Image
Feb 13 | 07:00 PM
67
-
43
mperry
| Posted: 13 Feb 2014 | Updated: 8 Nov 2020
PROVO, Utah—Riding Jennifer Hamson’s fifth straight double-double, BYU women’s basketball overcame a slow start to dominate Portland, 67-43, in West Coast Conference action Thursday at the Marriott Center.
The Cougars (20-5, 10-4 WCC) overcame a cold shooting start to take control of the game, outscoring the Pilots (14-11, 7-7 WCC) 41-20 in the second half.
"I'm happy with tonight's win even though we didn't play our best offensive game,” BYU head coach Jeff Judkins said. “We didn't shoot the ball very well, especially in the first half. But when you have a player like Jen, who can score for you--it really made a big difference tonight. Both she and Lexi (Eaton) really stepped it up again, that's three or four games they've really looked to score for us."
Hamson led all scorers with 27 points on 9 of 14 shooting while cleaning up the boards with 13 rebounds. Sophomore Lexi Eaton helped BYU take over the game with 22 points and five rebounds of her own.
Morgan Bailey and Ashley Garfield also added 10 and seven boards, respectively, as the Cougars outrebounded their opponents 48-37.
Three minutes into the game, Hamson broke open the scoring, sinking a short jumper and then a right hook off the glass.
At 7:41 left in the half, Portland led 11-8 with both teams shooting under 20 percent from the field.
BYU then turned up the offensive production with the inside play of Hamson and the guard play of Eaton. With the Pilots leading 16-14, Hamson had 10 of BYU’s points. Eaton then scored the next eight of the following 12 points for BYU to end the half with the lead, 26-23.
The Cougars began the second half by breaking the game open, stringing together a 24-9 run. Eaton picked up where she left off as she added 12 points, including two 3s and a 3-point play. Point guard Kylie Maeda also found the bottom of the net with two consecutive layups.
With 7:41 left in the game, BYU stretched the lead to 20 over Portland on a Stephanie Rovetti layup.
The Pilots then scored seven points to cut the BYU lead to 56-41 before Hamson answered with the finsh as she cut to the hoop. The Cougars maintained the double-digit lead for the remainder of the game.
BYU stays home for a showdown with first-place Gonzaga Saturday at 2 p.m. televised on BYUtv.The Bulldogs are ranked 15th nationally. Tickets for Saturday afternoon's game are two for one. Buy one general admission ticket for $5, and get the second one free.
Postgame Notes
Team
BYU was held to 0 of 9 shooting from 3-point land in the first half while Portland hit 4 of 8 in the same timeframe. The Cougars ended the game hitting 18.8 percent from beyond the arc compared to 33.3 percent for the Pilots.
With 2:43 remaining in the first half, Morgan Bailey made a layup which gave BYU a 22-21 lead -- a lead which was maintained for the rest of the game.
The Cougars outrebounded the Pilots 48-37 for the game and had just six turnovers compared to 11 for Portland. The six miscues are the lowest of the year.
BYU won the points off turnovers advantage 15-1 as well as the points in the paint 32-6. The Cougars also had 21 second chance points compared to just six for the Pilots.
With the win, Jeff Judkins has coached his team to 20-plus wins in eight of his 13 seasons.
Player
Jennifer Hamson was a rebound shy of having a double-double at the break, collecting nine boards to her 12 points. On the night, she finished with a game-high 27 points, 13 boards and four blocks.
Lexi Eaton was in double figure points at the break with 10. She ended the game with 22 points, four rebounds and three assists.
Kim Beeston had a team-leading five assists to go along with four rebounds.
Four different Cougars each collected a steal to give the team four on the night.
Norma Bertoch
| Posted: 11 Feb 2014 | Updated: 8 Nov 2020
PROVO, Utah—With a half-game lead over Saint Mary’s for second place in the West Coast Conference race and on a three-game winning streak, BYU women’s basketball (19-5, 9-4) returns to league action at home this week. The Cougars host Portland (14-10, 7-6) Thursday at 7 p.m., in a game that airs live on BYUtv. The Pilots are in sixth place in the conference standings.
Game Promotion vs. Portland
• Pink Game – recognizing February as Breast Cancer Awareness Month
• Wear pink to the game and admission is just $1
About BYU
Senior center Jennifer Hamson leads BYU in points, rebounds and blocked shots with 17.9 points and 11.2 rebounds per game while averaging 4.2 blocks. Hamson leads the nation in blocked shots, ranks 12th in double-doubles, 16th in rebounds per game and 21st in field goal percentage.
Three other Cougar players are also recording double figures in points with Lexi Eaton putting up 16.8, followed by 11.4 points from Kim Beeston. Junior forward Morgan Bailey rounds out the scoring output contributing 10.3 points. She is tied for second place in rebounds, pulling down 7.2 per contest.
As a team, the Cougar women are averaging 71.9 points per game and are holding opponents to 65.1 points. BYU, who ranks fourth in the country in blocked shots per game, has recorded more blocks than opponents in 21 games and has dished out more assists in 18 of the 24 games played to date. The team has also recorded more rebounds than opponents in 18 contests.
• Head coach: Jeff Judkins (Utah, ‘78) 13th season
• Team’s leading scorer: #5 Hamson, 17.9 ppg
• Team’s leading rebounder: #5 Hamson, 11.2 rpg
• Team’s assists leader: #4 Beeston, 3.6 apg
• Team’s steals leader: #4 Beeston, 1.8 spg
• Team’s blocks leader: #5 Hamson, 4.2 bpg
About Portland
The Pilots enter this week’s league play on a three-game winning streak and a 14-10, 7-6 record. In the latest WCC standings they are in sixth place.
Three players are scoring double figures in points for the Pilots led by 14.0 from Cassandra Brown. Kari Luttinen chips in 13.5 while teammate Jasmine Wooton contributes 13.3 points per contest.
Portland averages 70.5 points per game, grabs 38.9 rebounds and shoots 48 percent from the field and 72 percent at the free throw line.
• Head coach: Jim Sollars (Seattle Pacific, 1966) 28th season
• Team’s leading scorer: #22 Brown, 14.0 ppg
• Team’s leading rebounder: #33 Pupa, 7.3 rpg
• Team’s assists leader: #32 Wooton, 4.2 apg
• Team’s steals leader: #33 Pupa, 1.9 spg
• Team’s blocks leader: #30 Thompson, 2.1 bpg
Series History
BYU leads the overall series 13-4. When playing in Provo, the Pilots have a 2-5 record. The last time Portland won in the Marriott Center was on Jan. 2, 1999 when they picked up a 62-57 win.
Last Meeting
Jennifer Hamson led the Cougars to a 75-68 win in Portland on Jan. 11, in their first matchup. Hamson finished with a team-best 21 points and 11 rebounds, making it her 11th double-double of the season. Kim Beeston hit five 3-pointers, all in the first half, to give her 15 points while Morgan Bailey grabbed nine boards and scored 17 points. Kylie Maeda dished out a game-high seven assists to tie her career high.
The Cougars shot 52 percent from the field in the first half of play, including 75 percent from beyond the arc. BYU outrebounded the Pilots 37-27 as well as dished out more assists, 18-14.
Up Next
After the game against the Pilots, the Cougar women get set to host No. 15 Gonzaga on Saturday at 2 p.m. The Bulldogs play at San Diego on Thursday night prior to making the trip to Provo and are in first place in the WCC with a 12-1 mark.
