Women Host Nevada Thursday

Playing their final home nonconference game, BYU women’s basketball (10-2) puts its nine-game win streak on the line at home this week. The Cougars host WAC foe Nevada (3-7) Thursday, Dec. 22 at 1 p.m. The game can be seen live worldwide on BYUtv and online at byutv.org

2011-12 Stats Summary
-- Shooting from field: (.428, 313-732)
-- Shooting from three-point line: (.349, 80-229)
-- Shooting from free-throw line: (.727, 168-231)
-- Average points per game: 72.8
-- Average rebounds per game: 40.7
-- Average assists per game: 19.3
-- Average steals per game: 10.9
-- Average blocks per game: 5.1
-- Average turnovers per game: 15.8

About BYU
--The Cougars leading scorer is sophomore guard Kim Parker who averages 12.6 points per game.
--Haley Steed leads the way on the glass grabbing 6.4 rebounds a game. Senior center Kristen Riley follows grabbing 6.1 boards a contest.
--Steed leads the way in assists and steals with 75 and 29 respectively.
--Jennifer Hamson tops the list in blocks with 24.
--Dani Peterson has the team’s best field goal percentage (.569, 37-65).
--True freshman Lexi Eaton has the team’s best free throw percentage (.885, 23-26).

Record Watching
-- Haley Steed has recorded 397 assists as of 12/19/11, placing her in ninth place all-time. She needs 17 to tie for eighth place with former teammate Jazmine Foreman’s (414).
-- Haley Steed has a total of 176 steals to date and needs 53 to tie for seventh place with Karina Zapata who finished her BYU career with 229.
-- Haley Steed has made 152 three pointers as of 12/19/11 which puts her in sixth place overall. She needs 19 to tie for fifth place with Thais Kidd's career best 171.
-- Kristen Riley has 61 blocks as of 12/19/11. She needs nine to tie for sixth place all-time with former teammate Mindy Bonham’s 70.
-- As of 12/19/11, 6-7 sophomore center Jennifer Hamson has tallied 69 blocks and needs one to tie for sixth place with former teammate Mindy Bonham’s 70.

Cougs Receiving Votes
With a 10-2 overall record, the BYU women’s basketball is receiving (2) votes in this week’s (12/19/11) Associated Press Poll.

Win Streak
The Cougars have won nine games in a row, which is the longest current winning streak in the West Coast Conference.

THURSDAY OPPONENT
Nevada
Nevada comes to Provo with a 3-7 record that includes a 76-74 home victory over Oregon. The Wolf Pack returns six letterwinners including two starters from last year’s team that compiled a 22-11, 9-7 record finishing in fourth place in the WAC. They advanced to the second round of last year’s postseason WNIT. Currently, Nevada has three players scoring in double figures with Kate Kevorken averaging 16.7 points and 6.4 rebounds. Kayla Williams contributes 13.0 points and a team-best 9.5 boards per game. Rounding out the double digit in scoring is Danika Sharp who tallies 12.5 points and 3.7 boards a contest. Amanda Johnson has the most assists and steals on the team with 39 and 16. The Wolf Pack is shooting 40 percent from the field while putting up 67.7 points a game. Head coach Jane Albright is in her fourth season with Nevada’s women’s basketball program. 

Series Breakdown
Overall Series Record: BYU leads 5-1
BYU Record in Provo: 2-0
BYU Record in Reno: 2-1
BYU Record in Neutral Sites: 1-0
BYU Record under coach Judkins: 4-1
BYU Record in Overtime Games: N/A

Last Meeting
The teams met last season on New Year’s Day in Reno with the Wolf Pack picking up a closely fought 57-53 win. BYU closed a 10-point deficit in the last two minutes of play but it wasn’t enough coming up short at the end. Freshman Jennifer Hamson came off the bench to lead the Cougars with 13 points and seven rebounds. Kristen Riley was also in double digits with 10 points. Nevada enjoyed a 28-25 advantage at the break and as the game came to a close, the Cougars fought back to bring the score within three after a 3-pointer from senior Mindy Bonham.

What’s Next
The team takes a short break for the Christmas holidays then prepares to compete in its first season in the West Coast Conference. BYU opens up league play with two road games, at St. Mary’s on Dec. 31 and at Portland on Jan. 2. The Cougars return home for their first WCC contest in the Marriott Center hosting LMU on Jan. 5 at 5 p.m.