BYU at Pepperdine Box Score

MALIBU, Calif. — Four Cougars scored in double digits for the fourth time this season as BYU women’s basketball topped Pepperdine 73-67 Thursday night at Firestone Fieldhouse.

“This was a good road league win for us tonight,” BYU head coach Jeff Judkins said. “Malia (Nawahine) played really well and I thought Paisley (Johnson) gave us a good lift off the bench.  Brenna (Chase) also had a great game for us, especially in the first half.”

Cassie Broadhead Devashrayee led BYU (9-7, 4-1 West Coast Conference) in points with 22 in her seventh career game of 20-plus points. Devashrayee also dished out nine assists. Malia Nawahine earned her first double-double as a Cougar with 11 points and 13 rebounds, including three 3-pointers. Brenna Chase added 12 points, while Paisley Johnson scored 12 off the bench.

Chase scored BYU’s first eight points on 4 of 4 shooting from the field as the Cougars trailed Pepperdine (6-9, 2-3 WCC) 8-11 with 5:53 left in the first quarter. BYU then went on a 14-4 run to finish the period ahead, 22-17. Johnson nailed a 3-pointer at the 3:51 mark to even the score, 13-13. Nawahine added two 3-pointers of her own, while Shalae Salmon made a free throw and layup in the run.

Pepperdine came within two, 24-22, two minutes into the second quarter before a layup and perfect trip to the charity stripe from Devashrayee, along with two layups from  Amanda Wayment, gave the Cougars a seven-point, 32-25 lead. BYU soon increased its advantage to double digits. Devashrayee’s seventh and eighth free throws of the half gave the Cougars a 12-point, 41-29 lead heading into halftime.

BYU led by as many as 14 in the third quarter, 51-37, with 6:31 on the clock after Nawahine hit her third 3-pointer of the night. Pepperdine worked its way back in the game to trail by 10, 51-41, with 5:14 left. Both teams suffered scoring droughts in the final three minutes of the period and battled at the free-throw line as the Waves made four-consecutive free throws to cut the Cougars’ lead to nine, 54-45, at the 2:19 mark.

A quicker pace set the tone for both teams in the fourth quarter. With 7:47 left, Devashrayee scored on a jumper to give BYU a nine-point lead, 59-50. The Cougars and Waves exchanged baskets as Pepperdine came within four, 62-58, with 6:47 on the clock.

The Waves kept it a two-possession game the rest of the way before BYU pulled away for good. Ahead by four with just over three minutes to play, Johnson scored in the paint, giving the Cougars a 66-60 advantage. Devashrayee made four free throws and hit a jumper to give the Cougars an eight-point, 72-64 lead before reaching a final score of 73-67.

BYU returns to Provo Saturday, hosting Santa Clara at 2 p.m. MST. The game will be televised live on BYUtv and simulcast on BYU Radio.

BYU at Pacific Postgame Notes

TEAM
BYU led by 12, 41-29, at the half and finished winning the game by six, 73-67. The team is now 9-7, 4-1 on the season and improved their record to 7-0 when leading at the half.

The Cougars pulled down 24 rebounds in the first 20 minutes of action, with the Waves grabbing 13. For the game, BYU finished with the advantage by two, pulling down 39 total rebounds to Pepperdine’s 37.

BYU dished out 10 assists to Pepperdine’s eight heading into the locker room. The Cougars finished the game with a total 18 assists while the Waves dished out 15.

Four Cougar players scored in double figures for the fourth time on the season in the league win: Devashrayee (22), Chase (12), Johnson (12) and Nawahine (11).

PLAYERS
At halftime, Cassie Broadhead Devashrayee picked up her 51st game scoring in double figures with 10 to lead all scorers. She finished the night with a game-high 22 total points, making it the seventh time she’s had 20-plus points in a game. Devashrayee had a team-best four assists at halftime and ended the game with a game-best nine assists. Additionally, she recorded two steals for a team best and played all 40 minutes. She also made 14 of 16 free throws.

