Cougar women continue run in WNIT, host Saint Mary’s Wednesday

BYU women’s basketball continues its run in the 2013 WNIT this week. The Cougars (23-10), advanced to the third round of the postseason tournament with a 69-58 home win over SDSU Saturday. In the third round, BYU will host WCC foe Saint Mary’s (22-10) Wed. March 27 at 3 p.m., MDT in the Marriott Center. BYU and SMC finished the 2013 WCC race tied for third place. The Gaels advanced in this year’s WNIT with a 68-58 road win at Northern Colorado. The game will air live on BYUtv.

Ticket Prices
Adult General Admission: $6
All-Sport Pass Holder: Free
Student General Admission: $5 (elementary through college)
Courtside: $20
All tickets may be ordered at the Marriott Center Ticket Office, by calling 1-800-322-BYU1 or through http://www.byutickets.com/

BYU Capsule
• The Cougar team has outrebounded its opponents in 21 games.
• The BYU bench has outscored the opponent’s bench 566-438.
• When comparing points in the paint, the Cougars have scored 834 points to 684 from opponents.
• BYU has had a halftime lead in all but eight games to date (vs. Gonzaga at WCC semifinals, vs. Gonzaga, vs. SD, vs. SMC, at USF, at Gonzaga, vs. Seattle and at Washington State).
• In only six contests (vs. Gonzaga at WCC semifinals, vs. Gonzaga, at USF, at Gonzaga, at Boston College and at Washington State) the Cougars did not record more assists than their opponents.
• Balanced scoring has added to the team’s success this year. To date, three players have put up double figures in points in 13 games and four players finished with double-digit scoring in six games (vs. SDSU, at POR, at PEP, vs. PEP, vs. Tulsa, vs. UCSB)

• Head coach: Jeff Judkins (Utah, ‘78), is in his 12th season
• Team’s leading scorer: #5 Jennifer Hamson, 11.2 ppg
• Team’s leading rebounder: #5 Hamson, 8.3 rpg
• Team’s assists leader: #33 Steed, 7.5 apg
• Team’s steals leader: #33 Steed, 2.1 spg

BYU’S PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
#33 Haley Steed – (5-4 guard, GS.) 10.6 ppg; 4.2 rpg; 7.4 apg
#4 Kim Parker Beeston – (5-11 guard, Jr.) 10.0 ppg; 4.0 rpg; 2.2 apg
#12 Stephanie Vermunt Seaborn – (6-0 guard/forward, Jr.) 6.9 ppg; 2.8 rpg; 1.7 apg
#45 Keilani Unga – (6-2 forward, Sr.) 7.3 ppg; 4.6 rpg; 1.1 apg
#5 Jennifer Hamson – (6-7 center, Jr.) 11.1 ppg; 8.7 rpg; 0.7 apg

Saint Mary's Capsule
The Gaels have a 22-10 record to date after a 68-58 road win over Northern Colorado, Sunday in the second round of the postseason WNIT. Saint Mary’s is making its fourth straight appearance in the WNIT advancing to the second round last year.

• Head coach: Paul Thomas is in his seventh year with Saint Mary’s
• Team’s leading scorer: #3 Jackie Nared, 16.8 ppg
• Team’s leading rebounder: #54 Danielle Maulding, 10.8 rpg
• Team’s assists leader: #24 Morgan Hatten, 3.3 apg
• Team’s steals leader: #54 Maulding, 1.3 spg

Series History
The series between these two WCC foes is tied 2-2.
In Provo, BYU has a 2-0 record over the Gaels.
Head coach Jeff Judkins is 2-2 against Saint Mary’s.

Last Meeting
These two West Coast Conference foes split the series this season with each team winning on its home court.
On January 31, in Provo, BYU picked up the 66-58 victory behind 14 points each from Kim Parker Beeston and Haley Steed. Keilani Unga also finished with double digits in scoring with 13. Jennifer Hamson led the Cougar team in the rebound category with eight. Steed dished out a game-high nine assists to go along with five steals. For the game, BYU shot 38 percent form the field, 40 percent from behind the arc and 72 percent from the free throw line. The Gaels shot 34 percent from the field, 29 percent from 3-point range and 67 percent from the line. Jackie Nared finished the game with a double-double from 18 points and 11 boards. Danielle Mauldin and Kate Gaze scored 10 points apiece.
In Moraga, on Feb. 8, SMC captured the 64-52 win. Steed led BYU with 18 points on six 3-pointers. She also had seven assists and four rebounds. Unga contributed 12 points and five rebounds while Jennifer Hamson led the way in blocks with four. The Cougars shot 40 percent from the field and 46 percent from the free throw line. Danielle Mauldin recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Gaels in the victory. Kate Gaze tallied 10 points in the win. SMC shot 38 percent from the field and 72 percent from the charity stripe. The Gaels outscored the Cougar bench 22-10 and got 18 points off of BYU miscues.

What’s Next
A win over Saint Mary’s would send the Cougar women to the Quarterfinals of the 2013 WNIT. Date, opponent and time will be announced later.