PROVO -- The BYU women's basketball team walked away with a much sough-after 78-59 victory against Fresno State during the 2007-08 season home-opener Saturday at the Marriott Center.

Senior Mallary Gillespie-Carling led BYU with 17 points. She has scored in double figures in all three games this season and has now scored in double figures 50 times in her four-year career. Junior Shawnee Slade followed with 16 points and freshman Mindy Nielson tallied a career-high 11 points in the game. The Cougars now have had at least two players score in double figures in each of their games this season.

"It's nice to get a win after a tough loss," said BYU Head Coach Jeff Judkins. "They were a very good, up-tempo team and it's nice to play against different types of teams."

The Cougars' 55 rebounds is a season-high and the mark is tied for the second highest in team history. The last time the team grabbed 55 boards was at home against Cal State Northridge on Dec. 6, 2006.

The Cougars started strong, scoring the first seven points against the Bulldog's pressure defense. But it was BYU's defense that held Fresno State to score only free throws until the 16 minute mark. The Bulldogs gained momentum, tying the game 13-13 at 12:57 in the first half.

Both teams struggled to take the lead, tying the score three times in the first ten minutes. With the score 23-23, Slade dropped a three-point shot at 9:11 mark.

The Cougars went on to score the next eight points until the Bulldogs made their own three-pointer. BYU held Fresno State in the remaining time. The Cougars capped off 39-point half with a buzzer-beating lay-in by Gillespie-Carling.

"The first half we did a nice job, but we made some errors," Judkins said. "The second half we played much better."

Early in the second half the Cougars pulled away as they went on a 20-7 run. BYU gained a 17 point lead during that run. Fresno State stopped the initial BYU run with a three-point shot, but the Bulldogs couldn't stop the Cougars' momentum. With 2:40 left in the game, BYU gained its largest lead of 24 points with a lay-up by Nielson.

The Cougars will continue home play on Tuesday, Nov. 20, when they face Hartford at 4:30 p.m. in the Marriot Center.

Official Basketball Box Score
Fresno State vs Brigham Young Univer
11-17-07 2:00 PM at MARRIOTT CENTER, BYU, PROVO, UT
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VISITORS: Fresno State 0-2
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
02 Munro, Hayley....... *  0-7    0-3    1-4    1  4  5   0   1  1  1  1  1  20
03 Wilson, Tierre...... *  6-12   2-7    0-0    2  4  6   0  14  2  6  0  2  23
11 Andrews, Emma....... *  3-11   1-6    2-4    2  2  4   1   9  2  0  0  2  23
14 Stephens, LaShaunte. *  1-7    0-4    0-0    2  3  5   1   2  0  1  0  0  15
23 Henry, Erica........ *  1-5    0-0    1-5    3  5  8   1   3  0  0  0  0  17
01 Edwards, Taja.......    0-2    0-0    0-4    1  1  2   3   0  0  0  1  2  14
04 Ross, Jaleesa.......    2-7    1-5    2-3    1  2  3   1   7  1  1  0  0  20
05 Jones, Brittny......    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  0  0  0   2
10 Arnold, Marnique....    3-6    1-1    4-5    2  1  3   4  11  0  1  0  0  18
12 Leaks, Jennifer.....    1-1    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   2  0  1  0  4   9
15 Amundsen, Bailey....    2-8    2-6    0-0    0  1  1   2   6  0  1  0  2  22
21 Brown, LaToya.......    2-3    0-1    0-0    0  0  0   0   4  3  2  0  0  17
   TEAM................                         1  4  5
   Totals..............   21-69   7-33  10-25  15 27 42  13  59  9 14  2 13 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 13-31 41.9%   2nd Half:  8-38 21.1%   Game: 30.4%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  5-15 33.3%   2nd Half:  2-18 11.1%   Game: 21.2%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  2-7  28.6%   2nd Half:  8-18 44.4%   Game: 40.0%    7
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HOME TEAM: Brigham Young Univer 2-1
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
03 FOREMAN, Jazmine.... *  3-7    2-5    0-0    0  1  1   1   8  2  3  0  1  22
05 CHEESMAN, Ashley.... *  0-1    0-0    0-0    0  3  3   0   0  0  0  0  0  11
30 CARLING, Mallary.... *  8-22   0-9    1-1    1  2  3   3  17  5  4  0  1  31
32 SLADE, Shawnee...... *  7-13   2-5    0-0    3  5  8   1  16  2  2  0  2  25
52 VARLEY, Lauren...... *  4-7    0-0    0-0    4  9 13   2   8  3  0  1  0  26
00 NICHOLS, Lauren.....    0-0    0-0    1-2    0  0  0   2   1  0  0  0  0   3
10 BECK, Marie.........    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  0  0  0  0+
13 JUDKINS, Jaime......    0-1    0-1    0-0    0  1  1   0   0  0  2  0  0  12
14 RED, Sarah..........    1-1    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   1   2  0  1  0  0   3
22 NIELSON, Mindy......    5-8    1-2    0-1    0  2  2   0  11  2  1  0  0  21
23 WOOD, Coriann.......    2-3    0-1    1-1    0  2  2   2   5  1  2  0  1   8
31 ALLETO, Amy.........    0-1    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  1  0  1   1
34 BELL, Marianne......    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  0  0  0  0+
45 MOEAKI, Keilani.....    1-2    0-0    0-0    2  3  5   1   2  1  0  0  0  13
54 KING, Cassie........    3-5    0-0    1-2    1  4  5   1   7  1  3  2  0  17
55 MARKS, Megan........    0-1    0-0    1-3    1  3  4   3   1  1  0  1  0   7
   TEAM................                         2  6  8
   Totals..............   34-72   5-23   5-10  14 41 55  17  78 18 19  4  6 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 17-37 45.9%   2nd Half: 17-35 48.6%   Game: 47.2%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  3-15 20.0%   2nd Half:  2-8  25.0%   Game: 21.7%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  2-3  66.7%   2nd Half:  3-7  42.9%   Game: 50.0%    2
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Officials: JACK JONES, SHELLEY NAKASONE, LAURA RAHE
Technical fouls: Fresno State-None. Brigham Young Univer-None.
Attendance: 546
Score by Periods                1st  2nd   Total
Fresno State..................   33   26  -   59
Brigham Young Univer..........   39   39  -   78
OFFICIAL FINAL

