   4-14  20 30 50  19  61 14 19  3 11 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 15-38 39.5%   2nd Half: 10-29 34.5%   Game: 37.3%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  4-14 28.6%   2nd Half:  3-5  60.0%   Game: 36.8%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  1-2  50.0%   2nd Half:  3-12 25.0%   Game: 28.6%    6
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Officials: MIKE PETTY, LAURA RAHE, KEN SOWBY
Technical fouls: WOLVERINES-None. BYU Cougars-None.
Attendance: 673
Score by Periods                1st  2nd   Total
WOLVERINES....................   23   31  -   54
BYU Cougars...................   35   26  -   61
OFFICIAL FINAL
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