BYU hoops playing in the Tom Weston Classic at BYU-Hawaii

BYU Game Notes vs. BYU-H

PROVO, Utah— With a 3-3 record, the Cougar women’s basketball team continues its nonconference portion of the 2015-16 schedule, taking its third road trip to date. BYU will compete in the Tom Weston Classic in Laie, Hawaii, on the BYU-Hawaii Campus, Dec. 2-5.

On Wednesday, Dec. 2, they will take on BYU-Hawaii (3-2) at 7 p.m. HT. On Thursday, Dec. 3, they will battle the University of Hawaii at 6 p.m. HT and on Saturday, Dec. 5, they will take on No. 9 Texas A&M (5-1) at 2 p.m. HT. All games will be played in the Cannon Activities Center.

ABOUT BYU
This will be the seventh time that BYU has participated in the Tom Weston Classic, formerly the Hukilau Invitational. The first tournament was held in 2008. It was not held during the 2012-13 and the 2013-14 season. It became the Tom Weston Invitational last year. The Cougars enter the tournament with an 11-1 invitational record. Their only loss was last year on Nov. 29 when BYU lost to Oregon State 71-61. 

BYU has two players that are scoring in double figures. All-American senior guard Lexi Eaton Rydalch (21.8) and junior Makenzi Morrison Pulsipher (11.2). All-American Kalani Purcell, a junior college transfer from Hutchinson Community College and Hamilton, New Zealand, leads the way in the rebound category (12.8). She also contributes 9.7 points a game.

The Cougars are scoring 63.7 points per game, shooting 38 percent from the field, 70 percent from the free throw line and 38 percent from 3-point range.

• Head coach: Jeff Judkins (Utah, ‘78) 15th season
• Team’s leading scorer: #21 L. Eaton Rydalch, 21.8 ppg
• Team’s leading rebounder: #32 K. Purcell, 12.8 rpg
• Team’s assists leader: #3 K. Maeda, 3.8 apg
• Team’s steals leader: #23 M. Morrison Pulsipher, 2.0 spg
• Team’s blocks leader: #32, K. Purcell, .50 bpg

ABOUT BYU-HAWAII
BYU-Hawaii has compiled a 3-2 record with wins over Alaska Fairbanks and Arizona Christian, twice.

The Seasiders return two starters and several key bench players from the 2014-15 squad that finished with the second best record in the program’s history, 15-11.

Valarie Nawahine is one of four players for the Seasiders scoring in double digits with 13.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. Jiashan Cui follows with 12.4 points while Celeste Claw contributes 11.6 points. Rounding out the scoring is Kjirsten Nelson who tallies 10.8 points. The team’s leading rebounder is Emily Nelson who pulls down 8.8 rebounds per game.

As a team, BYU-Hawaii is scoring 66.8 points per game while shooting 40 percent from the field, 75 percent from the free throw line and 30 percent from behind the arc.

• Head coach: Craig Stanger, third season
• Team’s leading scorer: #23 V. Nawahine, 13.6 ppg
• Team’s leading rebounder: #25 E. Nelson, 8.8 rpg
• Team’s assists leader: #03 C. Claw, 7.8 apg
• Team’s steals leader: #03 C. Claw, 1.8 spg
• Team’s blocks leader: #25 E. Nelson, .80 bpg

Series History
BYU Provo leads the series 3-0. All games with the Seasiders have been in the Tom Weston Classic. BYU Provo defeated BYU-Hawaii last 73-52 on Nov. 27, 2014.

ABOUT HAWAII
The University of Hawaii enters the Tom Weston Classic with a 4-3 record. They were picked to finish first in the Big West.

Sarah Toeaina leads the Rainbow Wahine with 10.5 points per game. Teammate Megan Huff is their leading rebounder, pulling down 6.7 boards a game. She also contributes 9.5 points.

Hawaii is scoring 62.5 points per game while shooting 39 percent from the field, 21 percent behind the arc and 70 percent from the free throw line.

In the series history with the Rainbow Wahine, Hawaii has a 7-4 edge over the Cougars.  The two last met on Dec. 5, 2009 in this same tournament with BYU picking up the 81-44 win.

ABOUT TEXAS A&M
The Aggies have a 5-1 mark to date and are ninth in the USA Today/ESPN Top 25 Coaches Poll.

Texas A&M returns eight letterwinners including four starters from a team that last year went 23-10, finished tied for fourth place in the Southeastern Conference and competed in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

The Aggies have three players scoring in double digits with 18.3 points each from Courtney Walker and Courtney Williams. Teammate Jordan Jones is chipping in 10.8 points a game. Khaalia Hillsman is the team’s leading rebounder as she grabs 6.7 boards per contest.

Texas A&M is averaging 80.7 points a game, shooting 47 percent from the field, 40 percent from behind the arc and 66 percent at the charity stripe.

Saturday’s meeting between Texas A&M and BYU is the first ever for the two teams.

Up Next
After the three games the Cougar women play in Laie, the team returns to action in the state of Utah. BYU takes a quick trip to Ogden to battle in-state foe Weber State on Thursday, Dec. 10, in a 7 p.m. tip. Then on Saturday, Dec. 12, BYU plays its final nonconference game hosting in-state rival Utah at 2 p.m.