PROVO -- In a back-and-forth battle that saw each team go on runs and scoring droughts, BYU held on to beat the University of Portland 64-55 Friday in the Marriott Center. The win moves the Cougars to 10-1 on the season and leaves the Pilots at 3-9.

Freshman Shawnee Slade gave key contributions to the Cougars during the game, coming off the bench and scoring a career-high seven points. Coach Jeff Judkins said her efforts gave the team a boost.

"I was really happy with the way Shawnee played tonight," Judkins said. "She added a lot of energy to the game and really helped us out."

The runs came early and often for both teams, with BYU going on three 7-0 runs and Portland going on one 9-0 run and a 7-0 run of their own. The Cougars used their first run to put them in the lead 15-9, behind 4 points from Nancy Seljaas. But Portland answered back quickly, scoring seven unanswered of their own and taking the lead 18-17, one of eight lead changes in the game. The two teams went back and forth for the next 10:14, with BYU pulling ahead just before the half and going into the locker room with a 33-31 lead. The Cougars are now 8-1 when leading at the break.

The second half picked up where the first left off, as BYU came out hot, starting the half on another 7-0 run and increasing their lead to 40-31. However, staying true to form, the Pilots answered back again, scoring nine points in 30 seconds and tying the game at 45-45. BYU Coach Jeff Judkins called a timeout to halt Portland's momentum, and his team responded by going on their third 7-0 run of the game and taking the lead 52-45. The run gave BYU enough of a cushion that they didn't trail again in the game on their way to the win.

The Cougars were led by senior forward Ambrosia Anderson, who led all scorers with 17 points. Anderson also pulled down 10 rebounds on her way to her fourth double-double of the season and tenth of her career. Anderson's ten rebounds were the most for the team and proved important in the Cougar victory, as they were out-rebounded 40-37 by Portland. After out-rebounding their opponent in their previous nine wins, this marks the first game in which BYU has been out-rebounded and still left the floor on the winning end.

Sophomore guard Mallary Gillespie and junior center Dani Kubik helped the Cougars on the scoring end as well, netting 14 and 10 points, respectively. At least two players have now scored in double figures in each of the teams' 11 games this season.

"Good teams are balanced," Judkins said. "We have a lot of people who can step it up every night."

This was the last preseason game for the Cougars, and the team now prepares for a tough conference schedule. Judkins said he is excited for what conference play will bring, and now it is time for his team to take the next step.

"I'm glad the preseason is over with," Judkins said. "We had a good season, but we're ready for the next step and we have a long ways to go. Now we just need to execute our game plan and believe in what we're doing."

The Cougars open conference play at home Jan. 5 against Air Force.

Official Basketball Box Score -- GAME TOTALS -- FINAL STATISTICS
PORTLAND PILOTS vs BYU Cougars
12-30-05 2:00 PM at MARRIOTT CENTER, BYU, PROVO UT
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VISITORS: PORTLAND PILOTS 3-8
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
11 BERMINGHAM, Meagan.. *  2-7    0-2    2-2    1  6  7   1   6  1  4  0  1  25
14 GRANT, Whitney...... *  5-15   2-7    2-3    0  2  2   2  14  4  5  0  3  35
22 BURRIS, Karlie...... *  0-0    0-0    0-0    2  1  3   2   0  0  0  1  0  21
42 SAUER, Rose......... *  3-6    1-2    8-9    1  4  5   1  15  5  2  0  1  28
50 WARREN, Rachel...... *  7-12   0-1    2-5    2  7  9   4  16  1  6  1  0  28
10 WASSOM, Jennifer....    0-4    0-3    0-0    2  2  4   2   0  2  1  0  0  15
32 SIEVERS, Allyson....    1-3    0-1    2-2    0  4  4   1   4  0  1  0  0  19
33 ROWE, Nicole........    0-2    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   1   0  0  0  0  0   5
45 GRANER, Anne........    0-2    0-1    0-0    0  2  2   5   0  2  3  0  1  24
   TEAM................                         3  1  4
   Totals..............   18-51   3-17  16-21  11 29 40  19  55 15 22  2  6 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 10-25 40.0%   2nd Half:  8-26 30.8%   Game: 35.3%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  1-8  12.5%   2nd Half:  2-9  22.2%   Game: 17.6%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 10-11 90.9%   2nd Half:  6-10 60.0%   Game: 76.2%    2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOME TEAM: BYU Cougars 10-1
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
33 ANDERSON, Ambrosia.. f  7-17   2-6    1-2    2  8 10   1  17  1  6  1  1  34
35 JOHNSEN, Melinda.... f  1-6    0-3    4-4    0  3  3   0   6  5  2  0  3  28
45 KUBIK, Dani......... c  4-5    0-0    2-5    2  1  3   4  10  0  2  1  3  18
15 KEELE, Jennie....... g  2-2    0-0    0-1    0  2  2   2   4  3  1  0  0  28
30 GILLESPIE, Mallary.. g  5-14   4-11   0-0    1  3  4   0  14  2  0  0  3  33
01 SELJAAS, Nancy......    2-5    0-2    0-0    1  0  1   5   4  1  1  1  0   5
10 STRATTON, Laura.....    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  0  0  0   5
24 HUTSON, Vanessa.....    0-2    0-2    0-0    1  1  2   0   0  2  1  0  0  13
32 SLADE, Shawnee......    1-3    0-0    5-6    2  1  3   2   7  1  0  0  1  14
52 RILEY, Lauren.......    0-5    0-0    2-2    2  3  5   4   2  0  2  1  1  18
54 KING, Cassie........    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   1   0  0  0  0  0   4
   TEAM................                         1  3  4
   Totals..............   22-59   6-24  14-20  12 25 37  19  64 15 15  4 12 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 14-31 45.2%   2nd Half:  8-28 28.6%   Game: 37.3%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  4-14 28.6%   2nd Half:  2-10 20.0%   Game: 25.0%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  1-3  33.3%   2nd Half: 13-17 76.5%   Game: 70.0%    2
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Officials: CONNIE PARDUE, LISA JONES, KODY KETTERLING
Technical fouls: PORTLAND PILOTS-None. BYU Cougars-None.
Attendance: 568
Score by Periods                1st  2nd   Total
PORTLAND PILOTS...............   31   24  -   55
BYU Cougars...................   33   31  -   64
OFFICIAL FINAL

BYU's women's basketball team finishes the year with two games onits

pre-conference schedule. The Cougars (8-1) travel to Ogden for a

matchup at Weber State (5-4) on Dec. 28 and then return home to host

the University of Portland (3-7 ) on Dec. 30. Start time against the

Wildcats is 8 p.m., while the home game vs. Porltand tips off at 2 p.m.

Teams:BYU(8-1) @ Web.ST(5-4)

D a t e : 12/28/05

Time: 8 p.m.

Arena: Dee Events Center

Teams:BYU(8-1) vs. Portland (3-7)

D a t e : 12/30/05

Time: 2 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.

CougarTV Available for All Home Women's Basketball Games

BYU women's basketball fans now have an opportunity to watch live

home games via internet streaming on the computer. Log on to

www.byucougars.com to sign upOne On The Road, One At Home To Finish Year

BYU's women's basketball team finishes the year with two games on its

pre-conference schedule.