BYU clinched its 21st victory of the year with a decisive 41-point 78-37 victory over SDSU in the first round of play at this year's McLeodUSA MWC Women's Basketball Tournament, Wednesday.
The second seeded Cougars had an easy time defeating the seventh seeded Aztecs leading by 23 at halftime and by as much as 47 points late in the game.
"We had a great team effort, we had fun playing, and our defense was the key to today's victory,"said head coach Trent Shippen. "I was also pleased with our bench play because we kept working hard offensively and defensively."
Freshman Erin Thorn led the way for BYU with 13 points followed by 11 points a piece from Stacy Jensen, Jennifer Lietner and Lisa Osguthorpe. Osguthorpe's 11 points included three from behind the arc.
The Cougars substituted at will in the second half with every team member getting some playing time giving the starting five some rest. BYU shot 54 percent from the field, 50 percent from the three-point range and 70 percent at the line.
BYU's defense held SDSU to 33 percent shooting from the field and 58 percent at the line. This was the third consecutive win for the Cougars over the Aztecs this season.
With the win, BYU advances to the semifinal round on Friday and will play Colorado State, the only conference team the Cougars have not beaten this year. The Rams also had an easy game in Wednesday's quarterfinal action, defeating Wyoming 79-57. BYU is on a five-game winning streak going into Friday's game. Tip off is set for 12 p.m., PST at the Thomas and Mack Center. The game can be seen live on KSL TV, Channel 5 in Utah.
BYU (20-7,10-4) Is The Second Seed In The Inaugural McLeodUSA MWC Women's Basketball Tournament, Faces SDSU In First Round Action
The Cougars come into the tournament on a four-game winning streak after the road win against Utah and the home wins against Air Force and New Mexico. With the three wins, BYU clinched the second seed for the upcoming championships. The Cougars play in the second quarterfinal game against SDSU at 2:30 p.m., P.T., at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas.
Last Week Wrap Up
BYU played its final two conference games at home, picking up a 17-point victory over Air Force on March 2 and a 15-point win over New Mexico on March 4, the night the Cougars said good bye to their six seniors. BYU's second seed in this year's tournament is the highest since the 1992-93 season. The Cougars 20 wins are the most victories since the 1991-92 year when BYU finished with a 21-8 record.
Cougars On Radio And TV During Tournament
KSL Radio's Geoff Flynn and Amanda Baker will provide live or tape delay coverage of the women's games from the Thomas and Mack Center. The game between BYU and SDSU will air tape delay on KSL Radio at 7 p.m., MT. The games will also be seen live on KSL- TV, Channel 5 with Tom Kirkland and Holly Rowe.
Thorn Makes WBNS National All-Freshman Team
Freshman guard, Erin Thorn from Orem, Utah was named on March 1st to the
WBNS (Women's Basketball News Service) National All-Freshman All-America Team. CSU's Ashley Ausberger was also named to the first team. This is the first such honor for a BYU women's basketball player.
Thorn, Adams Named To All-Mountain West Conference Team
Senior Center Jill Adams - First-Team All-Mountain West
Freshman Guard Erin Thorn - Second-Team All-Mountain West
Freshman Guard Erin Thorn - Freshman of the Year
Cougars Get MWC Player of the Week Honors
Erin Thorn - December 6 (had career high 25 points against ISU on Dec. 1 and netted 7-of-9 three pointer to put her name second on the BYU chart for treys in a game)
Jill Adams - January 17 (set a career record 28 points in the 84-75 victory over UNLV in Las Vegas on January 13, along with seven rebounds
Stacy Jensen - February 14 (had a career 30 points in the home win over UNLV on February 10 in Provo)
BYU Probable Starters
l 32 Lori Cuff - 6-1 F, Sr (7.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg)
l 35 Cady Williams - 5-11 F, Sr (11.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg)
l 33 Jill Adams - 6-3 C, Jr (12.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg)
l 11 Erin Thorn - 5-10 G, Fr (13.1 ppg, 3.8 rpg)
l 22 Stacy Jensen - 5-6 G, So (8.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg)
BYU Players Off The Bench
l 31 Lisa Osguthorpe - 6-0 F, So (4.7 ppg, 2.8 rpg)
l 21 Jennifer Leitner - 6-1 F, Fr (7.2 ppg, 5.7 rpg)
l 44 Caroline Beus - 6-1 C, Jr (2.6 ppg, 1.5 rpg)
l 05 Alisha Griffeth - 6-0 F, Sr (3.7 ppg, 1.3 rpg)
l 04 Renae Hansen - 5-11 G, Sr (1.7 ppg, .9 rpg)
l 00 April Hayes - 6-3 C, Jr (2.8 ppg, 1.9 rpg)
Cougar Quickie Stats - After 27 games
l Shooting from the field - .451 (676-1500)
l Shooting from the free-throw line - .712 (344-483)
l Shooting from the three-point arc - .363 (191-526)
l Averaging 69.9 points per game
l After averaging 21 turnovers in the first 11 games of the season, the Cougars are averaging 16.3 in the last 11 games played.
