Team Rallies Behind Anderson

Fort Worth, Texas (Jan. 25, 2005)-- Behind the play of senior Ambrosia Anderson, No. 20 BYU (16-1, 6-0) came up big when it mattered Wednesday evening, defeating TCU (10-7, 4-2) 67-64 in Texas.

"This was a great team effort," head coach Jeff Judkins said. "They believe in each other and know how to win."

TCU showed confidence and dominance in the opening minutes of the game, jumping out to an early 11-3 lead off a balanced offensive attack, but Anderson would not be denied.

Anderson scored 24 points on the evening, tying her conference high; grabbed 10 boards, matching her conference best; and netted six three pointers for season and career highs. The double-double marks Anderson's 11th of her career.

"Ambrosia [Anderson] had some big shots for us and just played very solid overall," Judkins said.

BYU came storming back under Anderson's leadership. She scored back-to-back layups, followed by a Melinda Johnsen three pointer and two more three-point buckets from Anderson. The run gave BYU its first lead of the game, 14-11.

For the remainder of the first half, both teams battled back and forth with the Horned Frogs earning a seven-point advantage by the half, 35-28.

The second half was as exciting as Cougar fans could have hoped for, as BYU opened up with two quick buckets from Mallary Gillespie and another from Dani Kubik, bringing the score to 37-34 in favor of the Frogs.

With just over 12 minutes remaining in the game, TCU held a nine-point lead, 46-37, and it looked as though the Frogs would take over the game. But every time TCU seemed like it was going to dominate, the Cougars immediately came right back.

It was no different this time.

Vanessa Hutson scored her first basket of the game, followed by a three-point basket from Nancy Seljaas to bring BYU within four, 46-42.

Then with eight minutes on the clock, Gillespie fired and nailed a much needed three-pointer to tie the score at 51 points apiece.

Minutes later, BYU took the lead off a three pointer from Anderson, followed by a Kubik lay-up and yet another three pointer from Anderson, giving the Cougars an eight-point lead, 62-54.

The Frogs responded with a three-point play from Adrianne Ross and a bucket from Natasha Lacy.

But it was too little too late, as the Cougars held off TCU in the remaining minutes of the game.

For the sixth game this season and fourth conference game, three Cougars scored in double figures. Joining Anderson were Kubik with 16 points and Johnsen with 12 points, respectively.

"We had a great second half," Judkins said. "We did a better job handling the ball and playing more focused. Kubik and Johnsen stepped up huge for us tonight. I'm proud of them both."

BYU shot 39.7 percent from the field and 41.7 percent from the three-point line, while the Frogs shot just 36.8 percent from the floor and 28.6 percent from behind the arc. TCU outshot the Cougars from the free-throw line, 71.4 percent to 68.8 percent.

The Cougars return home on Saturday to face Colorado State at 2 p.m. in the Marriott Center.

Official Basketball Box Score
BYU vs TCU
01/25/06 7:00 p.m. at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum (Fort Worth, TX)
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VISITORS: BYU 16-1, 6-0 MWC
                          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  8-20   6-10   2-4    5  5 10   3  24  0  4  2  2  33
45 KUBIK, Dani......... c  5-7    0-0    6-6    2  4  6   4  16  1  4  1  2  18
15 KEELE, Jennie....... g  0-1    0-0    0-1    0  0  0   4   0  3  0  0  1  32
30 GILLESPIE, Mallary.. g  5-13   1-6    1-2    1  2  3   1  12  0  2  1  2  32
35 JOHNSEN, Melinda.... g  2-4    2-4    0-1    2  4  6   2   6  7  0  0  1  38
01 SELJAAS, Nancy......    1-4    1-4    0-0    0  3  3   3   3  3  1  0  0   8
10 STRATTON, Laura.....    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   1   0  0  0  0  0   1
24 HUTSON, Vanessa.....    1-1    0-0    2-2    0  2  2   0   4  2  0  0  0   9
32 SLADE, Shawnee......    1-4    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   2  0  0  0  0   7
52 RILEY, Lauren.......    0-3    0-0    0-0    0  2  2   3   0  1  3  0  0  15
54 KING, Cassie........    0-1    0-0    0-0    1  1  2   1   0  0  2  1  0   7
   TEAM................                         2  2  4             1
   Totals..............   23-58  10-24  11-16  13 25 38  22  67 17 17  5  8 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half:  8-31 25.8%   2nd Half: 15-27 55.6%   Game: 39.7%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  4-15 26.7%   2nd Half:  6-9  66.7%   Game: 41.7%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  8-10 80.0%   2nd Half:  3-6  50.0%   Game: 68.8%    2
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HOME TEAM: TCU 10-7, 4-2 MWC                            
TOT-FG  3-PT         
REBOUNDS  ## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN  
14 BUTLER-RAYFORD,Lorie f  7-9    0-0    2-3    4  2  6   3  16  0  2  0  2  29  
40 LOHSE, Jenna........ f  2-3    0-0    1-4    0  5  5   2   5  1  2  1  1  19  
10 KNIGHT, Moneka...... g  1-3    1-2    2-2    0  0  0   2   5  1  1  0  0  27  
11 LACY, Natasha....... g  4-11   0-0    3-6    2 10 12   4  11  3  3  0  1  35  
33 ROSS, Adrianne...... g  4-13   0-1    2-2    1  3  4   0  10  1  2  0  2  38  
22 CLEMENTINO, Vanessa.    0-6    0-1    4-4    1  2  3   3   4  3  4  1  1  25  
31 RIVERA, Marissa.....    0-1    0-0    0-0    1  1  2   0   0  0  0  0  0   5  
34 DAVIS, Ashley.......    3-11   2-7    5-5    3  1  4   4  13  1  0  1  0  22     
TEAM................                         2  1  3             2     
Totals..............   21-57   3-11  19-26  14 25 39  18  64 10 16  3  7 200    
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 12-28 42.9%   2nd Half:  9-29 31.0%   Game: 36.8%  DEADB  
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  2-7  28.6%   2nd Half:  1-4  25.0%   Game: 27.3%   REBS  
F Throw % 1st Half:  9-12 75.0%   2nd Half: 10-14 71.4%   Game: 73.1%    4    
Officials: Eric Larson, Clarke Stevens, Lisa Jones  
Technical fouls: BYU-None. TCU-None.  
Attendance: 2643  
Score by Periods                1st  2nd   Total  
BYU...........................   28   39  -   67  
TCU...........................   35   29  -   64  ID-369555