PROVO -- A quick start in the first half fueled by Mallary Gillespie gave the Cougars (3-0) enough of a cushion to fend off the Gauchos of UC Santa Barbara (0-3) on their way to a 72-39 victory Saturday night in the Marriott Center.

Gillespie came out with a hot hand, scoring 14 points in the first seven and a half minutes on 4 for 4 shooting from three-point range and adding a field goal. BYU's offense followed Gillespie's lead through the first half, shooting 52 percent from the field and 62 percent from behind the arc as they went into the locker room at halftime with a 41-20 lead. Gillespie finished the game with a season-best 20 points, including a season-high six three-pointers. Head coach Jeff Judkins said it was great to see Gillespie pour in the points since she had not scored much in the previous two games even though she played solid.

"It's nice to see her get her shot back and feel comfortable with it," Judkins said. "She's worked really hard on it and she shot the ball well today."

After the explosive first half, the Cougars came out sluggish to start the second and allowed the Gauchos to go on an 11-3 run and pull within 13 points at 44-31. That was as close as the Gauchos would get, however, as the BYU defense shut the Gauchos down from that point on, forcing 18 turnovers on the evening and holding UCSB to 24 percent shooting from the field. Judkins said although the game had its ups and downs for the Cougars, he's always happy to leave with a win.

"It was a nice win," Judkins said. "We had moments of playing very well and moments when we were asleep. Especially at the start of the second half. But it was a good win and I'll take it."

Complimenting Gillespie's great first half and BYU's tough second-half defense, Ambrosia Anderson got into the mix and racked up her first double-double of the season and seventh of her career, scoring 21 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. The great scoring from Gillespie and Anderson and strong team defense allowed Judkins to play everyone on his bench, including freshman Cassie King, who was going to redshirt but will now play this season.

The Cougars now prepare to head to New York where they will face the Stony Brook University Seawolves (2-0) on November 30.

Official Basketball Box Score
UCSB Gauchos vs BYU Cougars
11-26-05 4:00 PM at MARRIOTT CTR, BYU, PROVO, UT
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VISITORS: UCSB Gauchos 0-3
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
34 Nichols, Autumn..... f  4-10   0-1    2-3    2  4  6   3  10  2  2  1  0  22
33 Green, Jenna........ c  5-11   0-0    2-2    1  2  3   2  12  0  2  1  1  25
05 Wilson, Jessica..... g  3-9    0-1    1-2    0  8  8   1   7  2  1  0  1  28
32 Bonds, Karena....... g  0-4    0-3    1-2    0  2  2   3   1  3  2  0  2  25
40 Fears, LaShay....... g  0-2    0-2    2-2    0  2  2   3   2  0  3  1  3  30
02 Warren, Whitney.....    1-5    0-1    0-0    0  2  2   1   2  0  4  0  1  15
10 Smith, Kim..........    0-1    0-1    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  1  0  0   9
22 O'Bryan, Erin.......    0-4    0-2    0-0    0  0  0   1   0  3  2  0  0  18
35 Thomas, Shantel.....    0-5    0-2    1-2    2  1  3   0   1  0  0  0  0  13
42 Suderman, Kat.......    1-7    0-0    2-2    3  0  3   2   4  0  1  0  2  15
   TEAM................                         2  2  4
   Totals..............   14-58   0-13  11-15  10 23 33  16  39 10 18  3 10 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half:  8-25 32.0%   2nd Half:  6-33 18.2%   Game: 24.1%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  0-6   0.0%   2nd Half:  0-7   0.0%   Game:  0.0%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  4-5  80.0%   2nd Half:  7-10 70.0%   Game: 73.3%    0
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HOME TEAM: BYU Cougars 3-0
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
15 KEELE, Jennie....... f  2-3    2-3    2-2    0  6  6   0   8  4  1  0  0  26
33 ANDERSON, Ambrosia.. f  8-15   3-5    2-3    1 11 12   3  21  1  3  0  0  28
45 KUBIK, Dani......... c  3-4    0-0    1-1    2  3  5   2   7  1  1  0  2  15
30 GILLESPIE, Mallary.. g  7-13   6-9    0-0    1  1  2   1  20  4  4  0  1  22
35 JOHNSEN, Melinda.... g  0-0    0-0    0-0    0  1  1   2   0  2  1  0  0  20
01 SELJAAS, Nancy......    1-6    1-2    0-0    0  1  1   1   3  1  1  0  2  17
10 STRATTON, Laura.....    1-2    0-1    2-2    0  3  3   0   4  1  1  0  0  11
13 AINA, Rachel........    0-1    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  0  0  0   2
23 BROWN, Brit.........    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  2  0  0   3
24 HUTSON, Vanessa.....    0-3    0-1    0-0    1  1  2   0   0  3  5  0  1  15
32 SLADE, Shawnee......    1-5    0-0    0-0    1  1  2   0   2  1  2  0  0  12
41 FADDIS, Brittany....    1-1    0-0    0-2    0  1  1   0   2  0  0  0  1   3
52 RILEY, Lauren.......    1-2    0-0    1-4    1  4  5   3   3  0  0  2  1  20
54 KING, Cassie........    1-1    0-0    0-0    0  2  2   1   2  0  0  1  0   6
   TEAM................                         3  3  6
   Totals..............   26-56  12-21   8-14  10 38 48  13  72 18 21  3  8 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 15-29 51.7%   2nd Half: 11-27 40.7%   Game: 46.4%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  8-13 61.5%   2nd Half:  4-8  50.0%   Game: 57.1%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  3-4  75.0%   2nd Half:  5-10 50.0%   Game: 57.1%    3
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Officials: MIKE PETTY, LAURA RAHE, KEN SOWBY
Technical fouls: UCSB Gauchos-None. BYU Cougars-None.
Attendance: 654
Score by Periods                1st  2nd   Total
UCSB Gauchos..................   20   19  -   39
BYU Cougars...................   41   31  -   72
OFFICIAL FINAL

