BYU opens WCC action at Portland Thursday

BYU at Portland Game Notes

PROVO, Utah — With a 5-6 record in its nonconference portion of the 2017-18 campaign, BYU women’s basketball begins its quest for a West Coast Conference regular-season crown this week.

The Cougars open up league play on the road heading to Portland for a battle with the Pilots (4-7) on Thurs., Dec. 28, at 7 p.m., PST. Fans can follow the action online with a web video stream at TheW.tv.

ABOUT BYU

BYU is coming off a 75-54 home win over Montana State. The team is averaging 68.4 points and pulls down 40.0 rebounds a game. The Cougars are shooting 42.0 percent from the field, 30.7 percent from the 3-point line and 66.7 percent from the charity stripe.

BYU has had at least two players score in double figures in all contests except one (at Cal). Three players have scored in double digits in four games, most recently in the home win vs. Montana State, last Saturday. It has outrebounded six of its opponents, has had more blocks in six games and more assists in five contests. The Cougars have scored at least 70 points in seven of the 11 games played and finished their nonconference portion with a 1-4 record when playing on the road.

In the upcoming WCC 2017-18 regular season battle, BYU was picked to finish in third place behind Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s.

BYU Player Stat Leaders                                                                             
Scoring: #20 C. Devashrayee (20.1 ppg)

Rebounding: #03 S. Salmon (8.7 rpg)

Assists: #20 C. Devashrayee (4.0 apg)

Steals: #20 C. Devashrayee (2.5 spg)

Blocks: #03 S. Hamson (4.0 bpg)

ABOUT PORTLAND

Portland has compiled a 4-7 record heading into the opening week of WCC action.

The Pilots are coming off an 106-101 overtime loss to Saint Francis.

Portland is averaging 71.2 points per game while shooting 41.8 percent from the field, 28.2 percent from behind the arc and 70.5 percent from the free-throw line.

The Pilots were selected to finish tied for ninth place with Pepperdine in this year’s WCC race. This year’s squad returns seven letterwinners and two starters from last year’s team that compiled a 6-24, 4-14 record.

Head coach Cheryl Sorenson is in her fourth season at the helm of Portland’s women’s basketball program. She has a 17-82 record.

The Pilots and Cougars played two common opponents during the nonconference portion of the 2017-18 schedule. Portland beat Utah Valley in overtime 71-64 and lost at Washington 93-67.

PORTLAND Player Stat Leaders                                                                           
Scoring: #32 D. Slage (12.6 ppg)

Rebounding: #23 J. Spencer (6.8 rpg)

Assists: #24 R. Owens (3.6 apg)

Steals: #1 K. Anderson (1.9 spg)

Blocks: #35 S. Zaragoza (1.4 bpg)

SERIES HISTORY

BYU leads the overall series against the Pilots 20-4. When playing in Portland, BYU is 10-2 and Coach Judkins is 16-0 vs. the Pilots. During last year’s WCC race, the Cougars swept the series with a 77-38 win in Portland and a 73-60 victory in Provo.

UP NEXT

After Thursday’s game at Portland, the Cougar women’s basketball team continues league play on the road. BYU has a game at Saint Mary’s on Sat. Dec. 30, at 2 p.m., PST from McKeon Pavilion.