PROVO, Utah ( Jan.5, 2006) -- The Cougars (11-1, 1-0) set the stage for conference play in an intense battle with Air Force (9-3, 0-1) Thursday night, scoring 26 points on 23 Falcon turnovers on their way to a 64-43 victory and their first conference win of the year. With the win the Cougars move to 15-0 overall against Air Force.

"It was a nice win, and a good win for conference," Head Coach Jeff Judkins said. "Air Force played really hard and we did a good job defensively."

Melinda Johnsen came up big for BYU on the defensive side of the ball, finishing the game with a career-high six steals. As a team the Cougars had 15 steals against Air Force. Johnsen also netted four points in the win.

"I think our team thrives on defense," Johnsen said. "We get our energy from our defense."

The most impressive defense for the Cougars came with 4:29 remaining in the game when, in a 52-second span, BYU prevented the Falcons from crossing mid-court, stole the ball four times and scored six points to increase their lead to 60-38. Judkins said the key to the second half wasn't just pressuring the ball and stealing it away, but capitalizing quickly on Falcon miscues.

"We stole it, but we scored it," Judkins said. "It's about time we got some turnover baskets."

The Cougars needed the defensive spark in the second half to get them out of the back-and-forth battle from the first half. The two teams exchanged blows for the first 20 minutes, with BYU pulling ahead in the closing minutes to lead 27-24 at the break. Looking to get things going, BYU came out on fire to start the second period, going on a 16-3 run in which five Cougars scored points. Ambrosia Anderson started it all off with a three-pointer right out of the gates, the first trey of the game for BYU, to put the Cougars up 30-24. Anderson finished the game as the leading scorer on the night with 21 points. BYU dominated for the next five minutes and when Shawnee Slade scored her career-high eighth point of the game the Cougars found themselves on top 43-29 and on their way to a win.

This is the first time this season the Cougars have not had at least two players score in double figures, and with the 46-35 rebound margin in their favor BYU has now out-rebounded 10-of-12 opponents.

The Cougars now get set to head north to take on the University of Utah Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Huntsman Center.

"It's going to be a great game. Both teams are really good," Judkins said.

The game will be broadcast live on CSTV.

Official Basketball Box Score
FALCONS vs BYU Cougars
01-05-06 7:00 PM at MARRIOTT CTR, BYU, PROVO, UT
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VISITORS: FALCONS 8-3; 0-1
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
32 STEELE, Alecia...... f  5-9    0-0    1-2    1  3  4   3  11  1  5  0  1  26
44 NOVAK, Jacki........ c  1-3    0-0    0-0    1  2  3   1   2  0  3  1  0  12
04 CASTILLO, Letricia.. g  1-9    0-3    0-0    0  2  2   1   2  2  1  0  1  26
24 TAYLOR, Andrea...... g  0-3    0-2    0-0    1  4  5   1   0  2  2  0  0  26
30 FINDLAY, Pamela..... g  3-12   2-7    0-0    1  3  4   1   8  2  2  0  2  37
22 DAVIS, Jamie........    2-8    0-3    0-1    1  1  2   2   4  2  4  0  2  27
23 HIGGINBOTHAM, Dawn..    3-4    0-0    1-2    0  3  3   4   7  0  2  0  0  15
34 CULTRA, Brooke......    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  1  0  0  0   3
42 JAESCHKE,Ellen......    4-7    0-0    1-2    5  4  9   2   9  2  4  2  1  28
   TEAM................                         1  2  3
   Totals..............   19-55   2-15   3-7   11 24 35  15  43 12 23  3  7 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 11-31 35.5%   2nd Half:  8-24 33.3%   Game: 34.5%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  1-9  11.1%   2nd Half:  1-6  16.7%   Game: 13.3%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  1-3  33.3%   2nd Half:  2-4  50.0%   Game: 42.9%    2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOME TEAM: BYU Cougars 11-1; 1-0
                          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  8-16   1-2    4-5    2  2  4   0  21  1  3  0  1  30
35 JOHNSEN, Melinda.... f  2-7    0-2    0-1    0  4  4   1   4  3  1  0  6  33
45 KUBIK, Dani......... c  3-9    0-1    1-2    3  3  6   5   7  0  2  2  1  21
15 KEELE, Jennie....... g  1-5    0-0    0-0    1  5  6   2   2  2  2  1  1  21
30 GILLESPIE, Mallary.. g  1-11   0-5    4-4    1  4  5   1   6  3  2  0  0  30
01 SELJAAS, Nancy......    1-1    0-0    0-0    0  1  1   1   2  0  1  0  0  11
04 JUDKINS, Jenna......    0-0    0-0    0-0    1  0  1   0   0  0  0  0  0   1
10 STRATTON, Laura.....    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   1   0  0  1  0  0   4
23 BROWN, Brit.........    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  0  0  0   1
24 HUTSON, Vanessa.....    2-2    1-1    2-2    0  0  0   0   7  2  0  0  1  15
32 SLADE, Shawnee......    4-7    0-1    0-0    3  0  3   2   8  1  1  0  2  13
41 FADDIS, Brittany....    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  0  0  0   1
52 RILEY, Lauren.......    2-7    0-0    1-2    4  5  9   3   5  0  3  1  2  17
54 KING, Cassie........    1-1    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   2  0  0  0  1   2
   TEAM................                         4  3  7
   Totals..............   25-66   2-12  12-16  19 27 46  16  64 12 16  4 15 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 12-34 35.3%   2nd Half: 13-32 40.6%   Game: 37.9%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  0-5   0.0%   2nd Half:  2-7  28.6%   Game: 16.7%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  3-5  60.0%   2nd Half:  9-11 81.8%   Game: 75.0%    2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Officials: CARLA FUJIMOTO, THOMAS DUBAS, ERNEST SOLIS
Technical fouls: FALCONS-None. BYU Cougars-None.
Attendance: 679
Score by Periods                1st  2nd   Total
FALCONS.......................   24   19  -   43
BYU Cougars...................   27   37  -   64
OFFICIAL FINAL

After finishing an impressive non-conference season with a 10-1 record, 4-1 at home, the BYU's women's basketball team begins its quest for an MWC regular season title. The Cougars host league foe Air Force, Thurs., Jan. 5 at 7 pm. before traveling to Salt Lake City and battle instate rival Utah on Sat. Jan. 7 at 2 p.m.

Teams:BYU(10-1, 0-0) vs. AF (8-2, 0-0) Date: 01/04/06 Time: 7 p.m. Arena: Marriott Center

Teams:BYU(10-1,0-0) @ Utah (9-2, 0-0) Date: 01/07/06 Time: 2 p.m. Arena: Huntsman Ctr.

Follow he 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 up.

Utes aand Cougars Game to air Live on CSTV

Saturday afternoon's game in Salt Lake City between the University of Utah and BYU will air live on CSTV nationwide. Talent will be Tim Neverett and color analyst will be Krista Blunk.