Southern California Bound, Final Road Games In Malibu

With a 6-2record BYU's women's basketball team heads to Malibu, Calif., to participate in the Hilton Woodland Hills Beach Classic, Dec. 20-21. The Cougars battle No. 14 Vanderbilt on Dec. 20 at 5 p.m., and either Pepperdine or Wright State on Tues., Dec. 21.

2004 Hilton Woodland Hills Beach Classic Dec. 20-21, 2004. All games played at Firestone Fieldhouse on the Pepperdine University Campus.

Teams: BYU (5-2) vs. Vanderbilt (7-1) Date: 12/20 Time: 5 p.m. Arena: Firestone Fieldhouse

Teams: BYU (5-2) vs. Pepperdine (2-7) Date: 12/21 Time: 5 p.m. Arena:Firestone Fieldhouse

OR

Teams: BYU (5-2) vs. Wright State (5-3) Date: 12/21 Time: 7:15 p.m. Arena:Firestone Fieldhouse

Follow the women's basketball action live on BYU Radio

All of the women's basketball games can be heard live on BYU radio via the internet. Veteran BYU broadcaster Jay Monsen calls the action. Fans can also access BYU Radio on the Dish Network.

BYU's Probable Starters

Pos. # Name Ht. Yr. PPG RPG

G/F 01 Nancy Seljaas 6-0 Jr 4.8 2.1

G 14 Julie Sullivan 5-8 Sr 10.3 2.6

F 35 Melinda Johnsen 5-10 So 2.8 2.0

F 32 Kristin Kozlowski 6-2 Sr 12.0 4.6

F 51 Danielle Cheesman 6-2 Sr 8.9 9.4

Cougar Players Off The Bench

Pos. # Name Ht. Yr. PPG RPG

F 33 Ambrosia Anderson 6-2 Jr 13.1 7.1

G 30 Mallary Gillespie 5-10 Fr 9.1 1.9

F 50 Mary Martha Abell 6-3 Fr 2.9 1.9

C 52 Lauren Riley 6-3 Fr 2.5 1.1

G/F 25 Kali Taylor 5-11 Sr 2.7 1.7

G 13 Tiari Goold 5-7 So 0.9 0.9

F/G 15 Jennie Keele 5-10 Jr. 0.6 0.4

G 10 Laura Stratton 5-6 Jr 0.4 0.6

2004-05 Team Stats --

4 Shooting from the field: (.454, 205-452)

4 Shooting from the free-throw line: (.724, 105-145)

4 Shooting from three-point line: (.368, 43-117)

4 Average points per game: 69.8

Previous Game Recap

Senior Julie Sullivan scored a season-high 21 points as BYU defeated USC 76-73, Saturday in the Marriott Center.

Sullivan played 36 minutes and scored a season-high 21 points and

came within one point of her career high, hitting big shots throughout the game but fouled out with just over a minute to play.

Ambrosia Anderson sparked the Cougars off the bench with her sixth double figure scoring night of the season with 15 points and pulled down nine rebounds, seven coming in the second period alone. Danielle Cheesman tapped her ninth career double double and second this season scoring 11 points while grabbing a team-high 10 rebounds.

In the first half, BYU shot the ball well shooting 58.3 percent from the field, but looked tired defensively giving up 15 offensive rebounds to the Trojans while turning the ball over 13 times.

BYU played much more physical and maintained composure hitting clutch shots in the second half of action. Freshman Lauren Riley played eight physical minutes in place of Chessman who was in foul trouble scoring six big points in relief.