l The Cougars have a 6-2 record when playing on Thursday and a 10-2 record when BYU plays on Saturday
l BYU comes to the tournament with a four-game winning streak. During the season, the Cougars have had two four-game winning streaks and a six- game winning streak.
BYU Player Quick Facts - After 27 games
l Stacy Jensen had a career-high 30 points in the UNLV victory on 2/10/00 l The entire Cougar roster, minus injured Cady Williams, got some playing time and scored in the 98-81 win over UNLV on 2/10/00
l Jennifer Leitner had her first double-double of her career with 19 points and 10 rebounds in the 2/10/00 UNLV Cougar victory
l Jill Adams has scored in double figures in 17 of 20 games
l Erin Thorn has scored in double figures in 20 games to date
l Jill Adams has rebounded in double figures in four games
l Lisa Osguthorpe had her first double-double of her career against Air Force on 2/3/00, picking up 11 points and 11 boards
Mountain West Conference Stats 4 (As of March 3)
BYU Team (13 Conf. Games Only - Top Five)
4 1st in scoring offense - average 72.4 ppg (941 points)
4 2nd in scoring margin - 72.4 off, 63.8 def +8.5 margin
4 2nd in free throw percentage - .718 (186-259)
4 2nd in field goal percentage - .445 (334-750)
4 2nd in 3-point field goal percentage - .357 (87-244)
4 4th in field goal percentage defense - .428 (294-687)
4 2nd in 3-point field goals made - average 7.36 (81)
4 1st in rebounding defense - average 32.8 (427)
4 1st in steals - average 11.15 (145)
4 1st in assists - average 17.31 (225)
4 4th in blocked shots - average 3.00 (36)
4 3rd in offensive rebounds - average 13.69 (178)
4 1st in turnover margin - BYU 216, avg. 16.6, OPP 262, avg. 20.2, margin+3.54
BYU Players (13 Conf. Games Only - Top Five)
4 Erin Thorn - 3rd in scoring - 13.6 avg., 59 FG, 38 3FG, 21 FT, 177 points
4 Erin Thorn - 1st in 3-point field goals made - average 2.92 (38)
4 Lori Cuff - 2nd in field goal percentage - .576 (53-92)
4 Stacy Jensen -2nd in free throw percentage - .804 (37-46)
4 Jennifer Lietner - 4th in offensive rebounds - 2.69 (35)
4 Jill Adams - 4th in blocked shots - average 1.08 (14)
4 Erin Thorn - 3rd in asst/turn ratio - (asst 47, 3.6 turn 25, 1.9 avg, ratio 1.88)
4 Stacy Jensen -4th in asst/turn ratio - (asst 46, 3.5/turn 29, 2.2 avg, ratio 1.59)
4 Stacy Jensen - 4th in steals - average 2.62 (34)
Scouting San Diego State (Mar. 8, 2:30 p.m.)
The Aztecs and Cougars will meet in the second quarterfinal game of this year's McLeodUSA MWC Women's Basketball Tournament. The game will be played at the Thomas & Mack Center. San Diego State comes into the tournament after a huge 58-51 win in Ft. Collins over CSU. SDSU finished as the number seven seed with a 4-10 conference record and 8-18 overall. SDSU is led in scoring by Jamey Cox who's averaging 14.0 points and 2.2 rebounds a game. The other team member scoring in double digits is Mary Apiafi who's picking up 12.0 points and leads the team in rebounds with an average of 9.2 per game. The Aztecs are scoring 57.9 points a game to opponents 56.8. SDSU has a 41 shooting percentage from the field and 65 percent at the free-throw line, and are 101-295 from behind the arc.
