Gillespie's Night

PROVO -- Behind the stellar play of Mallary Gillespie, who posted her first career double-double, BYU (13-1, 3-0) overcame a sluggish first half to defeat UNLV (9-4,1-1), 77-58 Wednesday evening in the Marriott Center. The win gives the Cougars sole ownership of first place in the Mountain West Conference standings.

Gillespie netted 21 points, tying her career high and setting a season high, while also snatching 10 rebounds.

"I love playing against a zone," Gillespie said. "I feel great about the win, and I'm excited we beat them. I feel I had a great game that helped the team win."

Although the Cougars struggled with turnovers and inconsistencies in the first half, BYU took a 33-26 lead into the break. The two teams exchanged baskets for most of the first half, neither able to find its shooting touch. Seven minutes into the game the score was only 9-9.

BYU then went on a five minute shooting slump that wasn't broken until Mallary Gillespie finally nailed a three pointer with 11 minutes remaining in the half.

UNLV star Sheena Moore, who is averaging 12.7 points per game, responded with her own three pointer to tie the game, 12-12. Kameca Simmons then converted a three-point play to give the Rebles their first lead of the game, 15-12.

The Cougars then went on a run which consisted of a put back by Anderson, a three pointer by Shawnee Slade and a bucket from Dani Kubik, giving the Cougars a 19-17 lead.

After allowing the Rebels to climb back, 28-26, Laura Stratton drove and hit a pull-up jumper with just over a minute remaining in the half, followed by an Anderson trey that gave the Cougars a seven point half-time lead.

BYU finally found its rhythm in the second half, settling down and trusting its offense. To start the half Johnson scrambled for a long rebound and threw the ball ahead to Gillespie for an easy lay-up, followed by an up-and-under by Anderson and a three pointer by Gillespie.

The Rebels responded with two quick buckets by Simmons and Faye Muller, but was immediately followed by a Gillespie three-pointer that gave the Cougars a 44-33 lead.

The remainder of the half showcased a BYU offense that worked as a team and made the smart play, while the Cougars continued to widen their lead.

Although BYU dominated in the second half, the Cougars had a scare with 10 minutes remaining after Lauren Riley and Dani Kubik each received their fourth foul.

"It's sad Riley got in foul trouble because we was playing so hard and so well," head coach Jeff Judkins said.

At the 6:37 mark, Kubik fouled out on a questionable call, but Gillespie responded to the news, draining her fifth three pointer of the game. Anderson then added two buckets of her own. One play in particular emphasized Anderson's athletic ability and sheer determination. Johnsen received an outlet pass and threw a long pass up court to Anderson who was forced to put feet between her and the ground in order to barely snatch the pass and score the basket. She immediately followed that play with a three pointer, giving BYU a 67-48 lead.

Rebounding proved to be a struggle as the Rebels out rebounded BYU 40-38, including a 21-9 advantage in offensive rebounds.

Anderson led all scorers with 24 points. Simmons paced UNLV with 15 points, while Moore was held to just seven points.

On Wednesday the Cougars travel to Laramie, Wyo. for a battle against the Cowgirls at 7 p.m.

"It will be a big test for us up in Laramie," Judkins said. "We lost to them twice last year, so we're ready for a battle."

Official Basketball Box Score
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Official Basketball Box Score
REBELS vs BYU Cougars
01-11-06 7:00 PM at MARRIOTT CTR, BYU, PROVO, UT
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VISITORS: REBELS 9-4, 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
12 HOLMES, Sequoia..... f  1-12   1-5    0-2    5  0  5   2   3  0  4  0  1  19
15 MULLER, Faye........ f  3-7    0-0    0-0    2  4  6   4   6  2  2  1  4  40
25 MCCRACKLIN, Sherry.. f  2-4    0-0    7-10   3  2  5   3  11  0  1  1  1  24
00 MOORE, Sheena....... g  3-13   1-6    0-0    2  5  7   0   7  3  1  1  0  29
21 HITCHENS, Nikki..... g  3-7    0-1    3-3    2  0  2   3   9  1  3  0  4  22
01 CLARK, Nejlah.......    0-2    0-1    0-0    0  0  0   2   0  0  0  0  0   8
03 SIMMONS, Kameca.....    6-12   0-0    3-3    3  5  8   0  15  2  1  0  0  27
20 THOMAS, Brittney....    1-7    1-6    0-0    0  0  0   1   3  0  1  0  1  17
24 HAMPTON, Shamela....    1-1    0-0    0-0    1  0  1   0   2  0  0  0  0   2
32 LEE, Kisha..........    1-3    0-1    0-0    0  0  0   0   2  0  0  0  0  12
   TEAM................                         3  3  6
   Totals..............   21-68   3-20  13-18  21 19 40  15  58  8 13  3 11 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 11-33 33.3%   2nd Half: 10-35 28.6%   Game: 30.9%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  2-5  40.0%   2nd Half:  1-15  6.7%   Game: 15.0%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  2-4  50.0%   2nd Half: 11-14 78.6%   Game: 72.2%    2
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HOME TEAM: BYU Cougars 13-1, 3-0
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
33 ANDERSON, Ambrosia.. f  9-20   2-6    4-8    1  2  3   0  24  1  3  2  0  29
35 JOHNSEN, Melinda.... f  0-2    0-0    0-0    0  3  3   0   0  9  2  0  4  34
45 KUBIK, Dani......... c  4-4    0-0    2-2    0  3  3   5  10  0  1  0  0  14
15 KEELE, Jennie....... g  1-2    0-1    0-0    1  3  4   1   2  5  1  0  0  25
30 GILLESPIE, Mallary.. g  8-12   5-7    0-0    4  6 10   1  21  4  3  1  1  34
01 SELJAAS, Nancy......    0-2    0-2    0-0    0  0  0   1   0  0  2  0  0   9
04 JUDKINS, Jenna......    1-2    0-0    0-0    0  1  1   0   2  0  0  0  0   1
10 STRATTON, Laura.....    1-1    0-0    3-4    0  0  0   0   5  0  0  0  0   3
13 AINA, Rachel........    0-1    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   1   0  0  1  0  0   2
23 BROWN, Brit.........    0-0    0-0    0-0    1  0  1   0   0  1  1  0  0   2
24 HUTSON, Vanessa.....    0-1    0-1    0-0    0  0  0   1   0  2  0  0  0  12
32 SLADE, Shawnee......    3-3    3-3    0-0    0  2  2   0   9  1  0  0  1   9
41 FADDIS, Brittany....    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  1  0  0   2
52 RILEY, Lauren.......    2-3    0-0    0-0    1  6  7   4   4  0  4  0  0  20
54 KING, Cassie........    0-0    0-0    0-1    0  2  2   1   0  0  0  0  0   4
   TEAM................                         1  1  2
   Totals..............   29-53  10-20   9-15   9 29 38  15  77 23 19  3  6 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 13-25 52.0%   2nd Half: 16-28 57.1%   Game: 54.7%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  4-10 40.0%   2nd Half:  6-10 60.0%   Game: 50.0%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  3-4  75.0%   2nd Half:  6-11 54.5%   Game: 60.0%    2
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Officials: SCOTTY HERMANN, ERIC LARSON, DEBBIE ADAMS
Technical fouls: REBELS-None. BYU Cougars-None.
Attendance: 910
Score by Periods                1st  2nd   Total
REBELS........................   26   32  -   58
BYU Cougars...................   33   44  -   77
OFFICIAL FINAL
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