First Round Opponent In Ncaa Is Colorado Buffaloes
For the second straight year, the BYU women's basketball team is going to the NCAA Division I Women's Championships. The team's first round opponent is the Colorado Buffaloes. Tip off is set for 10 p.m., Saturday, Mountain time. The Cougars with an 11 seed and a 19-11 overall record and the Buffaloes, seeded sixth and a 22-7 record will battle 30 minutes after the conclusion of the North Carolina vs. Austin Peay game. All games will be played in the Buffaloes home court, the Coors Events Center.
Tip off: BYU (19-11) vs Colorado (22-7) 10:00 p.m., MST Arena: Coors Events Center
live webcast/tv
The BYU vs. Colorado women's basketball game is live via the internet at byu radio. org BYU radio can also be heard on the Dish Network.Veteran BYU broadcaster Jay Monsen is the play-by-play announcer. The game will also air on ESPN2.
BYU's Probable Starters
Pos. # Name Ht. Yr. PPG RPG
F 32 Kristen Kozlowski 6-2 So 1.9 1.7
F/G 15 Jennie Overdiek 5-10 Fr 3.5 3.1
C 51 Danielle Cheesman 6-2 So 11.5 5.5
G 11 Erin Thorn 5-10 Sr 19.1 4.2
G 04 Kestlee Nelson 5-8 Jr 4.0 1.9
Cougar Players Off The Bench
Pos. # Name Ht. Yr. PPG RPG
F/G 25 Kali Taylor 5-11 So 4.5 1.9
F 40 Ashleigh Chamberlain 6-4 Jr 4.2 3.3
F 33 Ambrosia Anderson 6-2 Fr 4.2 3.0
F 45 Lisa Hansen 6-5 Sr 3.7 2.8
G/F 01 Nancy Seljaas 6-0 Fr 2.0 0.9
F 20 Brittany Larson 6-0 Sr 0.9 1.3
2002-03 Cougar Stats
u Shooting from the field: (.439, 737-1680)
u Shooting from the free-throw line: (.732, 334-456)
u Shooting from three-point line: (.381, 205-530)
u Average points per game: 67.0
byu in the numbers
u (9) - different starting lineups for the Cougar team this season
u (11) - Erin Thorn's number, the team's seed in this year's tourney. Was the team's seed last year in the tournament when they advanced to the "Sweet Sixteen"
u (12) - career high assists for Erin Thorn vs CSU on 2/15/03
u (38) - consecutive games where Erin Thorn has scored at least one 3-pointer
u (96) - team season high points vs Air Force 3/06/03
u (391) - Erin Thorn's career three-point buckets. She holds the school record in career three pointers
u (2,051) - Erin Thorn's career points to date. She's now in fourth place in all-time scoring in BYU women's basketball history. Jackie Beene McBride holds third place with a total of 2,191 points during her four-year career from 1978 to 1982.
injury/player update
Two of the team's players who were injured earlier this season are ready to play in the tournament. Freshman forward/guard Jen Overdiek suffered a broken nose and a couple of fractures to her right eye during Monday's (Feb. 24) practice. Senior forward Brittany Larson broke her hand in practice the week of Feb. 18.
Sophomore guard Julie Sullivan injured her knee (torn ACL) during practice on Jan. 13. She is out for the rest of the season.
Senior forward Jennifer Leitner was dismissed from the team on Jan. 31 indefinitely for breaking team rules.
BYU NCAA HISTORY
6 The Cougars are making their second consecutive and sixth overall appearance in the NCAA Championships.
6 The squad made the 2003, 64-team selection as an at-large participant. Two other MWC schools (Utah and New Mexico) are also competing. The University of Utah won the regular season league race, while the Lobos won the MWC Championship by beating BYU 52-46.
6 BYU finished in the "Sweet Sixteen" last year after a decisive 90-52 win over Florida. In the second round game, the Cougars upset hosts Iowa State o their home court 75-69, before falling in the Sweet Sixteen to Final Four participant Tennessee 57-68. The Cougars were the automatic entry into last year's tournament by winning the MWC Championship with a 61-46 victory over UNLV on their home court.