About BYU

u To date, the Cougars have compiled a 6-2 record.

u The team's leading scorer is junior forward Ambrosia Anderson, who tallies 13.1points.

u Senior forward Danielle Cheesman tops the list in the rebound category with 9.4 per game.

u Cheesman picked up her second double double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds vs. USC on 12/18/04. It was her ninth overall.

u Cheesman is nearing BYU's elite 1,000 point club. She needs 15 points to reach the list. She's currently at 976.

u Senior point guard Julie Sullivan is one of the team's best free throw shooter, with a percentage of .806, (29-36).

u Sullivan has scored in double figures in five of eight games to date.

u Ambrosia Anderson's points are all coming off the bench. She's averaging 23 minutes of playing time per game.

u Anderson picked up her first double double of the 2004-05 campaign with the 20 points and 12 rebounds against SEMO on 12/10/04.

u To date, Kristin Kozlowski has scored in double figures in four games.

u In the past seven games, the Cougars have shot 50 percent or better from the field three times, vs. USC on 12/18/04 (55.3, 26-47), vs. GW on 12/06/04 (50.0, 27-54) and vs. SUU on 11/19/04 (52.6, 30-57).

u Freshman Mallary Gillespie put in seven three pointers in the game vs. Nevada on 11/24/04, that's two shy of BYU's all-time record holder in three pointers, Erin Thorn. Thorn tallied nine treys vs. Arkansas Pine-Bluff at a tournament in Denver on 12/14/01.

About Vanderbilt

The No. 14 ranked Commodores head into the tournament with an impressive 7-1 record. The team's lone lost was to Western Kentucky on Dec 9, a 77-85 loss. Four Vanderbilt players currently score in double figures with Ashley Earley, a senior guard/forward leading the pack. She's averaging 19.6 points and a team high 10.0 rebounds a game. Sophomore forward Carla Thomas follows with 16.6 points and 6.5 boards. Dee Davis, a 5-7 sophomore guard is next with 14.5 points, and rounding out the scoring in double digits is Abi Ramsey with 12.5 points a game. As a team, Vanderbilt is shooting 53 percent from the field, 76 percent at the free throw line and 36 percent from three-point range. The team is scoring 88 points and holding opponents to just 51.9 points a game. On the road, the Commodores currently have a 2-1 record and have not played on a neutral court yet this year.

Vanderbilt Probable Starters

Pos. # Name Ht. Yr. PPG RPG

G 4 Katie Antony 5-10 So 7.4 4.1

G 10 Dee Davis 5-7 So 14.5 2.9

G 20 Abi Ramsey 5-10 Sr 12.5 1.6

F 32 Ashley Early 5-10 Sr 19.6 10.0

F 50 Carla Thomas 6-3 So 16.6 6.5

Series Record: 0-0

Last Meeting: This will be the first meeting between the two schools.

About Pepperdine

Pepperdine is hosting this year's Hilton Woodlands Hills Beach Classic. The Waves have compiled a 2-7 record to date, picking up wins over Cal State Fullerton and Cal State Northridge. Pepperdine returns two starters and eight letterwinners. Jennifer Lacy is the team's leading scorer with 14.9 points and a team high 8.7 rebounds a game. Others who contribute on the offense include Lauren Wenski with 9.6 points and Teiosha George with 7.0 points a game. The Waves are scoring 53.44 points a game and allowing opponents to score 64.3 points. Head Coach Julie Rousseau is in her first season at Pepperdine.

Pepperdine Probable Starters

Pos. # Name Ht. Yr. PPG RPG

G 3 Syreeta Stafford 5-6 Sr 5.3 3.3

G 20 Lauren Wenski 5-9 So 9.6 1.7

F 21 Jennifer Lacy 6-3 Sr 14.9 8.7

F 25 Kelsey Ball 6-1 Jr 5.6 3.6

C 44 Teiosha George 6-4 Fr 7.0 6.3

Series Record: 1-1

Last Meeting: Pepperdine and BYU last met during the 1983 season where the Cougars defeated the Waves 98-78 in the LBS Tournament. The other time was back in 1979 where Pepperdine picked up the home win by one point, 67-66.