SDSU Probable Starters
l 50 Kacee Wheeler -6-1 F, Fr (7.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg)
l 55 Atim Otii - 6-0 F, So (6.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg)
l 23 Mary Apiafi - 6-2 C/F, Sr (12.0 ppg, 9.2 rpg)
l 15 Shannon Lee - 5-9 G/F, Jr (5.9 ppg, 2.2rpg)
l 20 Jamey Cox - 5-7 G, Fr (14.0 ppg, 2.2 rpg)
Series Against SDSU
Series Record: 10-8 favoring the Cougars. During conference play, the COugars picked up both wins over the Aztecs. In San Diego State the score was 60-37 and then in Provo, the score was 84-58 in favor of BYU.
BYU Against Other Conference Opponents
The Cougars and the Air Force Falcons
1999-2000 series: BYU beat AF in Colo. Springs on 2/3 by a 29 point margin 93-64. The Cougars shot 39 percent from the field, 67 percent at the line and 35 percent from the three-point arc. Erin Thorn led the BYU team with 25 points and seven assists. Jill Adams and Stacy Jensen had 13 points a piece. Lisa Osguthorpe was the leading rebounder with 11 boards.
The Cougars and CSU
1999-2000 series: 2-0 in favor of the Rams. CSU defeated BYU at home on 1/20 ending the Cougars longest winning streak of six and kept BYU from another undefeated season at home in conference play. The scores were 63-52 in Provo and 84-74 in Ft. Collins. Sophomore guard Stacy Jensen led the BYU effort with 13 points and five assists with teammates Lisa Osguthorpe and Lori Cuff contributing 11 points a piece in the game at the Marriott Center. Senior Cady Williams was the rebound leader, grabbing eight boards. In that game the Cougars shot 38 percent from the field and 82 percent at the charity line. As a team they were 5-18 from the three-point line. In their second meeting at Moby Arena, Cady Williams returned to the starting lineup leading the way with 18 points. Also in double digits were Erin Thorn with 12 points followed by Jill Adams and Jennifer Leitner picking up 11 points each. BYU shot 43 percent form the field and a season high 93 percent from the free-throw line.
BYU and SDSU
1999-2000 series: 2-0 in favor of the Cougars. BYU beat SDSU 60-37 in San Diego on 1/15 and 84-58 in Provo on 2/12. In the two games, the Cougars shot 42 and 50 percent from the field, at the line they were 100 percent and 72 percent. From three-point range BYU was 6-20 and4-20 one of their lowest in conference play. In the first outing, Erin Thorn had 18 points and five rebounds with teammates Jill Adams tallying 12 points and six rebounds, and Jennifer Leitner coming off the bench for her 10 points and a team high seven rebounds. The second time the two teams met, Lori Cuff led the BYU effort with 14 points. Stacy Jensen picked up 13 points and senior Alisha Griffeth came off the bench for her season high 12 points.
BYU and UNLV
1999-2000 series: 2-0 for BYU. The Cougar wins were 84-75 at the Thomas and Mack Center and 98-81 at the Marriott Center. In the first game, Jill Adams had a career and season high 28 points and seven rebounds. Erin Thorn followed with 15 points and Cady Williams picked up 14. In round two in Provo, it was Stacy Jensen's night to shine as she picked up a season and career high 30 points to lead all scores. In that game, the entire Cougar bench got some playing minutes. Jennifer Leitner was another bright star in the game as she picked up her first collegiate double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Shooting wise, BYU shot 50 and and 46 percent from the field and went 9-20 and 8-14 in three pointers.
BYU and UNM
1999-2000 series: 1-1 with each team winning on their own home courts. The first meeting was at "The Pit" where the Lobos picked up the six point 65-59 win in front of over 18,000 fans. BYU's Jill Adams led her team in scoring with 18 points with teammate Jennifer Leitner the rebound leader with 12. The Cougars shot 36 percent from the field and 62 percent at the free throw line. The two teams played their final regular season conference game in Provo on 3/4 with the Cougars grabbing the 15 point 60-45 victory as BYU said good bye to its six seniors. Sophomore guard Stacy Jensen led the team with 15 points with Jill Adams getting the notch in rebounds with seven in the game. The Cougars shot 39 percent from the field and 63 percent at the line. BYU was 8-22 from the arc.