6 The team's last appearance came in 1999-2000 when they lost in the first round to Oklahoma, 81-86.
6 In this year's field of 64, there are six teams the Cougars played this season. BYU's record against those team is 4-6. The teams are George Washington, Utah, New Mexico, UC Santa Barbara, Weber State and Texas.
Year Record @ NCAA Tournament
2002-03 19-11, 8-6 @ Colorado, vs. Colorado
2001-02 24-9, 10-4 2-1 (@ Iowa State, beat Florida 90-52, beat Iowa State 75-59, lost to Tennessee 57-68)
1999-00 21-8, 104 0-1 (lost to Oklahoma 81-86 @ Purdue)
1992-93 24-5, 13-1 0-1 (lost to UCSB 79-88 in Santa Barbara)
1984-85 19-1, 11-1 0-1 (lost to Long Beach State 85-112 )
1983-84 18-8, 9-1 0-1 (lost to USC 72-97 in Los Angeles)
Cougar Review
At the conclusion of the 2003 MWC regular season, the Cougar women who were picked to win the season title, finished with an 8-6 record and a fifth seed in the league tournament. To date, the team compiled a 19-11 overall mark.
All-American and MWC MVP Erin Thorn leads the Cougar offense with an average of 19.1 points and 4.2 rebounds a game. Sophomore forward Danielle Cheesman follows in scoring and is averaging 11.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.
This season's roster has seen the return of MWC's 1999-2000 Newcomer of the Year Julie Whetten Sullivan who redshirted last year. She reclaimed her starting point-guard spot contributing 6.7 points and 3.1 rebounds, but as of Jan. 13 will not continue to play suffering a torn ACL. UVSC junior transfer Kestlee Nelson has replaced Sullivan at the starting point guard spot. Nelson contributes 4.0 points and 1.9 rebounds a game.
Sophomore Kali Taylor started in nine games and has played in all games to date. Her stats include averaging 4.5 points and 1.9 rebounds per game.
Kanab, Utah native center Ashleigh Chamberlain, who became academically eligible in January has gotten the starting nod in nine of the last 20 games. She tallies 4.2 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. UCSB transfer and senior Lisa Hansen continues to come off the bench with her team contribution of 3.7 points and 2.8 rebounds a game. Sophomore forward and Boise State transfer Kristin Kozlowski has started in the last three games and is averaging 1.9 points and 1.7 rebounds a game. Kozlowski got her first BYU start against UNLV on Mar. 12 at this year's MWC Championships.
Utah high school standouts Jennie Overdiek, Nancy Seljaas and Ambrosia Anderson from Colorado Springs, Colorado are also contributing to this year's Cougar effort. Overdiek, who has started in the last 11 games, had a career high 15 points vs UNLV on 1/25/03 and a career high 12 rebounds against the University of New Mexico on 3/15/03. Seljaas picked up season highs in points with 13 against the Air Force Academy on 2/8/03. In that game she also tallied a season high six boards. Anderson has also had strong performances this year including a career high 14 points against UNLV on 2/20/03.
Cougars rotating lineup (2002-03)
Lineup Record
1. Thorn, Sullivan, Leitner, Hansen, Cheesman 5-1
2. Thorn, Sullivan, Anderson, Hansen, Cheesman 1-2
3. Thorn, Sullivan, Leitner, Taylor, Cheesman 3-1
4. Thorn, Nelson, Leitner, Taylor, Cheesman 2-1
5. Thorn, Nelson, Leitner, Chamberlain, Cheesman 1-0
6. Thorn, Nelson, Taylor, Hansen, Cheesman 0-1
7. Thorn, Nelson, Overdiek, Chamberlain, Cheesman 5-3
8. Thorn, Nelson, Taylor, Chamberlain, Cheesman 0-1
9. Thorn, Nelson, Overdiek, Cheesman, Kozlowski 2-1
byu at 2003 mwc championships
Quarterfinal Game - Las Vegas, Nevada, Thomas & Mack Center
The Cougars were in the league's tournament title game in each of the past four seasons while the event was held in Las Vegas. In this year's run, the Cougar women came into the tourney seeded fifth after tying for third place with UNM and UNLV during the regular season schedule.
