Box Score

PORTLAND, Ore. — Double figure performances from Makenzi Pulsipher, Kalani Purcell and Cassie Broadhead helped BYU to a 39-point 77-38 victory over Portland at the Chiles Center on Saturday.

“I thought we played well defensively today,” BYU head coach Jeff Judkins said. “As great of a player a Cassie (Broadhead) is on offense, she played outstanding defense. Kalani (Purcell) and Makenzi (Pulsipher) also played great defensively. People don’t give Makenzi enough credit on defense.”

Pulsipher led the Cougars with a game-high 16 points. Nine of her 16 came from behind the arc. Purcell recorded her 13th double-double of the season, tallying 13 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Broadhead added 10 points and four rebounds.

BYU (14-9, 8-4 West Coast Conference) led for the entirety of the game, shooting 48.1 percent from the field to Portland’s (4-19, 2-10 WCC) 19.2 percent.

The Cougars started the game on a 6-0 run, backed by six points from Jasmine Moody. With 4:28 to go in the first quarter, Purcell found a cutting Broadhead for the backdoor layup to give BYU the 8-1 lead.

Purcell then recorded a quick four points to extend the Cougar lead to 11, 12-1. BYU held Portland to 0 of 11 shooting and just three free throws in the first quarter, taking the 14-3 lead into the second quarter of play. Three points is the lowest amount of points allowed by BYU in a quarter all season.

BYU began the second quarter on a 4-0 run with both baskets coming from junior forward Amanda Wayment. After a Portland score in the paint, Purcell found Kristine Nielson on the fast break for another basket, increasing the Cougar lead to 15, 20-5.

At the 2:30 mark, Pulsipher gave BYU its biggest lead of the game to that point, 29-11, as she converted her first 3-pointer of the contest. The Cougars took the 31-13 lead into halftime. Purcell led the Cougars with eight points and 10 rebounds going into the break.

Midway through the third quarter, Pulsipher and Nielson hit back-to-back treys to give BYU the 39-15 lead. With 6:06 to go in the third, Pulsipher hit another 3-point field goal, her third of the game.

The Cougars then went on a 10-4 run, fueled by five points from Purcell and Pulsipher, respectively. Brenna Chase put BYU on top 61-23 as she dribbled the full length of the court for the layup. BYU took the 61-23 lead into the fourth quarter.

With 7:28 to go in the game, Micaelee Orton converted a 3-pointer to give the Cougars the 67-28 advantage. MaCayla Hanks scored her first bucket of the game with 2:56 left in the fourth quarter to put BYU up 69-32. Hitting her first field goal of the game, Haley Rydalch buried a three, giving her a season- and career-high three points.

BYU women’s basketball will return to the Marriott Center Thursday to take on Pepperdine. The game will begin at 7:00 p.m. MST and will be broadcast on BYUtv and simulcast on BYU Radio – Sirius XM 143. Links to live stats and other media can be found on the BYU women’s basketball schedule page.

Postgame Notes

Team

With the 77-38 road win at Portland, BYU women’s basketball improved its record to 14-9, 8-4 on the year. The team remains in third place in the West Coast Conference. BYU took a 15-point, 31-13 lead at half time. They would extend the lead to 30, 45-15 with 4:42 in the third quarter. With one quarter left, the Cougars enjoyed a 38-point advantage, 61-23.

For the eighth time this season, three Cougar players picked up double digits in points. Makenzi Pulsipher (16), Kalani Purcell (13), Cassie Broadhead (10).

BYU was 6 of 8 from the free-throw line in the first half shooting 75 percent. They finished the game shooting 85.0 (17-20) percent from the charity stripe. The Cougars shot 48.1 percent from the field and 42.1 percent from behind the arc.

At halftime, the Cougars had pulled down 20 rebounds to the Pilots 14. For the game, BYU grabbed 42 rebounds to Portland’s 31. The Cougars are now 7-2 on the year when they record more boards than their opponents.

Cougar players had dished out five assists in the first half compared with just two for the Pilots. BYU finished the contest with 16 assists to Portland’s four.

In the steals category after 20 minutes of action, the Cougars had the advantage with 4 to Portland’s two. At the end of the game, BYU had five steals; the Pilots had three.

For the first time this season, all 14 players available to play got playing time in the road win at Portland.

Holding Portland to 38 points makes for the Cougars best defensive outing of the season.

Player

In her eighth start of the year, Jasmine Moody scored the first six points for the Cougars.  She finished the game with six points and grabbed three bounds.

With a first-half high 10 rebounds and eight points, Kalani Purcell had nearly a double-double. She had also dished out four assists at the break. Purcell finished with her 13th double-double from 13 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. She also dished out the most assists in the contest with seven. Purcell also tied for game-highs in the steals category with two.

With just 55 seconds left in the third quarter, Cassie Broadhead’s jumper gave her 10 points for the game, marking the 22nd time this year she’s tallied double digits in points. She also grabbed four rebounds and dished out two assists while remaining perfect from the free-throw line, going 4 for 4 for the second straight time.

Makenzi Pulsipher picked up her 16th game with double figures in points, contributing 16 in the road win. She was 3 of 3 from the charity stripe for the second straight time. In the win, Pulsipher also grabbed one rebound, dished out two assists and got one steal.