Malia Nawahine led the way in rebounds in the first half with six rebounds. She also had six points. Nawahine picked up her first double-double as a Cougar with a game-high 13 rebounds along with 11 points.

Brenna Chase scored BYU’s first eight points and finished the game with 12 total points for the 12th time she’s recorded double-digit points this year. She also dished out three assists and grabbed one rebound.

Paisley Johnson came off the bench to score 12 points for her second time putting up double digits in points in her freshman season. She went 2 of 2 from 3-point range and was perfect from the field, going 5 of 5. Johnson also grabbed three rebounds.

BYU vs. Santa Clara Game Notes

BYU at Pepperdine Game Notes

PROVO, Utah — Heading into the third week of West Coast Conference play, BYU women’s basketball has compiled an 8-7, 3-1 overall record. They are at Pepperdine (6-8, 2-2) Thursday, Jan. 11, in a 7 p.m. PST tip off.  A live video stream on the W.tv is available for the Waves and Cougars game.

On Saturday, Jan. 13, BYU is back home hosting Santa Clara (5-10, 1-3) in a 2 p.m. MST start. That league game will air live on BYUtv and be simulcast on BYU Radio.

ABOUT BYU

In the current WCC standings, BYU is tied for second place with Loyola Marymount and Saint Mary’s.

The Cougars are averaging 68.0 points and 40.3 rebounds a game. BYU is shooting 41.4 percent from the field, 31.0 percent from the 3-point line and 67.5 percent from the charity stripe.

Two BYU players have scored in double figures in all contests except at SMC and at Cal. Three players have scored in double digits in five games, most recently vs. Pacific. It has outrebounded eight of its opponents, most recently vs. Pacific; and it has had more blocks in 10 games, most recently vs. Pacific. With the 77 points scored in the home win vs. the Tigers, the Cougars have scored at least 70 points in 10 games played.

In the WCC 2017-18 regular season battle, BYU was picked to finish in third place behind Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s.

ABOUT PEPPERDINE

Pepperdine is 6-8, 2-2 on the year, capturing league wins over Santa Clara and San Diego.

The Waves are putting up 67.2 points and grab 37.4 rebounds per game. Pepperdine is shooting 40.7 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from behind the arc and 68.7 percent from the free-throw line.

Head coach Delisha Milton-Jones is in her first season at the helm of Pepperdine’s women’s basketball program.

The Waves were picked to finish tied for ninth place in the 2017-18 WCC preseason poll announced by the league in October. Currently, Pepperdine is tied with San Diego and San Francisco for third place.

SERIES HISTORY

BYU leads the series with the Waves 15-2. When BYU plays in Malibu, the Cougars have a 5-2 record. In last year’s WCC race, BYU swept the series.

ABOUT SANTA CLARA

Entering the third week of WCC action, Santa Clara has compiled a 5-10, 1-3 record. Their lone league victory was over Portland. The Broncos are at Saint Mary’s Thursday night before heading to Provo for the Saturday afternoon game vs. the Cougars.

Santa Clara is averaging 54.5 points and 34.3 rebounds per contest. They are shooting 37.0 percent from the field, 27.9 percent from the 3-point line and 67.0 percent from the charity stripe.

The Broncos were picked to finish in fifth place in this year’s league race. Currently they are in fourth place in the latest WCC standings.

Bill Carr, who is in his second season at the helm of the Santa Clara women’s basketball program, has compiled a 19-26 record to date.

SERIES HISTORY

The Cougars have a 14-2 advantage in the series with the Broncos. Santa Clara has never won in Provo. Last season, each team won on its home court. BYU lost by one, 64-63, in Santa Clara on Dec. 29 and won in Provo, 72-66, in double-overtime on Jan. 26.

UP NEXT

WCC play continues for the Cougars next week. The team is on the road for its next two league contests, battling LMU in Los Angeles on Thursday, Jan. 18 and at San Diego for a game vs. the Toreros on Saturday, Jan. 20. Both games will air live on BYU Radio with a video stream available on theW.tv.