About Wright State

Coming in to this tournament, Wright State has compiled a 5-4 record. The Raiders are part of the Horizon League Conference. Four players are currently scoring in double figures for Wright State. Brittney Whiteside, a 5-9 sophomore guard leads the way with 15.4 points and a team high 8.3 rebounds per game. She's followed by Jeanette Woodberry with 13.9 points and she grabs 4.1 boards a game. Junior guard Rhea Mays scores 11.1 points and 1.8 rebounds per game and finally Angie Ott contributes 10.3 points and 5.0 boards a game. The Raiders shoot 41 percent from the field, 64 percent from the line and 29 percent from behind the arc. Wright State is scoring 70.9 points and allowing opponents just 67.6 points per game.

Wright State Probable Starters

Pos. # Name Ht. Yr. PPG RPG

G 15 Rhea Mays 5-5 Jr 11.1 1.8

G 14 Brittney Whiteside 5-9 So 15.4 8.8

G 5 Jeanette Woodberry 5-7 So 13.9 4.1

F 21 Whitney Lewis 6-0 Fr 7.8 7.0

F 50 Angie Ott 6-0 Sr 10.3 5.0

Series Record: 0-0

Last Meeting: This will be the first meeting between the two schools.

Head Coach - Jeff Judkins

Overall Record: 64-37, begins his fourth season at BYU.

Under Coach Judkins, the team has gone to back-to-back NCAA appearances as well as to the title games of the MWC Championships, winning the title game in 2001-02.

An all-state selection in basketball, football and baseball, Judkins played basketball for the University of Utah 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 (24), Jordan (22), Jenna (20), Jaime (17), Jaxson (14).

2004-05 Roster Breakdown

Seniors (4):

Danielle Cheesman, Kristen Kozlowski, Julie Sullivan, Kali Taylor

Juniors (5):

Ambrosia Anderson, Julie Cross, Jennie Keele (Overdiek), Nancy Seljaas, Laura Stratton

Sophomore (3):

Dani Kubik, Tiari Goold,Melinda Johnsen

Freshman (4):

Mary Martha Abell, Mallary Gillespie, Lauren Riley, Summer Sykes

By Position

Forward (6):

Mary Martha Abell, Ambrosia Anderson, Danielle Cheesman, Kristen Kozlowski,

Summer Sykes

Guard (6):

Julie Cross, Mallary Gillespie, Tiari Goold, Laura Stratton, Julie Sullivan, Kali Taylor

Guard/Forward (3):

Melinda Johnsen, Jennie Keele, Nancy Seljaas

Center /Forward(2):

Dani Kubik, Lauren Riley

Team's Practice Schedule/Media Interviews

The BYU team practices at the Marriott Center from 11 a.m., to 2 p.m., on Monday's, Wednesday's and Friday's. On Tuesday's , practice time is from 1 to 3 p.m., and from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m., on Thursdays.

Media interviews with coach Judkins and players can be done prior to or at the end of practice. All interviews must be scheduled in advance with the women's basketball athletic communications director, Norma Collett at 801-422-4908, 801-372-0989 during regular business hours or via email at: collett@byucougars.com

No interviews will be given the day of a game until after the game. Updated information on the women's basketball team is available 24 hours a day on the BYU web site at www.byucougars.com/basketball_w/

Stats on the team are updated on the web site every Monday morning. Media members may contact Norma Collett to receive news releases and game notes via email.

All working media personnel will be put on a media gate list for entry into the arena. The list will be available by the elevators near the main ticket office in the Marriott Center. No other credentials are needed. Media will be assigned a seat on press row to cover each home game.

Travel Plans

BYU departs for Los Angeles, Sunday. Dec. 19 at 3:10 p.m., on Delta flight #1564., arriving at 4:01 p.m. The team's hotel will be the Hilton, Woodland Hills, 6360 Canoga Ave., Woodland Hills, Calif. , 818-595-1000, 818-596-4578, fax.

The Cougars return to Salt Lake City on Wed., Dec. 22, leaving Los Angeles at 9:15 a.m., on Delta flight #377, arriving at 12:01 p.m.

What's Next

December ends with a home game against Weber State on the 30th. Tip off is set for 7 p.m.