After splitting the first two road games of the season BYU's women's basketball team (1-1) returns home for its home opener on Nov. 17 against Fresno State (0-1).

Tip off for the game is set for 2 p.m.

Game #3 11/17/07: BYU vs.Fresno State Time: 2 p.m. MDT Arena: Marriott Ctr.

Cougars on the radio and the internet --

Radio: Saturday's game vs. Fresno State will air tape delay on both byuradio and KOVO 960 AM.

Internet: This week's games will also be heard live on the internet at

http://www.byuradio.org/streaming

Veteran broadcaster Jay Monsen will call the action for both games.

BYU Probable Starters

No. Name Pos. Ht. Yr. PPG RPG

3 Jazmine Foreman G 5-5 Fr 2.0 2.5

30 Mallary G. Carling G 5-10 Sr 15.0 3.5

32 Shawnee Slade F 5-11 Jr 4.0 5.5

5 Ashley Cheesman F 6-0 Sr 4.0 1.5

52 Lauren R. Varley C 6-3 Sr 15.0 12.0

Reserve Players

No. Name Pos. Ht. Yr. PPG RPG

22 Mindy Nielson G 5-10 Fr 5.5 1.0

45 Keilani Moeaki F 6-2 Fr 5.0 3.0

13 Jaime Judkins G 5-6 So 3.5 1.5

54 Cassie King F 6-3 Jr 3.0 2.0

23 Coriann Wood F 6-1 Fr 0.0 0.0

0 Lauren Nichols F 6-0 Fr (rs)

14 Sarah Red G/F 5-11 Jr (rs)

21 Stephanie Buhler F 6-0 Fr

Team Stats -- 2007-08

-- Shooting from the field: (.470, 47-100)

-- Shooting from the free-throw line: (.632, 12-19)

-- Shooting from three-point line: (.296, 8-27)

-- Average points per game: 57.0

Season Highlights and Notables

TEAM

-- BYU opened the season on the road at UC Santa Barbara picking up the 61-50 victory. It then traveled to paly at Arkansas State from the Sun Belt Conference.

