Two Exhibition Games On Tap This Week

PROVO, Utah – In preparation for the 2011-12-basketball season, the BYU women’s team has scheduled two exhibition games this week.The Cougars host Western Oregon on Thurs., Nov. 3 and Dixie State on Nov. 4. The games tip off at 7 and 4 p.m. respectively. Friday's game with Dixie State is slated to air live on BYUtv.

Led by the experience and leadership of senior guard Haley Hall Steed and sophomore center Jennifer Hamson together with senior center Kristen Riley, BYU has a strong core of players to lead the team.

The team will also rely on sophomore guard Kim Parker who played in all games, senior Dani Peterson, sophomore Stephanie Vermunt and junior forward Alexis Kaufusi who bring a wealth of experience to the BYU lineup.

Cougar fans will have an opportunity to see the play of two redshirt freshmen in Stephanie Rovetti and Timpanogos High School product Morgan Bailey.

Five Utah standouts will join the BYU program in the 2011-12 campaign, four of them garnering McDonald All-America nominations. Lexi Eaton, from Springville HS, Ashley Garfield, who prepped at Morgan HS, Xojian Harry, who competed at Viewmont HS and Sadi Dias, a Pine View High School product, bring a lot of talent and athleticism to the team.  Joining the five is Mackenzie Nielson who was teammates with Eaton on a team that won two straight region champs and two 4A State championships.

The 2011-12 season officially gets under way on Fri., Nov. 11 when the Cougars host ACC powerhouse Duke in a 7 p.m. tip off. The Blue Devils, who advanced to the Elite Eight of last year’s NCAA tournament, will make their first ever appearance in the Marriott Center. BYUtv will air the game live.