During the quarterfinal game against the Rebels, the very closely contested game went into overtime before BYU was able to clinch the two-point 66-64 victory. Senior All-American Erin Thorn had her best season scoring output with 34 points. She led all scores in the game. The Cougars shot 42 percent from the field and 69 percent at the free throw line and were down by four, 26 to 30 at the break.
Semifinal Game - (same venue)
In the next game, it was a battle of instate rivals as BYU met up with regular season champions, Utah. The Utes had beat the Cougars both times during the league race. But this time it was all BYU as they enjoyed a four-point 28-24 advantage after 20 minutes of action. Once again it was Erin Thorn leading the Cougar effort with her second straight 30-plus point performance. This time she tallied 30 points and was perfect (11-11) from the free throw line. BYU shut down Utah's Kim Smith, holding her for a season low seven points. The Utes shot 40 percent from the field to BYU's 57 percent. And the Cougars were able to outrebound Utah 32 to 23 for the first time this year.
Championship Game (same venue)
For the fourth straight time, the Cougars were in the title game, this time the team battled the Lobos of New Mexico, a team they had split with during the regular season. During the first half of action, both teams battled and kept the game close with BYU taking a two-point 24-22 lead at the break. In the second half, the Cougars fell behind 43-48 with a minute in the game after New Mexico took advantage of BYU turnovers to go on an 8-0 run. The Cougars made a few last minute shots, but could not make up the difference, falling 46-52 to the Lobos. Both teams had a poor shooting performance in the contest with BYU getting just 35 percent from the field while UNM shot 32 percent from the field.
two cougars on mwc all-tournament team
Erin Thorn and Danielle Cheesman were named to the 2003 EAS MWC Women's Basketball Championship All-Tournament Team. The award was the fourth straight for Thorn and the first for Cheesman.
tHorn, Cheesman Get MWC post season Accolades
Erin Thorn - First Team All-Conference (4th straight honor)
Danielle Cheesman - Second Team All-Conference
Media Picks Cougars MWC regular season Champs
During this year's MWC Basketball Media Day, the media picked BYU to win this year's regular season title capturing eight of the 15 first-place votes.
Senior guard and All-American Erin Thorn earned Top Returning Player honors.
She was joined on the squad by five additional seniors, including teammate Jennifer Leitner. Colorado State's Ashley Augspurger, New Mexico's Jordan Adams, UNLV's Constance Jinks and Wyoming's Carrie Bacon are the other conference players honored.
2002-03 Mountain West Conference Preseason Media Poll
Rk. Team (1st-place votes) Pts
1. BYU (8) 110
2. Colorado State (7) 103
3. New Mexico (1) 91
4. Utah 70
5. UNLV 69
6. Wyoming 49
7. San Diego State 31
8. Air Force 17
2002-03 MWC Women's Basketball Preseason All-Conference Team
Jennifer Leitner, Sr., F BYU
Erin Thorn, Sr., G BYU
Ashley Augspurger, Sr., F Colorado State
Jordan Adams, Sr., C New Mexico
Constance Jinks, Sr., G UNLV
Carrie Bacon, Sr., F Wyoming
2002-03 MWC Women's Basketball Preseason Top Returning Player
Erin Thorn, Sr., G BYU
2003 NCAA First/second round BYU opponents
University of Colorado - no. 6 seed
The Buffaloes from the University of Colorado compiled a 22-7 record, finishing 11-5 and in fourth place in the Big 12 Conference. This is Colorado's 11th-ever NCAA tournament appearance, the third at-large selection in a row. Three players score in double figures for the Buffaloes with junior center Tera Bjorklund toping the average at 17.9 points per game and 6.6 rebounds per game. Next is junior guard Kate Fagan with 10.4 points and 2.9 rebounds. Senior forward Sabrina Scott rounds out the double figure scoring with 10.0 points and tops the list in the rebound category, grabbing 6.9 boards a game. As a team, CU shoots 44 percent from the field, 75 percent from the free throw line and shoot 36 percent from behind the arc. The Buffaloes and Cougars played three common opponents. CU beat Wyoming and CSU and lost twice to Texas. BYU split with MWC foes Wyoming and CSU each winning on their home courts. The Cougars beat Texas 79-63 to open the 2003 at home.
