BYU vs. Portland Box Score

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PROVO, Utah – Double-doubles from senior Kalani Purcell and junior Amanda Wayment helped BYU take down Portland 73-60 Thursday night at the Marriott Center.

"You’ve got to give Portland a lot of credit," BYU head coach Jeff Judkins said. "They got blown out at their place and they came and played a lot better. We seemed a little sluggish tonight. My team is fighting that cold that everyone has and I think we’re getting down to the end of it so hopefully that will make a difference. I’m glad we won. We pulled it off."

Purcell tallied 19 points and 13 rebounds for her 15th double-double of the season while Wayment logged her first career double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Makenzi Pulsipher led the offense with 20 points and six assists as Cassie Broadhead contributed 15 points and four assists in the win. Despite Portland (6-22, 4-13 WCC) shooting better from the field and 3-point range, BYU (18-10, 12-5 WCC) found its victory in points off turnovers, steals, rebounds and points in the paint.

A corner shot by Pulsipher followed by a Micaelee Orton jump shot put the Cougars up 6-2 before Portland countered with a 3-pointer. The Pilots then took the lead as the Cougars went cold on the floor for over two minutes. Broadhead hit a shot from the arc to retake the lead, 9-7, with four minutes to go. Portland fought back to close the first quarter with a 14-13 advantage.

Purcell opened the second quarter with a layup before firing a 3-pointer to put BYU ahead 19-14. The Pilots strung together a 10-2 run as the Cougars missed ten-consecutive field goals. Purcell put BYU back in action before Broadhead capitalized on four free throws after double fouls from the Pilots. Freshman Jessica Chatman hit her first 3-pointer of the season to spark a Cougar comeback as BYU led 34-29 at the half.  

Pulsipher hit back-to-back shots to put BYU up 42-35 at the beginning of the third quarter. After a 6-0 scoring burst, the Cougars took a commanding 48-40 lead with 5:30 left on the clock. BYU held on to a four-point advantage, 54-50, going into the final quarter.

Fueled by Pulsipher and Broadhead, the Cougars picked up the pace before Wayment hit a layup and a pair of free throws to put the Cougars ahead by 13. Portland struggled to bounce back as BYU closed the game 73-60 on free throws by freshman Brenna Chase. 

The Cougars host Gonzaga in their final conference matchup on Saturday, Feb. 25, at 2 p.m. MST. The game will be carried live on BYUtv and BYU Radio – Sirius XM 143. BYU’s four seniors will be recognized during the game. 

Postgame Notes

Team

With the 73-60 win, the Cougars are now 17-3 when they lead at halftime. BYU also now has a 16-6 record when the team makes five or more 3-pointers. The Cougars finished the game with seven treys.

For the eighth time of the year, four players scored in double-figures—Pulsipher (20), Purcell (19),  Broadhead (15) and Wayment (11).

BYU shot 90.0 percent from the free throw line, making 18 of 20, while Portland went 6 of 8.

The Cougars outscored the Pilots in points in the paint 26 to 18. BYU also had six more bench points than Portland (16 to 10).

Player

Makenzi Pulsipher led the Cougars with a team-high 20 points. The senior guard made three 3-point field goals in the contest, making it her eighth game of the season with three or more 3-pointers. With her 20 points, she now has 1,174 points in her career, passing Danielle Cheesman to become 21^st in all-time scoring. Pulsipher also had a game-high six assists.

Kalani Purcell recorded her 15th double-double in the victory with 19 points and a team-high 13 rebounds. The double-double also makes for her 33rd of her career.  Purcell also tied for a game-high three steals, tallied a game-high four blocks and recorded three assists.

Cassie Broadhead finished the contest with 15 points, going 6 of 6 from the free throw line. Broadhead also had four assists  and one rebound.

Amanda Wayment recorded her first career double-double against the Pilots. She recorded a career-high 11 points and a season-high 10 rebounds. She also had three steals, which tied for a season-high.

Jessica Chatman finished the game with a season- and career-high three points.

PROVO, Utah— With a 17-10, 11-5 record, BYU women’s basketball is tied for second place with Saint Mary’s, heading into the last week of West Coast Conference play.

BYU vs. Portland Game Notes

Portland at BYU Game Notes

The Cougar women’s team finishes its conference slate with two home games. BYU hosts Portland (6-21, 4-12 WCC) on Thursday, Feb. 23, at 7 p.m. MST. The team then hosts WCC regular season champion Gonzaga (22-5, 13-3 WCC) Saturday, Feb. 25, at 2 p.m. MST. Both games will be carried live on BYUtv. During the game with the Zags, BYU’s four seniors will be recognized.