It was the first meeting between the two schools. The Cougars fell 53-54 to the Indians

-- When playing on the road this season, BYU has a 1-1 record.

PLAYER

-- Center Lauren Riley-Varley picked up back-to-back double doubles in the first two games of this season.

She tallied 14 points and 11 rebounds against UCSB and 16 points and 13 boards at Arkansas State.

She led all players in the rebound category in those contests.

-- Riley-Varley's 16 points at Arkansas State were a new season and career high.

-- Riley-Varley tops the list in rebounds for the team to date grabbing an average of 12.0 boards per contest. She also leads the team in blocks with three to date.

-- Mallary Gillespie-Carling scored in double figures in both road games marking the 48th and 49th time in her career where she has scored in double digits.

-- Gillespie-Carling is the team's assist leader so far this year dishing out a total of seven.

2007-08 Mountain West Conference

In October the Cougar team was picked to finish third in the MWC Preseason Poll.

Senior Mallary Gillespie Carling was picked to the five member Preseason All-Conference Team.

Rk. Team (1st place votes) Points

1. Wyoming (24) 203

2. TCU (2) 188

3. BYU (1) 182

4. New Mexico (3) 174

5. Utah 158

6. UNLV 109

7. San Diego State 93

8. Colorado State 53

9. Air Force 37

Preseason All-Conference Team

Name Class Pos. Institution

Adrianne Ross Sr. G TCU

Dionne Marsh Sr. F New Mexico

Hanna Zavecz Sr. F Wyoming

Morgan Warburton Jr. G Utah

Mallary Gillespie-Carling Sr. G BYU

About This Week's Opponent

Fresno State- Provo, Utah (11/17/07)

Fresno State returns one starter and five letterwinners from last season's team that compiled an 18-13 record and finished third in the WAC.

In the team's home opener, the Bulldogs dropped a 79-83 decision to No. 13 Cal on Nov. 10.

The game at the Marriott Center on Saturday afternoon will be the team's first road trip of the year.

Head Coach Adrian Wiggins is in his third season with the program where he has compiled a 49-26 record to date.

The Bulldogs top two returners are Tierre Wilson, a 5-8 senior guard, and Erica Henry, a 6-2 senior center.

Wilson picked up a team high 22 points while Henry grabbed a team-best nine rebounds in the team's loss to Cal last week.

Fresno State Probable Starters

Pos.# Name Ht Yr PPG RPG

F 02 Hayley Munro 6-1 Fr 6.0 0.0

F 10 Marnique Arnold 5-9 Fr 4.0 7.0

C 23 Erica Henry 6-2 Sr 6.0 9.0

G 03 Tierre Wilson 5-8 Sr 22.0 5.0

G 11 Emma Andrews 5-5 Fr 6.0 0.0

Stat Comparisons BYU Fresno St.

Field Goals: .470 .387

Free Throws: .632 .611

Three-Pointers: .296 .455

Points Per Game: 57.0 79.0

Rebounds Per Game: 38.0 45.0

Series History

Facts: Fresno State has not played in the Marriott Center since 1999 when both teams were still part of the Western Atletic Conference.

In Provo, FSU has a 1-5 record with their last victory on Feb.22, 1996 , a 65-60 win.

Record: 5-6 in favor of the Bulldogs

Last Meeting: 11/16/06, in Fresno where the hosts picked up the 10-point, 61-51 win.

Media Availability

Team Practice Times - at home

-The team practices are held at the Marriott Center MWF from 11:30 a.m., to 1:30 p.m.

On Tuesday's, practice is scheduled from 1 to 3 p.m., and on Thursday's from 11:30 to 2 p.m.

- Coach Judkins and players are available for interviews prior to or after their practices. All interviews are scheduled in advance.

Norma Collett is the Basketball Communications Director for the team and can be contacted by phone or email.

Contact at -- office: 801-422-4908, cell: 801-372-0989 and email: norma_collett@byu.edu

Looking Ahead

During the week of Thanksgiving the Cougars host Hartford on Nov. 20 at 4:30 p.m., and Seton Hall on Nov. 23 at 7 p.m.

The Hartford game on Tuesday afternoon will air live on BYUTV and is part of a double-header with the men's team. They too host Hartford and tip off for that contest is set for 7:30 p.m.