Regular MWC Schedule Ends On The Road For Women Regular MWC Schedule Ends On The Road For Women

With two games left in this year's MWC season and a 8-4 conference record, BYU's women's basketball team finishes play on the road with two team's its already beaten at the Marriott Center. On Thursday, Feb. 28 the Cougars will battle UNLV, and then travel to San Diego for a season ending game against SDSU.

Tip off: BYU (17-8, 8-4) @ UNLV (21-4, 9-3), 5 p.m.(PST) Arena: Thomas & Mack Ctr.

Tip off: BYU (17-8, 8-4) @ SDSU (10-15, 2-10), 8:30 p.m.(PST) Arena: Cox Arena

BYU's Probable Starters

Pos. # Name Ht. Yr. PPG RPG

F 21 Jennifer Leitner 6-1 Jr 11.9 8.5

F 31 Lisa Osguthorpe 6-0 Sr 5.0 3.4

F 51 Danielle Cheesman 6-2 Fr 8.0 3.8

G 11 Erin Thorn 5-10 Jr 17.0 4.1

G 22 Stacy Jensen 5-6 Sr 10.1 3.0

Cougar Players Off The Bench

Pos. # Name Ht. Yr. PPG RPG

F/G 12 Melanie Pearson 6-1 Sr 10.2 3.3

F 23 Chanell Rose 6-0 Jr 3.3 2.3

F 45 Lisa Hansen 6-5 Jr 2.9 2.5

G 25 Kali Taylor 5-11 Fr 1.4 0.3

F 20 Brittany Larson 6-0 Jr 2.0 1.1

G 05 Amy Lewis 5-6 Jr 0.8 0.6

Quickie BYU Stats

l Shooting from the field - .448 (650-1452)

l Shooting from the free-throw line - .737 (320-434)

l Shooting from the three-point arc - .410 (205-500)

l Averaged 73.0 points per game

Last Game Recap

For the first time since 1993, BYU's women's basketball swept the regular MWC season against instate rival Utah by beating them 62-53 last Saturday afternoon. Junior forward Jennifer Leitner tied her season high 18 points and picked up her eighth double-double of the season with the game high 12 rebounds. Senior guard Stacy Jensen contributed 14 points as she played her final regular season game at the Marriott Center. Utah had a two-point lead at the break 33-31 but the Cougars came back in the second half of the game, holding the Utes to just 16 percent shooting in the final 20 minutes of the contest.

Leitner Picks Up MWC Player of the Week Honors

Jennifer Leitner's stellar performance against Utah on Saturday that included her eighth double-double of the year with a team high 18 points and 12 rebounds garnered her this week's MWC Player of the Week accolades. Leitner was 7-14 from the field and 3-3 from the free throw line, grabbing 12 boards, eight of which were defensive. She's the team's second leading scorer with an average of 11.9 points and tops the lead in the rebound category with an average of 8.5 boards a game. This is Leitner's first POW honor this season and the third for the Cougar team. All-American Erin Thorn and senior transfer Melanie Pearson have also been honored this year.

BYU Notes

With a team that returns four starters and eight letterwinners from last season, the Cougar women's basketball play their final MWC foes in 2002 on the road. In this week's standings BYU is in fourth place behind the second place tie between UNLV and UNM. All-American Erin Thorn continues to be the team's leading scorer with an average of 17.0 points a game. The team's leading rebounder is junior forward Jennifer Leitner who's averaging 8.5 boards a game. She's also averaging 11.9 points a game. Senior guard Stacy Jensen leads in the assist category tallying 109 to date for an average of 4.36 per game. Jensen is also a main contributor in scoring with an average of 10.1 points a game. Senior transfer Melanie Pearson continues to come off the bench to score in double digits, tallying 10.2 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. Freshman Danielle Cheesman follows with 8.0 points and 3.8 boards a game.