CU Probable Starters
Pos. # Name Ht. Yr. PPG RPG
F, 22 Sabrina Scott 6-2 Sr 10.0 6.9
F, 13 Linda Lappe 6-0 Sr 8.2 4.1
C, 50 Tera Bjorklund 6-5 Jr 17.9 6.6
G, 1 Kate Fagan 5-9 Jr 10.4 2.9
G, 10 Maria Billingsley 5-6 Jr 3.4 1.3
Series Record: 7-7. At Coors Events Arena BYU is 2-4.
Last Meeting: The last time these two teams met was during the 1999 WNIT hosted by the Buffaloes. In that contest Colorado beat BYU 70-53 in the first round . That post season appearance was the first for the Cougars since 1993 when they participated in the NCAA tournament, losing in the first round.
University of North Carolina - no. 3 seed
The University of North Carolina finished the regular season with a 27-5 record, 13-3 in the ACC. As a team, the Tarheels shoot 44 percent from the field, 61 percent from the line and 35 percent from three-point range. The team has three players scoring in double digits with senior guard Coretta Brown's 14.4 points and 3.6 rebounds. Others in double digits include 6-0 sophomore forward/guard Nikita Bell with 11.3 points and 5.3 rebounds, and Candace Sutton, a 6-6 junior center who's averaging 10.8 points and 5.8 rebounds. La'Tangela Atkinson has started in 19 games and leads the team in the rebound category, grabbing 8.2 boards a game.
North Carolina Probable Starters
Pos. # Name Ht. Yr. PPG RPG
F, 10 Jennifer Thomas 6-1 Sr 5.4 4.8
F/G, 30 Nikita Bell 6-0 So 11.3 5.3
C, 15 Candace Sutton 6-6 Jr 10.8 5.8
G/F, 22 La'Tangela Atkinson 6-1 Fr 9.9 8.2
G, 14 Coretta Brown 5-8 Sr 14.4 3.6
Series Record: 0-0
Last Meeting: This will be the first game between the two schools
Austin Peay - no. 14 seed
The Austin Peay women's basketball team is making its third straight NCAA appearance. The Lady Govs compiled a 27-3, 16-0 record and won the regular season and tournament championship in the Ohio Valley conference. They are currently on a 22-game winning streak. Senior guard Brooke Armistead is APSU's leading scorer with an average of 18.4 points and 3.0 rebounds per game. She's followed by teammate Gerlonda Hardin a 6-1 junior forward. Her stats include 15.1 points and a team-high 8.1 rebounds a game. Ashley Haynes rounds out the top scoring on the tam with a season average 11.3 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. The Lady Govs shoot 48 percent from the field, 73 percent from the free throw line and are a 38 percent shooting team from three-point range.
Austin Peay Probable Starters
Pos. # Name Ht. Yr. PPG RPG
F, 52 Garlonda Hardin 6-1 Jr 15.1 8.1
G/F, 44 Ashley Haynes 5-10 Fr 11.3 6.4
G, 12 Kera Bergeron 5-9 Fr 8.8 1.7
G, 11 Paige Smith 5-8 Sr 8.8 2.8
G, 10 Brooke Armistead 5-9 Sr 18.4 3.0
Series Record: 0-0
Last Meeting: First time contest between the two schools
Thorn watch
Erin Thorn - 5-10 Senior Guard, Orem, Utah/Mountain View HS
u Senior Erin Thorn was picked as a 2002-03 Pre-Season College All-America Second Team honoree.
u Thorn was also named to the "Players to Watch" list for the 2003 Senior CLASS Award, but did not make the final list of 10 players.
u Stats to date include scoring in double figures in all but two games, tallying a season high 34 points twice, vs UNLV on 3/12/03 and against Montana State on Dec. 30. Thorn also had back to back 30+ point games during this year's MWC Championship (34) vs UNLV and (30) against Utah. This was the first time in her stellar career that she accomplished this feat. She continues to be the team's leading scorer with an average of 19.1 points, is third on the list in rebounds with 4.2 boards a game and has tallied a team high 171 assists to date, that's an average of 5.7 per game. Thorn had 21 straight free throws before missing one against the University of Denver on 1/4/03.
u Thorn has scored at least one three-pointer in 38 consecutive games to date.