After two impressive wins on the road against CS Northridge and Pac-10 powerhouse UCLA, the Cougars women's basketball team returns to the comfort of the Marriott Center for its home opener against UC Santa Barbara. BYU (2-0) hosts UCSB (0-2) on Saturday, Nov. 26 at 4 p.m.

Teams:BYU(2-0)vs.UCSB(0-2) Date:11/26/05 Time:4 p.m. Arena: Marriott Center

Follow the women's basketball action live on BYU Radio

All of the women's basketball games can be heard on BYU radio via the internet at www.byuradio.org Veteran BYU broadcaster Jay Monsen calls the action. Fans can also access BYU Radio on the Dish Network.

A first for local BYU women's basketball fans: Saturday's game with UCSB will also air locally on AM820 KUTR.

BYU's Probable Starters

Pos. # Name Ht. Yr. PPG RPG

G 30 Mallary Gillespie 5-10 So 6.0 4.0

F 35 Melinda Johnsen 5-10 Jr 6.0 6.0

F 33 Ambrosia Anderson 6-2 Sr 25.59.0

C 45 Dani Kubik 6-3 Jr 15.06.0

G/F 15 Jennie Keele 5-10 Jr 2.5 3.0

Cougar Players Off The Bench

Pos. # Name Ht. Yr. PPG RPG

F 01 Nancy Seljaas 6-0 Sr 1.0 1.5

G 10 Laura Stratton 5-6 Sr 0.0 0.0

G 23 Brit Brown 5-7 So 2.0 1.0

G 24 Vanessa Hutson 5-8 Fr 5.5 2.0

G/F 32 Shawnee Slade 5-11Fr 2.5 0.5

F 41 Brittany Faddis 6-0 Fr 0.0 0.0

C 52 Lauren Riley 6-3 So 8.5 8.5

2005-06 Team Stats --

-- Shooting from the field: (.443, 54-122)

-- Shooting from the free-throw line: (.690 , 29-42)

-- Shooting from three-point line: (.294, 10-34)

-- Average points per game: 73.5

Player Notables in 2005-06

-- Leading scorer: Ambrosia Anderson - 25.5 ppg

-- Leading rebounder: Ambrosia Anderson - 9.0 rpg

-- Assist leader: Mallary Gillespie - 4.0 per game

-- Blocks leader: Jeannie Keele - 2 to date

-- Steals leader: Ambrosia Anderson - 5 to date

Last Game

In their second road game of the season, BYU defeated Pac 10 powerhouse UCLA 71-67 behind strong performances from Ambrosia Anderson and Lauren Riley. Anderson once again led all scores with 26 points and nine rebounds. Sophomore center Lauren Riley came off the bench for one of her best games of her career with her first ever double double. Riley tallied career highs in points with 13 and in rebounds, a game high 14.