2001-02 Season Highlights

TEAM

4 Points - 94 vs Washington State 11/24/01

4 Field Goals Made - 36 vs Washington State 11/24/01

4 3 PT Field Goals Made - 20 vs Arkansas Pine-Bluff 12/14/01

4 Free Throws Made - 22 vs SDSU on 1/31/02

4 Rebounds - 53 vs SDSU on 1/31/02

4 Assists - 32 vs Washington State 11/24/01

4 Steals - 14 @ Weber State 12/01/01

INDIVIDUAL

4 Points - Erin Thorn, (29) vs Arkansas Pine-Bluff 12/14/01

4 Field Goals Made - Erin Thorn, (10) @ Weber State 12/01/01

4 3 PT Field Goals Made - Erin Thorn, (9) vs Arkansas PB 12/14/01

4 Free Throws Made - Melanie Pearson, (9) @ Utah, 1/26/02

4 Rebounds - Jennifer Leitner, (13) @ UCLA 11/27/01

4 Assists - Erin Thorn, (9) vs Colorado St. 1/10/02

4 Steals - Lisa Osguthorpe (5) @ TCU on 12/22/01

MWC Standings - As Of Feb. 26

School Conference Games All Games

Colorado St. 10-2 21-5

UNLV 9-3 21-4

New Mexico 9-3 20-6

BYU 8-4 17-8

Utah 6-6 13-11

Wyoming 4-8 12-13

San Diego St. 2-10 10-15

Air Force 0-12 4-21

Cougars In MWC Stats (Conf. Games Only)

Top Three Finishes - TEAM

2 1st - Scoring Offense (828 pts, 69.0)

21st - Field Goal Percentage (.424, 289-682)

21st - 3-Point Field Goal Percentage (.363, 86-237)

2 3rd - Free Throw Percentage (.763, 164-215)

21st - Assists (187, 15.58 avg)

21st - 3-Point Field Goals Made (86, 7.17 avg)

21st - Assist/Turnover Ratio (187 Asst, 15.6 avg/174 Turn, 14.5 avg, Ratio - 1.07)

Top Ten Finishes - INDIVIDUALS

2 2nd - Erin Thorn - Assists (46, 3.83 avg)

2 2nd - Erin Thorn - 3-PT Field Goals Made (31, 2.58)

2 3rd - Erin Thorn - Scoring (182 pts., 15.2 avg)

2 5th - Erin Thorn - Asst/Turn Ratio (46, asst, 3.8 avg/36 turn, 3.0 avg, 1.28 ratio)

2 8th - Erin Thorn - Steals (20, 1.67 avg)

2 10th - Erin Thorn - 3-PT Field Goal Percentage (.352, 31-88)

2 4th - Melanie Pearson - 3-PT Field Goal Percentage (.424, 14-33)

2 2nd - Jennifer Leitner - Defensive Rebounds (66, 6.00 avg)

2 3rd - Jennifer Leitner - Rebounding (95, 8.6 avg)

2 5th - Jennifer Leitner - Blocked Shots (11, 1.00 avg)

2 7th - Jennifer Leitner - Field Goal Percentage (.468, 51-109)

2 7th - Jennifer Leitner - Field Goal Percentage (.468, 51-109)

2 8th - Jennifer Leitner - Offensive Rebounds (29, 2.64 avg)

2 2nd - Danielle Cheesman - Field Goal Percentage (.537, 44-82)

2 3rd - Stacy Jensen - Asst/Turn Ratio (43 asst, 3.6 avg/ 25 turn, 2.1 avg, 1.72 ratio)

2 4th - Stacy Jensen - Assists (43, 3.58 avg)

2 8th - Stacy Jensen - 3-PT Field Goals Made (16, 1.33)

2 9th - Stacy Jensen - 3-PT Field Goal Percentage (.364, 16-44)

Scouting UNLV

The Lady Rebels play hosts the Cougars on Thursday in a 5 p.m. tip off from the Thomas & Mack Center where UNLV has a perfect 5-0 MWC mark and an 13-0 overall record. The Rebels are tied with New Mexico for second place.for second place in this week's conference standings All-American Linda Frohlich tops the leader board in scoring with an average of 22.1 points a game and a team high 10.5 rebounds. Constance Jinks follows in double digit points with 16.9 a game and grabs 4.6 boards a game, the second highest on the team. UNLV is shooting 45 percent from the field and 73 percent at the free throw line. From behind the arc they shoot 33 percent. As a team, they average 74.3 points a game, only allowing opponents 58.1 points.

Series Record: 11-5 favoring BYU. Earlier this season the two teams met at the Marriott Center where BYU won on its homecourt by a score of 72-61. All-American Erin Thorn led the game in scoring with 26 points and six rebounds. Three other Cougars scored in double figures. All-American Linda Frohlich delivered 22 points and seven rebounds for UNLV. BYU shot 44 percent from the field, 82 percent from the free-throw line and went 10-25 from behind the arc.