COUGARS IN THE MWC (final conf games only)
TEAM
Category Place Avg/G
pScoring Offense 1st 67.8
pScoring Defense 3rdT 59.3
pScoring Margin 3rd 67.8 off/59.3 deff, +8.5
pFree Throw % 4th .747, 130-174
pField Goal % 1st .449, 354-788
p 3-PT Field Goal % 1st .429, 111-259
pRebounding Offense 4th 34.6
pRebounding Defense 1st 31.6
pRebounding Margin 2nd +2.9
pBlocked Shots 2nd 2.93
pAssists 1st 17.64
pSteals 4th 8.86
pTurnover Margin 4th +1.36
pAssist/Turnover Ratio 1st 17.6 ast.avg; 16.4 to avg, 1.08
pOffensive Rebounds 6th 10.64
pDefensive Rebounds 3rd 23.93
p3-PT Field Goals Made 1st 7.93
INDIVIDUAL
Category Place Avg/G
pScoring: Erin Thorn 2nd 18.4
pScoring: D. Cheesman 11th 11.0
pRebounding: D. Cheesman 13th 5.4
pAssists: Erin Thorn 1st 6.79
pAssists: Kestlee Nelson 7th 3.07
pSteals: Erin Thorn 3rd 2.43
pFree Throw %: Erin Thorn 1st .906, 29-32
pAssist/Turnover Ratio: K. Nelson 1st 43 A, 3.1 avg; 11T, 0.8 avg; 3.91 ratio
pAssist/Turnover Ratio: E. Thorn 2nd 95 A, 6.8 avg; 43T, 3.1 avg; 2.21 ratio
pField Goal %: Erin Thorn 6th .462 (92-199)
pField Goal %: D. Cheesman 10th .441 (64-145)
p3-PT FG%: Kestlee Nelson 1st .536 (15-28)
p3-PT FG%: Erin Thorn 4th .425 (45-106)
p3-PT FG Made: Erin Thorn 1st 3.21 (45)
p3-PT FG Made: Kestlee Nelson 12thT 1.07 (15)
pBlocked Shots: Erin Thorn 8thT 0.71 (10)
pBlocked Shots: Lisa Hansen 11thT 0.57 (8)
pOffensive Reb: D. Cheesman 10th 1.86 (26)
pDefensive Reb: D. Cheesman 15th 3.57 (50)
2002-03 REturning player bios
51 Danielle Chessman ---- (6-2 Sophomore Forward, Orem, UT/Mountain View HS) 2002-03: Picked up her fourth double double of her career wit 11 points and 11 rebounds against UNLV on 2/20/03...tallied a season and career high 21 points against Montana State at home on 12/30/02...has had her second highest points output with 20 points twice, vs. UNLV on 3/12/03 and against NC State on 12/14/02...had her third double-double of her career and second this season with 10 points and 10 rebounds against George Washington on 12/11/02...picked up her second double-double of her career with 16 points and 10 rebounds in the game against Oregon on 12/07/02...fouled out in the game against Weber State on 11/30/02 with over eight minutes to go in the contest..she tallied 10 points and seven rebounds against SUU on 12/3/02.
2001-2002: Played in all 33 games, starting in the last 19 of the season...averaged 8.6 points and 4.4 rebounds....was team's second leading rebounder...named to the MWC Academic All-Conference Team with a GPA of 3.00 in an undeclared major...picked up a season high 16 points and 12 rebounds vs New Mexico on 2/16/02.
45 Lisa Hansen ---- (6-5 Senior Center, Bakersfield, CA/Centennial HS/UCSB) 2002-03: Lisa picked up a season and career high six blocks in the game against Boise State on 11/27/02.. started in 10 games so far. 2001-2002: Played in all 33 games for the season...averaging 2.5 points and 2.3 rebounds a game...named to the MWC Academic All-Conference Team with a GPA of 3.31 in History...tallied a season high 10 points and six rebounds at Weber State on 12/01/01. 2000-01: Redshirt.
