Women Split Series with Utes

PROVO -- In a much anticipated rematch against arch-rivals BYU (19-2, 9-1) and Utah (16-5, 7-3), the Utes dominated Wednesday evening in the Marriott Center on their way to a 70-52 victory. The Cougars won the first game of the series off a buzzer-beater from Mallary Gillespie.

Turnovers and missed free throws plagued the Cougars, as BYU committed 15 turnovers and made just nine of 17 shots, including one of six in the first half, from the charity stripe. Utah had 20 points off Cougar turnovers.

"We just got outplayed tonight," head coach Jeff Judkins said. "They outplayed us in every facet of the game. They out hustled us, they out executed us. They just wanted it more."

BYU jumped out to an early 12-4 lead off seven points from Ambrosia Anderson, three from Melinda Johnsen and a couple from Lauren Riley.

Utah responded with 6-0 run to bring the score within two, 12-10. The Utes received extra momentum when Dani Kubik received her third foul with 12 minutes remaining in the half. Utah capitalized on her absence, scoring eight straight points off a bucket from Kim Smith, five points from Heidi Carlsen and an easy jumper by Camie Oakey. The run gave the Utes an 18-16 lead.

"The first five or six minutes it was really intense," Anderson said. "I don't know what happened after that. The intensity level definitely took a drop."

Gillespie responded with a bucket off the inbound pass to tie the score at 18 with just over eight minutes remaining in the half.

Smith returned the favor, netting a three pointer and converting two free throws. Morgan Warburton added another two for the Utes, widening their lead to seven, 25-18.

Both teams traded baskets for the remainder of the second half until Anderson hit a pull-up jumper with time running down to cut the lead to five at the half, 33-28, marking only the third time this season BYU trailed at the half. The Cougars went on to win the other two games.

BYU never could seem to find its rhythm as the Utes ran away with the game in the second half. On the Cougars' second possession of the half, Kubik was called for her fourth foul, sending her to the bench. Anderson responded by hitting a three pointer, cutting the lead to six, 38-32.

Kubik fouled out with 10:39 remaining in the game, playing a total of just eight minutes. Losing her presence in the paint allowed the Utes to gain complete control of the game.

Utah went on an 8-0 run off two three pointers and a layup, widening its lead 15, 52-37. The Utes continued to open up the score the remainder of the game.

Anderson and Riley were the only bright spots for BYU. Anderson scored a game-high 24 points and added nine boards, while Riley had 12 points and 12 rebounds. The double-double marks Riley's second of her career.

Utah's Kim Smith led the Utes with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Shona Thorburn, Morgan Warburton and Carlesen also posted double figures, scoring 13, 12 and 11 points, respectively.

"I was very impressed with Kim Smith," Judkins said. "She came out and played hard. I'm glad she's graduating."

The Cougars shot just 36.4 percent from the field, 15.8 percent from behind the arc and 52.9 percent from the line. BYU was out rebounded 39-34. Utah made 39.2 percent of its field goals, 36.2 percent of its three pointers and 79.3 percent of its free throws.

BYU travels to Las Vegas on Saturday to play UNLV at 8 p.m. (MDT).

Official Basketball Box Score
Utah Utes vs BYU Cougars
02-08-06 7:00 PM at MARRIOTT CTR, BYU, PROVO UT
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VISITORS: Utah Utes 16-5; 7-3
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
04 SMITH, Kim.......... f  8-11   2-4    3-4    2  9 11   4  21  1  4  0  2  40
45 PERRY, Jessica...... f  0-8    0-2    0-0    1  2  3   4   0  0  0  0  2  20
05 CARLSEN, Heidi...... g  2-4    2-4    5-6    0  4  4   3  11  1  2  0  0  30
10 THORBURN, Shona..... g  3-10   0-3    7-8    1  6  7   1  13  8  3  0  1  40
21 LARSEN, Julie....... g  1-6    1-3    5-7    0  0  0   1   8  0  1  0  0  27
12 BROUILLARD, Shauna..    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  0  0  0   2
15 WARBURTON, Morgan...    4-8    2-2    2-2    2  6  8   1  12  1  4  0  1  26
24 OAKEY, Camie........    2-3    0-1    1-2    0  1  1   3   5  0  0  0  1  12
32 FILIPE, Joh-Teena...    0-1    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  0  0  0   3
   TEAM................                         2  3  5
   Totals..............   20-51   7-19  23-29   8 31 39  17  70 11 14  0  7 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 10-26 38.5%   2nd Half: 10-25 40.0%   Game: 39.2%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  4-10 40.0%   2nd Half:  3-9  33.3%   Game: 36.8%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  9-11 81.8%   2nd Half: 14-18 77.8%   Game: 79.3%    3
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HOME TEAM: BYU Cougars 19-2; 9-1
                          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 10-20   2-6    2-5    2  7  9   4  24  0  1  0  2  39
35 JOHNSEN, Melinda.... f  1-3    1-3    0-0    0  6  6   3   3  3  2  1  0  38
45 KUBIK, Dani......... c  1-1    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   5   2  1  1  0  0   8
15 KEELE, Jennie....... g  2-7    0-1    1-2    1  2  3   2   5  4  0  1  1  30
30 GILLESPIE, Mallary.. g  2-8    0-4    2-2    1  1  2   3   6  3  3  0  2  28
01 SELJAAS, Nancy......    0-2    0-2    0-0    0  0  0   1   0  0  2  1  1   7
10 STRATTON, Laura.....    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  0  0  0   2
24 HUTSON, Vanessa.....    0-3    0-3    0-0    0  0  0   1   0  1  0  0  1  12
32 SLADE, Shawnee......    0-2    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   1   0  0  0  0  0   8
52 RILEY, Lauren.......    4-8    0-0    4-8    4  8 12   3  12  1  6  1  0  26
54 KING, Cassie........    0-1    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  1  0  0  0   2
   TEAM................                            2  2
   Totals..............   20-55   3-19   9-17   8 26 34  23  52 14 15  4  7 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 12-28 42.9%   2nd Half:  8-27 29.6%   Game: 36.4%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  3-10 30.0%   2nd Half:  0-9   0.0%   Game: 15.8%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  1-6  16.7%   2nd Half:  8-11 72.7%   Game: 52.9%    4
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Officials: ERIC LARSON, ROBERT STRONG, ERNESTO SOLIS
Technical fouls: Utah Utes-None. BYU Cougars-None.
Attendance: 2662
Score by Periods                1st  2nd   Total
Utah Utes.....................   33   37  -   70
BYU Cougars...................   28   24  -   52
OFFICIAL FINAL