No. 24 BYU Opens Season In WNIT Hosting Idaho State

The No. 24 ranked BYU women's basketball team opens up the 2006-07 season participating in the Preseason WNIT. The Cougars host Idaho State, Fri. Nov. 10 in a 7:30 p.m.

Complete Broadcast Plans

On TV - BYUTV and KBYU-TV, Channel 11 will air Friday's game live. Chris McGown and Kristine Kozlowski will call the action.The game will also air tape delay on the mtn. numerous times. For a complete schedule log on to http://themtn.cstv.com/schedule/

On the internet - a live audio stream of all of the women's basketball games will be available on BYU Radio. Veteran broadcaster Jay Monsen will call the action. To listen log on to: http://www.byuradio.org

Live stats - fans can follow the game action via stats by clicking on:

http://www.byucougars.com/Schedule.jsp?SP=112&YR=2006

2005-06 Final Team Stats --

- Shooting from the field: (.423, 782-1848)

- Shooting from the free-throw line: (.629, 324-515)

- Shooting from three-point line: (.334, 200-599)

- Average points per game: 65.2

2006 MWC Coach of the Year Jeff Judkins begins his sixth year as head coach of the women's basketball program. Prior to heading up the women's program, he served one year (1999-2000) as Director of Basketball Operations for the BYU men's team. In (2000-2001) he was an assistant coach on the women's team.

Last season under Judkins, the Cougars compiled their best finish in school history with a 26-6 record, clinched their first MWC regular season title since 1992 and received a no. 7 seed in the NCAA tournament, the highest seed for any BYU program.

For the first time since the 2002-03 season, the team and its 13-1 record to start the year broke into the women's basketball collegiate polls, ranked no. 23 by the AP Poll and the USA Today/Espn/WBCA Coaches Poll. They would rank as high as 18 and 16 in the two respective polls, finishing the year at no. 20. Last seasoon Judkins picked up his 100th win, a 69-67 victory over CSU on Mar. 2, the same time the team clinched the league's regular season title.

Under Judkins tutelage the women's basketball program has had consistent success with four postseason appearances including three NCAA Championships, guiding the team to its first ever Sweet Sixteen finish in 2002. In 2005, the 19-11 team played in the first round of the WNIT.

Judkins has also coached two All-Americans in Erin Thorn and Ambrosia Anderson. Both have gone on to play in the WNBA for the New York Liberty. Thorn has been with the team for the past four years while Anderson just completed her first year playing professionally.

The longtime University of Utah coach and player came to Provo with a proven record of success dating back to his high school days at Highland HS in Salt Lake City. An all-state selection in basketball, football and baseball, Judkins went on to play for the University of Utah from 1974-78.

While playing at Utah, Judkins helped lead the Utes to one conference championship and two berths in the NCAA tournament. He was a second-team academic All-American and three-time District VII academic selection. He also earned three first team All-WAC honors and was a member of the 1977 United States World Games team that captured the gold medal.

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

After his NBA career, he returned to Utah in 1989 and was an instrumental part of the program's success during his 10 years with the program, recruiting such players as Keith Van Horn, Andre Miller, Mike Doleac, Hanno Mottola, Alex Jensen, Trent Whiting, Garner Meads, Jeff Johnsen and Britton Johnsen.

Judkins, graduated from the University of Utah in 1978 with a degree in health and physical education.

BYU Picked Second In MWC Preseason Media Poll

School (First-place votes) Points

1. New Mexico (8) 137

2. BYU (7)134

3. TCU (4) 126

4. Utah 102

5. Wyoming 96

6. UNLV 71

7. San Diego State 41

8. Air Force 39

9. Colorado State 36

Preseason All-MWC Team

Dionne Marsh, Jr., F, New Mexico

Hanna Zavecz, Jr., F, Wyoming

Dani Kubik Wright, Sr., C, BYU

Adrianne Ross, Jr., G, TCU

Katie Montgomery, Sr., G, New Mexico

Top Returning Player

Dionne Marsh, Jr., F, New Mexico

Top Newcomer

Justyna Podziemska, Jr., F, Wyoming

About Opponent

Idaho State

ISU also participating in this year's Preseason WNIT. They along with BYU, Stanford and Loyola Marymount are in the same bracket. The winner of Friday's game advances to the next round and would play either The Cardinal or LMU. All games are played on home courts.

The Bengals return four starters and seven letterwinners from last year's team that compiled a 17-13 record and finished first in the Big Sky Conference with and 11-3 record. The four starters include junior center Natalie Doma who last year averaged 17.9 points and a team high 8.7 boards a game. Also back is Andrea Lightfoot, a 5-8 guard with an average of 18.5 points and 5.0 rebounds. Head coach Jon Newlee is in his fifth year with Idaho State and has compiled a 56-58 record.

Stat Comparison (05-06) BYUISU

Field Goals:.423.412

Free Throws:.629.764

Three-Pointers:.334.349

Points Per Game:65.277.1

Rebounds Per Game:40.240.9

Series Record

BYU leads the series 10-3. At the Marriott Center, ISU has a 1-6 record.

Last Meeting

The Cougars and Bengals played last on Dec. 20, 2003 at the Marriott Center where BYU defeated ISU by two points 56-54.

Media Information

Team Practice Times

- The team practices are held at the Marriott Center MWF from 11:30 a.m., to 1:30 p.m. On Tuesday's practice is from from 1 to 3 p.m., and on Thursday's it is 12:30 to 3 p.m.

- Coach Judkins and players are available for interviews prior to or after their practices. All interviews are scheduled in advance. Norma Collett is the Media Director for the team and can be contacted by phone or email. Office phone is 801-422-4908, cell phone is 801-372-0989 and email is norma_collett@byu.edu

Up Next

With a win over ISU, BYU would then play either Stanford or LMU on Mon. 11/13. The Cougars are scheduled to play at Fresno State on Nov. 17.