GAME PROMOTIONS
Thursday (Portland) 
Ward passes are $20 for up to 50 ward members
FREE admission with Pass of all Passes

Saturday (Gonzaga)
Senior Day
$2 Cougar Tails while they last
FREE long sleeve royal shirts for the first 300 fans at the game
Chocolate Milk Game - chocolate milk prizes given out during the game
Family Passes $15 (parents & dependents)
FREE admission with Pass of all Passes

BYU AT A GLANCE
Three players are scoring in double figures for the Cougars with a team- and league-best 18.4 points a game from junior guard Cassie Broadhead. Senior guard Makenzi Pulsipher is next in scoring, contributing 12.9 points to the Cougars offensive threat. The third BYU player to put up double digits in points is senior All-American Kalani Purcell. She’s averaging a double-double with 12.0 points and a team-and league-high 10.4 boards per game.

In the last week of the 2017 WCC regular season race, the Cougars rank first in steals and in field goal percentage defense. BYU is second in the league in scoring margin, assists, field goal percentage, 3-point field goal percentage and in assist/turnover ratio.

Overall, the Cougars are scoring 67.6 points per game, while shooting 43.0 percent from the field, 34.4 percent from behind the arc and 71.3 percent from the charity stripe. BYU grabs 36.3 rebounds a contest.

• Head coach: Jeff Judkins (Utah, ‘78), 16th season
• Team’s leading scorer: #20 C. Broadhead, 18.4 ppg
• Team’s leading rebounder: #32 K. Purcell, 10.4 rpg
• Team’s assists leader: #32 K. Purcell, 5.0 apg
• Team’s steals leader: #32 Purcell, 2.3 spg
• Team’s blocks leader: ##32 K. Purcell, 1.2 bpg

PORTLAND AT A GLANCE
Portland has a 6-21, 4-12 record in the conference race. The Pilots swept the series with Pepperdine and beat LMU and Pacific for their four league wins.

Portland has 10 letterwinners returning, including all five starters. Kaylie Van Loo tops the list in scoring with 12.0 points a game while teammate Julie Spencer leads the way in the rebounds category, pulling down 7.3 boards a contest. The Pilots average 58.7 points, grab 34.8 rebounds and shoot 36.2 percent from the field.  Portland also shoots 29.7 percent from behind 3-point range and 71.4 percent from the charity stripe.

• Head coach: Cheryl Sorenson (Washington, ‘03), Second season
• Team’s leading scorer: #3 K, Van Loo, 12.0 ppg
• Team’s leading rebounder: #23 J. Spencer, 7.3 rpg
• Team’s assists leader: #03 K. Van Loo, 5.1 apg
• Team’s steals leader: #03 K. Van Loo, 2.0 spg
• Team’s blocks leader: #23 J. Spencer, .63 bpg

THE SERIES
BYU leads the series 19-4. In the first meeting this year between the two league foes, the Cougars picked up the 77-38 win in Portland on Feb. 4. When playing in Provo, the Pilots have a 2-9 mark. The last time that Portland won at the Marriott Center was on Jan. 2, 1999, a 62-57 victory. Head coach Jeff Judkins is 15-0 all-time against Portland.

GONZAGA AT A GLANCE
Gonzaga has compiled a 22-5, 13-3 record and has clinched the 2017 WCC regular season title. The Bulldogs host San Diego on Thursday night, before making the trip to Provo for Saturday afternoon’s game.

Gonzaga returns eight letterwinners including three starters. Last season, the Bulldogs advanced to the second round of the WNIT in postseason play.

Jill Barta is the lone player for Gonzaga that is putting up double digits in points with a game-best 16.6 points a game. Kiara Kudron tops the list in the rebounds category with a 7.5 average.

The Bulldogs are shooting 42.4 percent from the field and 75.6 percent from the free-throw line while scoring 71.6 points and pulling down 40.6 boards a game.

• Head coach: Lisa Fortier (Cal-State Monterey Bay, ‘04), Third season
• Team’s leading scorer: #13 J. Barta, 16.6 ppg
• Team’s leading rebounder: #23 K. Kudron, 7.5 rpg
• Team’s assists leader: #11 L. Stockton, 4.2 apg
• Team’s steals leader: #31 E. Tinkle, 1.7 spg
• Team’s blocks leader: #13 J. Barta/#31 E. Tinkle, .96 bpg

THE SERIES
Gonzaga leads the series 13-8. This will be the second meeting between these two league foes this year. On Feb. 2, in Spokane, the home standing Bulldogs recorded the 87-52 win behind a school-record 17 3-pointers. When playing in Provo, Gonzaga has a 3-4 mark, winning at the Marriott Center the last time on Feb. 28, 2015, a 73-66 Bulldog victory.

COMING UP
BYU women’s basketball heads to Las Vegas to compete in the 2017 West Coast Conference Women’s Basketball Championships at the Orleans Arena, March 2 -7. The winner of the league championship receives an automatic bid into the 2017 NCAA tournament.