BYU Suffers First Loss to Ninth Ranked UC-Santa Barbara

LAWRENCE -- The BYU women's basketball team suffered its first loss of the season, 74-58, to ninth-ranked UC-Santa Barbara Friday in the first round of the Jayhawk Classic.

Senior forward Jill Adams led the Cougar effort with 15 points while forward Cady Williams tacked on 13 of her own. Freshman standout Erin Thorn, playing point guard for an injured Stacy Jensen, contributed 10 points and nine assists.

"We did some good things," BYU head coach Trent Shippen said. "The final score is actually not a reflection of the game. With five minutes left to go we had a tied ball game and they hit some free throws, and then with under a minute left we were still within ten, but had to foul and they hit their

free throws to extend the lead."

The Cougars (4-1) trailed by just four at the half, 31-27, but were plagued by turnover woes and a lacking presence on the boards. BYU committed 25 turnovers in the loss, and were outrebounded, 41-29. Senior Lori Cuff was BYU's leading rebounder in her second game back from a knee injury with seven.

"What hurt us most were our rebounds and transition turnovers," Shippen said. "If we had taken care of the ball we would have been right in the game. They had a lot of easy baskets out of turnovers."

UC-Santa Barbara is currently ranked ninth in the USA Today basketball poll. The Gauchos were led by the efforts of forward Kayte Christensen, who scored a double-double with 21 points and 13 rebounds.

Next up for the Cougars is Loyola-Marymount, who lost to undefeated Kansas Friday as well.