Both teams played evenly for the first few minutes of the game with neither team taking more than a five-point lead at any given time. BYU took its first extended lead 17-12 at 10:26 on a layup by Riley. UCLA battled back for a one-point lead 20-19 at 7:56 of the first period, but the Cougars game back to sustain a six-point 35-29 lead at halftime on a three-point bucket made by freshman Shawnee Slade at the buzzer.

In the second half the Cougars added a couple of more points for a nine-point 40-31 lead with a three pointer by Melinda Johnsen just two minutes into the second period.

UCLA fought back and took a one point 45-44 lead at 14:04. The Bruins led by three, 53-50 with just over eight minutes left in the game. BYU's strong defense and inside presence brought the Cougars back into the lead 56-55 with 7:30 showing on the clock. They would extend that lead to as many as seven points 68-61 with just over four minutes left in the contest to hold on to the four-point 71-67 victory. It was the first Cougar victory at Pauley Pavilion since 1986.

Player Injury Report

Sophomore forward Mary Martha Abell, from Monroe, Louisiana suffered a torn ACL injury to her knee in the exhibition game against Westminster College on Nov. 1. She will use this season as an injury redshirt year.

Head Coach - Jeff Judkins

Overall Record: 79-46, in his fifth season at BYU.

An all-state selection in basketball, football and baseball, Judkins played basketball for the University of Utah Utah from 1974-78. While playing for the Utes, he helped the team win one conference championship and two berths in the NCAA Tournament.

He was a second-team academic All-American and three-time first-team District VII academic selection. Judkins earned three first-team All-WAC honors and was a member of the 1977 United States World Games team that captured the gold medal.

He played five years in the NBA for the Boston Celtics, Portland Trailblazers, Detroit Pistons and the Utah Jazz. He was a second-round pick by the Celtics in 1978, the same year the Celtics selected Larry Bird with the sixth pick overall.

After his NBA career, he returned to the U of U in 1989, and remained with the men's program for 10 years. Judkins, a Salt Lake City native, graduated from Utah in 1978 with a degree in health and physical education. He is a member of the Utah Sports Hall of Fame and the Crimson Club Hall of Fame.

He and his wife Mary Kay, are the parents of five children: Jessica (25), Jordan (23), Jenna (21), Jaime (18), Jaxson (15).

Cougar Opponent

UC Santa Barbara

UCSB has compiled a 0-2 record to date with losses to Michigan State and Louisville. They host Richmond on Nov. 23 before taking their second road trip of the year to play in the Marriott Center.

The Gauchos return two starters and a total of nine letterwinners from last year's team that went 21-9, won the Big West tournament and lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

After two games, the team's scoring leader is sophomore forward/center Jenna Green who is averaging 18.0 points and team high 7.5 rebounds per game. Also scoring in double digits is junior guard Erin O'Bryan. She's contributing 17.0 points and is grabbing 3.0 rebounds per game.

UCSB is shooting 35 percent from the field, 69 percent at the line and 22 percent from three-point range. The Gauchos are averaging 55 points per game.

UCSB Probable Starters

Pos. # Name Ht. Yr. PPG RPG

F/C 33 Jenna Green 6-4 So 18.0 7.5

F 34 Autumn Nichols 6-2 Sr 4.5 4.5

G 05 Jessica Wilson 5-9 So 0.0 4.0

G 32 Karena Bonds 5-6 Sr 5.5 3.0

G 40 LaShay Fears 5-7 Fr 4.0 1.5

Series Record: 1-4

Last time: The last meeting between the two teams dates back to the 2002-03 season when the Cougars lost to the Gauchos in Santa Barbara by 14, 51-65. BYU has a 1-1 record when playing UCSB in the Marriott Center. The last time they beat the Gauchos at home was on Dec. 20, 1995 a one-point 72-71 victory for BYU.

Up Next

BYU takes its second road trip of the year to play first time opponents Stony Brook on Nov. 30 and Seton Hall on Dec. 3. They then play at UC Riverside on Dec. 7 before hosting Northern Arizona on Dec. 10.