Another Exhibition Victory for Women's Basketball

PROVO, Utah – The BYU women’s basketball team won its final exhibition game of the 2011-12 season, 91-54, against Dixie State in the Marriott Center, Friday.

"I thought we played a lot better tonight than we did last night," said BYU head coach Jeff Judkins. "We wanted to work on some things tonight to help us get better and it was nice to see a few different people contributing today. I'm really happy with the way our offense and defense played, everyone gave it their best. Haley is Haley, you know. When she's on the court everyone plays and executes better."

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Four players scored in double digits for BYU, led by senior Dani Peterson and sophomore Stephanie Vermunt on 15 points each. Kim Parker and freshman Lexi Eaton also contributed with 10 points apiece.

Parker and Eaton also recorded double-digit points in BYU's first exhibition.

Back to back points from Kristen Riley put the Cougars up 16-4 early on, a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

Erica Hayes kept Dixie fighting back with an offensive rebound and putback for two but the Red Storm couldn’t quite keep up, with Hayes’ basket tallying as just the sixth for the team with 13 minutes left in the first half.

An 8-0 BYU run kept the momentum going between 6:40 and 4:10 in the first half. Senior BYU captain Haley Steed tied Dixie State’s Hayes for the lead of all players in the first half with nine points.

BYU’s Dani Peterson started off the second half with a 7-0 run of her own to keep the Cougars with a 30-point lead.

Between the 12th and eighth minute in the second half, the Cougars went on an 11-0 run to close out the game in a win.

"We definitely executed better tonight, looking at not just the first option," said BYU's Kim Parker. "Our defense executed better also, matching up with the other team. This win feels good, it's nice just get out and play to see if the plays you're running are actually working."

The Cougars next play their first official game of the season on Friday, Nov. 11, against No. 8 Duke in the Marriott Center at 7 p.m. MT. Admission is free for all fans.

BYU Postgame Notes

Team

BYU’s biggest lead 82-39 (43 points).

The BYU bench scored 41 points, 16 in the first half. The Cougars scored 50 points in the paint and 25 points off Dixie State’s 26 turnovers.

The Cougars shot 52.9 percent on the game and 60.7 percent in the second half.

BYU totaled 51 rebounds to Dixie State’s 29 and 27 assists to Dixie State’s 15. The Cougars also had 14 steals.

Players

Four players reached double figures in scoring: Lexi Eaton with 10, Kim Parker with 10, Dani Peterson with 15, and Stephanie Vermunt with 15.

Dani Peterson scored BYU’s first six points of the second half. Peterson recorded six rebounds and three assists.

Haley Steed was 3-for-3 from beyond the arc and led the Cougars in assists with six.

Stephanie Vermunt recorded eight rebounds and two assists. She was 6-for-8 and 3-for-5 from the three-point line.

Kristen Riley and Mackenzie Nielson had one block apiece. Riley also totaled six points and seven rebounds.