20 Brittany Larson ---- (6-0 Senior Forward, Chicago, IL/New Trier HS)
2002-03: Played in her first game against UNLV 3/12/03, since breaking her hand on Feb. 17. She was out for three weeks... has played in all games. 2001-2002: Played in 27 games with an average of 1.6 points and 0.9 rebounds per game...also had an average of 6.5 minutes of playing time per game...tallied a season high eight points vs. Washington State on 11/24/01 and a year high four rebounds per game.
2000-2001: Played in 17 games...averaged 1.6 points a game and 1.1 rebounds a game. 1999-2000: Played in 10 games during her first season with BYU...averaged 4.5 minutes of playing time...tallied five points and two assists.
21 Jennifer Leitner ---- (6-1 Senior Forward, Chico, CA/Pleasant Valley HS) 2002-03: Was suspended from the team for breaking team rules indefinitely as of Friday, Jan. 31, 2003...Garnered her second career MWC Player of the Week honor on Jan. 6 after her stellar performance that saw the Cougars go 2-1 on the week. Her stats included posting a game-high 12 rebounds with six points and four assists against No. 22 Santa Barbara. Leitner capped the week with 15 points, four rebounds and five assists in a win over Denver. For the week, Leitner averaged 13 points, 11.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists, while shooting 57.7 percent from the field (15-26), 70 percent from the free throw line (7-10) and 66.7 percent from beyond the arc (2-3). Picked up her 14th career double-double with a team and game high 18 points and game high 17 rebounds in the Cougars 51-65 loss to UCSB on 1/2/03...had her 13th career double-double in the game vs University of San Francisco where she tallied 28 points and 11 points...her 28 points in the game were also a career and season high... picked up her 12th career double double and her first of this season with 18 points and 17 rebounds against Boise State..tallied 11 rebounds against SUU on 12/3/02. 2001-02: Played in 30 games, starting in 29 compiling a total of 357 points for an average of 11.9 per game...second leading scorer and leading rebounder on the team averaging 8.7 boards a game...named to the 2002 MWC All --Tournament Team...and to the MWC All-Conference Second Team...also honored as an MWC Academic All-Conference with a GPA of 3.12 in physical education... named Cougar Club Scholar Athlete.... was named MWC Player of the Week on Feb. 25 after her stellar performance against the University of Utah that included her eighth double-double of the year with a team high 18 points and 12 rebounds...tallied a total of 11 double-doubles for the season ...had a season high 18 points vs UNLV on 2/28/02 and a season high 17 rebounds vs Florida in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on 3/16/02. 2000-2001: Played in 20 games with an average of 6.5 ppg and 5.4 rpg....finished the season as the team's second leading rebounder...had season and career high 21 points against Hawai'i in the second round of the WNIT on 3/19/01...in that game she picked up a double-double with 10 rebounds...also had a career and season high four assists in the game against Utah at the MWC Championships on 3/9/01.
1999-2000: Played in all 31 games, starting in one....averaged 7.5 ppg and 5.6 rpg...finished the year as the second leading rebounder with a total of 174, 113 of them defensive boards. 1998-99: Redshirt.
05 Amy Lewis ---- (5-6 Senior Guard, Jefferson City, MT/Jefferson City Hs/No. Idaho College) 2002-03: Has played in 12 games to date.
2001-02: Played in eighteen games averaging 3.4 minutes of playing time...tallied 14 points, four assists and nine rebounds per game.
25 Kali Taylor ---- (5-11 Sophomore Guard, Lyman, UT/Wayne HS)
2002-03: Had a season and career high 16 points vs Utah on 3/1/03...picked up a second season high 11 points in the home game against Denver...tallied her third season high 10 points in the game against Oregon on Dec. 7, 2002... had her first Cougar start on 12/30/02 vs Montana State , and since has started in nine of 30 games. 2001-2002: Played in 28 of 33 games averaging 5.6 minutes of playing time per game...tallied 1.2 points and 0.4 rebounds...had a season high 11 points vs. Washington State on 11/24/01 and six assists vs Arkansas Pine-Bluff at the Denver Pioneer Classic on 12/14/01.