BYU and Utah
1999-2000 series: 1-1 with each team winning on the road. In Provo, the BYU team shot 43 percent from the field and only went to the line once. Stacy Jensen and Lori Cuff each contributed 14 points, followed by Erin Thorn with 10. Jennifer Leitner once again came off the bench to lead the team in rebounds with 10. The second meeting was in Salt Lake City with the visiting Cougars grabbing the five point 46-41 victory. BYU had not beaten the Utes at the Huntsman Center since 1993. Lisa Osguthorpe came off the bench to spark the Cougar offense with her 10 points and six rebounds. Erin Thorn had eight points and eight rebounds. Once again it was Jennifer Leitner who topped the rebounding with 10 in the game.
BYU and Wyoming
1999-2000 series: 2-0 for the Cougars. BYU picked up both wins against the Cowgirls, am 80-65 win at the Marriott Center and a one-point 70-69 victory at Arena Auditorium. The Cougars shot 46 percent form the field and 67 percent at the free throw line in the first game and 44 percent from the field and 67 percent at the line. Jill Adams has another 25 point game and nine rebounds. Erin Thorn and Cady Williams each contributed 15 points along with Stacy Jensen's 11 points and a season and career high eight assists. Game two Erin Thorn at the top of the scoring board with 20 points followed by Jensen's 12 and Jennifer Leitner's 10 points and eight rebounds.
Cougars' History in Conference (WAC) Tournaments
Season Record Tournament Record Team/Score
1998-99 16-13, 9-5 (3rd) 1/1 Beat Tulsa 78-59, Lost to SMU 60-75
1997-98 15-14, 6-8 (5th) 1/1 Beat Utah 66-58, Lost to Rice 57-65
1996-97 11-18, 7-9 (5th) 1/1 Beat Wyoming 70-60, Lost to Utah 54-58
1995-96 9-18, 3-11 (7th) 0/0 Lost to Utah 61-81
1994-95 8-19, 4-10 (7th) 0/0 Lost to Utah 62-71
1993-94 16-12, 10-4 (2nd) 1/1 Beat UTEP 82-69, Lost to CSU 57-67
1992-93 24-5, 13-1 (1st) 3/0 Beat UNM 82-61, Beat UTEP 63-48, Beat Utah 53-50
1991-92 21-8, 12-2 (2nd) 1/0 Beat CSU 85-65, Lost to Utah 69-78
BYU Records AT Thomas And Mack Center
* Kari Gallup - tied record: 6 (att.10) most three-point field goals made in a game (BYU vs Utah), 1998
* Kari Gallup - tied record: 6 (att.10) most three-point field goals made in a game (BYU vs FSU), 1998
* Tomika Young - 7: Most steals in a game (BYU vs UNM), 1993
* BYU - BYU(M-5) defeated Utah (M-1), 1998: Biggest upset based on seeds
Shippen File
BYU RICKS COLLEGE
1999-00 20-7 1994-95 33-3
1998-99 16-13 1995-96 19-11
1997-98 15-14 1996-97 19-12
Totals 50-34 (.595) Totals 71-26 (.731)
Coach Trent Shippen Quotes
(On the Cougars/Tournament) We're very excited to come in as the number two seed in this Inaugural tournament. We really played very well in the second half of conference play. This is great for our team especially for our seniors who have gotten us where we are right now. It's now a one game situation from now on and we have to take it one game at a time.
(On SDSU) This is a team that's playing very well right now and they're coming off a huge win over CSU. It's always tough to try and beat a team three times. The Aztecs are a good basketball team who have a good inside/outside game and have very athletic players. We'll have to have a very good defensive effort against them if we want to capture a win in our first round game.
Up Next For The Cougars
If the Cougars defeat the Aztecs they would move on to the next round and play the winner of the CSU vs Wyoming game.
Cougars Itinerary/Practice Schedule/Media Information
BYU will arrive in Las Vegas on Monday, March 6 in the evening after their regular afternoon practice at the Marriott Center. The team is staying at the Amerisuites on 4520 Paradise Road, 702-369-3366. The Cougars' first practice will be on Tuesday, March 7 from 1 p.m. to 1:55 p.m., at the Thomas & Mack Center and will be open to the media. Player/coach interviews may be done prior to or immediately after practice. BYU's women's basketball SID, Norma Collett will be traveling with the team and may be reached at the Amerisuites 702-369-3366 or by cellular phone at 801-372-0989 for any additional player/coach interviews or team information.