UNLV Probable Starters

Pos. # Name Ht. Yr. PPG RPG

F 13 Linda Frohlich 6-2 Sr 22.1 10.5

F 54 Sherry McCracklin 6-2 Fr 3.8 4.1

F 55 Dishawn McCracklin 6-2 Jr 3.0 4.5

G 11 Julia Gray 5-6 Jr 4.6 2.1

G 23 Constance Jinks 5-7 Jr 16.9 4.6

Scouting SDSU

The Aztecs host the Cougars in the second game of a double header at Cox Arena on Saturday night where SDSU has a 1-4 home court record. Overall, SDSU has compiled an 10-15, 2-10 record and are currently in seventh place in this week's MWC standings. Claire Swinbank is the lone team member who's scoring in double figures with an average of 12.0 points and 4.3 rebounds a game. Atim Otii leads the team in the rebounding category grabbing an average of 5.9 boards a game. The Aztecs shoot 39 percent from the field, 65 percent at the line and 33 percent from behind the arc. SDSU scored 59.8 points a game and allows opponents 61.8 points.

Series Record: 13-9 favoring the visiting Cougars. In the first meeting between the two conference foes at the Marriott Center, BYU was able to pick up a 67-41 victory. with four Cougars scoring in double digits. All-American Erin Thorn and junior forward Jennifer Leitner led the way with 11 points a piece. Leitner grabbed a double-double with her game high 12 rebounds. Melanie Pearson and freshman Danielle Cheesman contributed 10 points each. For the Aztecs it was Atim Otii and Claire Swinbank leading their team's effort with 12 points a piece.

SDSU Probable Starters

Pos. # Name Ht. Yr. PPG RPG

F 10 Ashonda Williams 6-0 Jr 22.1 10.5

F 55 Atim Otii 6-0 Sr 3.8 4.1

C 24 Nicolette McCartny 6-2 So 3.0 4.5

G 12 Claire Swinbank 5-8 Sr 4.6 2.1

G 20 Jamey Cox 5-7 Jr 16.9 4.6

Head Coach Jeff Judkins

Jeff Judkins, an assistant during the 2000-01 season is this year's head coach for the Cougar women. Judkins, a longtime University of Utah coach and player takes over the BYU program with a proven record of success dating back to his high school days at Highland HS in Salt Lake City.

An all-state selection in basketball, football and baseball, Judkins went on to play for Utah from 1974-78. While playing for the Utes, he helped the team win one conference championship and two berths in the NCAA Tournament. He was a second-team academic All-American and three-time first-team District VII academic selection. Judkins earned three first-team All-WAC honors and was a member of the 1977 United States World Games team that captured the gold medal.

He played five years in the NBA for the Boston Celtics, Portland Trailblazers, Detroit Pistons and the Utah Jazz. He was a second-round pick by the Celtics in 1978, the same year the Celtics selected Larry Bird with the sixth pick overall.

After his NBA career, he returned to the U of U in 1989, and remained with the men's program for 10 years. Judkins, a Salt Lake City native, graduated from Utah in 1978 with a degree in health and physical education. He is a member of the Utah Sports Hall of Fame and the Crimson Club Hall of Fame.

He and his wife Mary Kay, are the parents of five children: Jessica (20), Jordan (19), Jenna (16), Jaime (13), Jaxson (10).

Coach Judkins Quotes

(On final MWC games) This a big trip for us. It would be great if we could beat both UNLV and SDSU because it would give us a chance to come into next week's tournament either second or third. Plus the more wins we have the better our chances at extending our season into post season play. We're all healthy and the fact that we were able to beat Utah even though we didn't play very well. This week's game are crucial and this is the time when we need to be playing our best ball.

Cougs Travel Itinerary

BYU's women's basketball team travels to Las Vegas and San Diego this week, departing Wed., Feb. 27 on Delta flight #1495 at 11:40 a.m., arriving at the Las Vegas at 11:57 a.m. While there, they will stay at the Amerisuites Hotel, 4520 Paradise Road, 702-369-3366, 702-369-0009, fax. On Friday, the Cougar team leaves for San Diego on Southwest flight #1571, at 10:25 a.m., arriving at 11:30 a.m. The team plans to stay at the San Diego Mission Valley Marriott, 8757 Rio San Diego Dr., 619-692-3800, 619-692-0769, fax. BYU returns to Provo on Sun., Mar.3 departing from San Diego on Delta flight #1197 at 10:20 a.m., and arrive at the SL International Airport at 1:20 p.m.

Up Next

After finishing regular MWC action, the Cougar women return to Las Vegas for this year's conference Championships held at the Thomas & Mack Center Mar. 6- 9.