Second Half Push Brings Victory

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PROVO -- In its 2010 home opener, the BYU women’s basketball team (1-2) took down the Washington Huskies (1-1) with an 80-55 final in the Marriott Center on Saturday for their first win of the season.

“We didn’t play as well as I know we can play but we played well enough in spurts to get the win today and we did a great job of keeping the lead there in the second half,” said BYU head coach Jeff Judkins. “Really nice game by Stephanie Vermunt today, she came in and shot the ball really well for us. Jen Hamson also played great for us today with her defensive presence. We just need to quit fouling so much and execute our game plan but I think overall we did a nice job.”

Three Cougars scored in double digits for the first time this season with freshman Stephanie Vermunt leading the way off 17 points. Seniors Mindy Bonham and Coriann Fraughton contributed 15 and 11 points, respectively.

The win improves head coach Jeff Judkins’ record to 9-1 in home openers and 11-6 against Pac-10 teams.

“It’s nice to be back at home where we can get a good night’s rest before the game and be able play in our home gym,” Bonham said of the home opener. “One of our goals tonight was to come in and take care of the ball, and I feel like we did just that.”

Both teams got off to a slow offensive start in the first half. After five minutes of play the score was tied at 4-4 with BYU shooting 2-6 to start the game and Washington starting 2-10.

The Cougars took their first lead at 6-4 but it dwindled quickly as Washington converted on three straight possessions to take the lead 12-6.

With six minutes remaining in the first half the Cougars trailed 18-21 and had made 7 of 21 field goal attempts. Freshman Kim Parker sparked BYU with a 3-point basket to take the lead 24-22.

BYU ended the half on a 21-11 run and led by seven, 39-32. The Cougar defense held Washington to 31 percent shooting for the half.

Bonham scored four quick points right out of the locker room to start the second half, helping BYU go on a 10-2 run that also featured two treys, one from Fraughton and another by senior Jazmine Foreman.

The quick start continued as the Cougars stretched the lead to 24 at 68-44. Fraughton contributed eight points in the first seven minutes of the half after scoring three in the first.

BYU’s defense continued to shut down the Husky offense, holding Washington to 5-13 early in the second half while the Cougars nailed 9 of 13 shots to build the lead.

BYU refused to let up as the game continued, leading by as much as 27 at 71-44. Vermunt led the Cougars by scoring 11 of her 17 points in the second half. They held the Huskies to 31 percent shooting for the game while shooting 48 percent themselves.

The Cougars will look for their second win of the season on Tuesday, Nov. 23, against Utah State in the Marriott Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:00 pm MST.

BYU Game Notes

-With a 27-point lead in the second half, the Cougars recorded their largest lead of the regular season

-The Cougars are now 1-0 when they lead at the half

-Senior Mindy Bonham's 15 points was a season-high and her second game of the season she's recorded double-figures

-Senior Coriann Fraughton's 11 points was her second consecutive game of the season she's recorded double-figures

-Redshirt freshman Stephanie Vermunt recorded a career-and season-high 17 points in the victory with a career-and season-high four three-pointers

-Senior Haley Hall's 10 points was her first game of the season in double-figures and also tabs as a season-high

-The Cougars recorded a season-high 11 three-pointers against Washington

-BYU's bench outscored Washington's with a 33-10 mark

-Last season the Cougars went 13-1 when they scored above 70 points. Thus far this season, they are 1-0

-Freshman Jennifer Hamson accounted for five of BYU's 8 blocks on the night