11 Erin Thorn ---- (5-10 Senior Guard, Orem, UT/Mountain View HS)
2002-03: Picked her second 34-point performance of the year vs. UNLV on 3/12/03 in this year's MWC Championships, and she's had two consecutive 30-plus points ever in her career at this year's MWC tourney, at the tourney she also received her fourth straight MWC All-Tournament Team honor, prior to the league championship Thorn was also honored as an MWC All-Conference First Team award recipient, that honor was also her fourth consecutive accolade ...tallied her third career double double with 13 points and 10 assists in the game at Utah on 3/1/03...picked up a season-high six three-pointers against AF on 2/8/03... tallied a career high 12 assists against CSU on 2/15/03, in that game she also picked up her second career double double with 21 points and 12 assists...tied her career high nine assists vs MWC foe Wyoming on 1/18/03...in the win over the University of Denver she picked up her first ever double-double with 10 points and a career high 14 rebounds...picked up a season high 34 points at home vs Montana State on 12/30/02....her second best season high was 24 points, 21 of which came from behind the arc against SUU on 12/3/02...tallied a season high eight three pointers in the same game...continues to led the team in scoring in all games to date...was named MWC Player of the Week on Nov. 25, 2002 after her 19 points and six rebounds vs. ,11th ranked Texas. The honor was the third overall for Thorn.
2001-02: Started in all 33 games...averaging 17.3 points and 4.0 rebounds a game....was team's leading scorer for the third consecutive year...picked up the MWC MVP trophy for her performance at the 2002 MWC Championships in Las Vegas where she tallied eight treys in a game vs Wyoming on 3/6/02 and 13 3-pt field goal attempts in that same game...also tallied a total of 60 points for the 2002 tournament in three games...named to the MWC All-Tournament Team and the MWC All-Conference First Team....garnered MWC Player of the Week for the Dec. 17, 2001 week after her strong performance in the University of Denver Pioneer Classic...at that tournament she picked up a season and career record high nine-three pointers in the game against Arkansas Pine-Bluff, the nine treys set a new BYU record for treys in a game for both the men's and women's team....had a season high 29 points against Arkansas Pine-Bluff on 12/14/01...eight rebounds at Boise State on 11/16/01 and season high nine assists vs Colorado State on 1/10/02. 2000-2001: Started in all games...finished the season as the team's leading scorer with an average of 15.5 points and 4.5 rebounds a game...had career and season
high 36 points and eight three-pointers against Arizona on 11/18/00...those eight three-pointers tie her with Kari Gallup for record three-pointers in a
game...named to the MWC All Conference First Team and to the MWC All-Tournament Team. 1999-2000: Started in all 31 games...averaged 13.2 ppg and 3.5 rpg...finishing the year as the team's leading scorer...led the team in assists with a total of 114 and an average of 3.7 per game...also led the team in steals
with 61 her first season with BYU...scored in double digits in 24 games...was the MWC Player of the Week on December 6 after picking up a career and season high 25 points against Idaho State on December 1, netting 7-of-9 three-pointers which also put her in second place on the BYU chart for treys in a game....named to the Women's Basketball News Service National All-Freshman All-America team...also named Second Team All MWC and Freshman of the Year...named to the MWC All Tournament Team.
2002-03 REturning redshirt player BIOS
03 Maria Chiara ---- (5-8 Junior Guard, Hamilton, New Zealand/Casper Junior College) 2002-03: Has yet to play this season. 2001-2002:
Redshirt
40 Ashleigh Chamberlain ---- (6-4 Junior Center, Kanab, UT/Kanab HS/UVSC) 2002-03: Picked up season highs in points (12) vs SDSU on 2/22/03 at the Marriott Center...had a season high (8) rebounds vs UNLV on 3/12/03 ... started in her first game as a BYU Cougar vs Wyoming on 1/18/03...since, has started in a total of nine games and has played in the last 20...she became academically eligible to play on Jan. 2. 2001-2002: Redshirt
12 Angy Gatten ---- (5-6 Senior Junior, Jefferson City, MT/Jefferson City
HS/No. Idaho College) 2002-03: Has played in 12 games to date...tallied a season and career high eight points @ Air Force on 3/06/03.
2001-02: Redshirt.