PROVO, Utah—BYU women’s basketball (13-8, 7-3 WCC) is back on the road this week in West Coast Conference action. The Cougar women, who are tied with Saint Mary’s for second place in the latest league standings, are at Gonzaga (17-4, 8-2 WCC) on Thursday, Feb. 2, at 6 p.m. PST. The game against the Bulldogs can be heard live on BYU Radio and will be streamed live on TheW.tv

BYU at Portland Game Notes

BYU at Gonzaga Game Notes

On Saturday, Feb. 4, BYU continues league play on the road. The team is at Portland to take on the Pilots (4-17, 2-8 WCC) in a 2 p.m. PST., tilt. Fans can follow the action live on BYU Radio and on the Internet at TheW.tv

BYU AT A GLANCE
Three players provide the majority of BYU’s offensive threat, led by 19.1 points from junior guard Cassie Broadhead. She also leads the WCC in scoring. Senior guard Makenzi Pulsipher follows with 13.4 points and 3.7 boards. Senior All-American Kalani Purcell rounds out the scoring output for BYU by averaging a double-double with 12.1 points and a team-and league-high 10.7 boards per game.

Now in the sixth week of league action, the Cougars are scoring 67.2 points per game while shooting 42.5 percent from the field, 34.5 percent from behind the arc and 70.3 percent from the free-throw line. The team also grabs 36.4 rebounds a contest.

In conference only stats, BYU leads in field goal percentage, field goal percentage defense, assists, defensive rebounds, 3-point field goals made and is tied with Gonzaga in steals.

• Head coach: Jeff Judkins (Utah, ‘78), 16th season
• Team’s leading scorer: #20 C. Broadhead, 19.1 ppg
• Team’s leading rebounder: #32 K. Purcell, 10.7 rpg
• Team’s assists leader: #32 K. Purcell, 5.1 apg
• Team’s steals leader: #32 Purcell, 2.2 spg
• Team’s blocks leader: #20 C. Broadhead/#32 K. Purcell, .95

GONZAGA AT A GLANCE
Gonzaga is in first place in the latest WCC standings with a 17-4, 8-2 conference record. The team’s two league losses were against Pepperdine and Pacific. The Bulldogs are 10-1 overall at home and 4-1 in league play.

Jill Barta is the lone player for Gonzaga that is putting up double digits in points with a team-best 17.8 ppg and 6.4 rebounds a contest. Kiara Kudron tops the list in the rebounds category with a 7.7 average.

The Bulldogs are shooting 43.1 percent from the field and 75.6 percent from the free-throw line while scoring 72.3 points and pulling down 40.2 boards a game.

• Head coach: Lisa Fortier (Cal-State Monterey Bay, ‘04), Third season
• Team’s leading scorer: #13 J. Barta, 17.8 ppg
• Team’s leading rebounder: #23 K. Kudron, 7.7 rpg
• Team’s assists leader: #11 L. Stockton, 4.7 apg
• Team’s steals leader: #31 E. Tinkle, 2.0 spg
• Team’s blocks leader: #13 J. Barta, 1.1 bpg

THE SERIES
Gonzaga leads the series 12-8. When playing in Spokane, BYU has a 2-7 mark. Head coach Jeff Judkins is 6-11 vs. the Bulldogs. The last time that the Cougars won in Spokane was on Dec. 2, 2000, a 74-57 BYU victory.

PORTLAND AT A GLANCE
The Portland Pilots enter this week’s WCC race with a 4-17, 2-8 record. They are at Santa Clara on Thursday night before hosting the Cougar women on Saturday afternoon.

Portland swept the series with Pepperdine for its two league victories.

The Pilots have 10 letterwinners returning, including all five starters. They currently have two players scoring in double figures. Darian Slaga tops the list averaging 11.0 points per game while teammate Kaylie Van Loo contributes 10.1 points a contest. Julie Spencer is the team’s leading rebounder, pulling down 7.4 boards a game.  Portland is averaging 57.5 points, grabs 34.6 rebounds while shooting 35.7 percent from the field, 29.6 percent from 3-point land and 70.0 percent from the charity stripe.

• Head coach: Cheryl Sorenson (Washington, ‘03), Second season
• Team’s leading scorer: #32 D. Slaga, 11.0 ppg
• Team’s leading rebounder: #23 J. Spencer, 7.4 rpg
• Team’s assists leader: #03 K. Van Loo, 5.2 apg
• Team’s steals leader: #03 K. Van Loo, 2.0 spg
• Team’s blocks leader: #23 J. Spencer, .62 bpg

THE SERIES
BYU leads the series 18-4. When playing in Portland, the Cougar women have a 9-2 mark. BYU has not lost at the Chiles Center since 1997, when it fell to the Pilots, 87-63, on November 15. Head coach Jeff Judkins is 14-0 all-time against Portland.

COMING UP
After Saturday’s game at Portland, BYU returns home to host two WCC teams. On Thursday, Feb. 9, the Cougar women host Pepperdine in a 7 p.m. MST tip. Then Saturday, Feb. 11, BYU is at home hosting San Francisco. That game begins at 2 p.m. MST. Both home contests will air live on BYUtv and simulcast on BYU Radio.