32 Kristin Kozlowski ---- (6-2 Sophomore Forward, Centerville, UT/Centerville HS/Boise State) 2002-03: Started in her first game as a Cougar on 3/12/03 and has been on the starting line up since then..had a season high 10 points and six rebounds vs the Air Force Academy on 3/06/03....played in her first game as a Cougar vs Univ of Denver on 01/04/03. 2001-2002: Redshirt
14 Julie Sullivan ---- (5-8 Sophomore Guard, Silver City, NM/Silver City HS)
2002-03: The season ended o Mon., Jan. 13 for Julie when she suffered a torn ACL during practice....had starter all games through the ISU game on 1/07/03 ...picked up a season high nine assists in that gam...had a season high 15 points against Alabama on Dec. 21...tallied 10 points, five assists and five rebounds vs NC State on 12/14/02...did not play in the second half of the game vs. Oregon due to a pulled muscle...picked up a season high 12 points in the game on Dec. 5 vs. USF...had season high seven assists vs Boise State on 11/27/02. 2001-2002: Redshirt
2000-2001: Played in all games...contributing 5.2 points and 1.8 rebounds a game...had season and career high 15 points against Wyoming on 2/17/01...had a season and career high eight assists against Air Force on 3/3/01 named MWC Newcomer of the Year.
2002-03 newcomer player bios
33 Ambrosia Anderson ---- (6-2 Freshman Forward, Colorado Springs, CO/Doherty HS) 2002-03: Picked up a season high 14 points against UNLV on 2/20/03...had a season and career high 11 rebounds vs New Mexico on 2/6/03...started in four games to date and has played in all games to date. Before BYU: Two-time All-State, All-Area, All-Star in basketball ...named Top 70 Blue Chip Player...named in the Top 25 Street & Smith Basketball team.
04 Kestlee Nelson ---- (5-8 Junior Guard, Sandy, Utah Alta HS/UVSC) 2002-03: Picked up a career and season high 17 points vs Utah on 3/1/03...tallied her first start as a Cougar on Jan. 16 vs CSU...had played in all games up until that date... in her first start she had five assists and in the game vs Wyoming on 1/18/03 had a season and career high 12 points all coming from three-point range...picked up a season high seven points in the game vs Idaho State on 1/7/03. At UVSC: Female Athlete of the Year in 2002...Team MVP in 2002...First Team All-Region...All-America Honorable Mention...averaged 12.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.8 steals per game...athletic honor roll. Before BYU: Team MVP in 2000...three-time All-Region honoree...Academic All-Region....All-State in 2000.
15 Jennie Overdiek ---- (5-10 Freshman Guard, Syracuse, Utah Clearfield HS/UVSC) 2002-03: Has started in the last 11 games ...picked up a season and career high 12 rebounds vs UNM on 3/15/03... has played in all games to date..had a career high 15 points against UNLV on 1/25/03...played a season high 37 minutes vs CSU on 2/15/03.
Before BYU: Academic All-State... graduated top three percent of class with honors...three-time basketball team MVP...led team in rebounds for four straight years...was team scoring leader three season...four-year letterwinner in women's basketball...named Region I MVP twice...made the All-State First Team three times and Second Team All State once.... named Utah Gatorade Player of the Year in 2002...was also an All-State performer in soccer...lettered two years in soccer and one in volleyball.
01 Nancy Seljaas ---- (6-0 Freshman Guard/Forward, Bountiful, Utah/Bountiful HS) 2002-03: Has played in 28 games to date...picked up a season high 13 points and six rebounds vs Air Force on 2/8/03. Before BYU: Three-time honor roll student...three-time basketball MVP...team captain twice...UWBCA 2002 4A Region Five Player of the Year ...Clipper Newspaper District MVP in 2002...two-time Clipper First Team All-District honoree...two-time UWBCA 4A Region Five First Team...Deseret News Ms. Basketball of Utah in 2002...Salt Lake Tribune 4A MVP in 2002...two-time Deseret News First Team All-State...two-time Salt Lake Tribune First Team All-State...in her senior year averaged 23.3 points a game...six rebounds per game...2.2 steals and 3.6 assists per game... also lettered in volleyball.
travel/practices/press conferences in boulder
