BYU To Play Host To Nearby UVSC

After playing seven games on the year and compiling a perfect 7-0 record (the best start in school history), the BYU women's basketball team is at home hosting UVSC on Sat., Dec., 17. Tip off for the instate game is set for 3 p.m.

Teams:BYU(7-0) vs.UVSC (2-6) Date: 12/17/05 Time: 3 p.m. Arena: Marriott Center

Follow the women's basketball action live on BYU Radio

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

COUGARTV -- LIVE VIDEO ON YOUR COMPUTER

The athletic department is proud to announce the launch of CougarTV beginning this Saturday, Dec. 17 with a live internet broadcast of the home women's basketball game between BYU and UVSC scheduled for 3 p.m. (MDT)

Thanks to a partnership with CSTV Online, BYU fans now have the opportunity to watch live internet games via a computer with a high speed internet connection.

CougarTV is offering a one-month trial price of $6.95 or fans can purchase the rest of the 2005-06 season for $39.95. The remaining schedule consists of nearly 80 home events like women's basketball, men's volleyball, women's gymnastics, baseball and softball through May 2006.

To sign up go to the CSTV sign-up button and follow the directions.

BYU's Probable Starters

Pos. # Name Ht. Yr. PPG RPG

G/F 15 Jennie Keele 5-10 Jr 3.7 3.4

G 30 Mallary Gillespie 5-10 So 10.0 6.0

F 35 Melinda Johnsen 5-10 Jr 4.3 5.0

F 33 Ambrosia Anderson 6-2 Sr 22.1 9.7

C 45 Dani Kubik 6-3 Jr 10.0 6.0

Cougar Players Off The Bench

Pos. # Name Ht.Yr. PPG RPG

F 01 Nancy Seljaas 6-0 Sr 3.6 1.6

G 10 Laura Stratton 5-6 Sr 1.3 1.0

G 23 Brit Brown 5-7 So 0.8 0.4

G 24 Vanessa Hutson 5-8 Fr 3.9 2.0

G/F 32 Shawnee Slade 5-11Fr 2.7 1.3

F 41 Brittany Faddis 6-0 Fr 1.6 0.6

C 52 Lauren Riley 6-3 So 7.1 6.4

2005-06 Team Stats --

-- Shooting from the field: (.441, 186-422)

-- Shooting from the free-throw line: (.654 , 85-130)

-- Shooting from three-point line: (.336, 42-125)

-- Average points per game: 71.3

Notables in 2005-06

-- Leading scorer: Ambrosia Anderson - 22.1ppg

-- Leading rebounder: Ambrosia Anderson - 9.1 rpg

-- Assist leader: Mallary Gillespie- 3.4apg

-- Blocks leader: A. Anderson - 5 to date

-- Steals leader: Melinda Johnsen - 12 to date, 1.7 spg

-- BYU's 7-0 start is the best beginning in BYU history. During the 2002-03 season they went 5-0 through the first five games before the team's first loss.

-- Two Cougars have scored in double figures in five of the seven games played so far this year.

-- In the game vs. NAU, BYU shot 50.8 percent, the first game of the year for the team.

-- BYU has outrebounded all of its opponents to date.

-- The 34-point margin of victory in the NAU game, is the largest of the season.

Cougar Honors To Date

Ambrosia Anderson was named the M WC Player of the Week on Nov. 28, marking her first career honor.

Anderson led the Cougars to a 71-67 road victory over Pac-10 foe UCLA and a 72-39 routing of UC Santa Barbara.ý She tallied a career-high 26 points and nine rebounds against the Bruins. In the home opener against UCSB, Anderson tallied 21 points and pulled down 12 boards, marking her first double-double of the season, and seventh overall.

Last Game

vs. NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY

Led by senior Ambrosia Anderson, BYU dominated Northern Arizona in a 34-point victory, 82-48.

The first half was all BYU, as the Cougars jumped out to a 14-9 lead, gradually extending that advantage throughout the first half. The Cougars went into the half with a 20-point lead, 38-18.

If there was something more impressive than the Cougars lead, it would have to be standout senior Anderson.

For Anderson, who came into the game averaging 21.5 points and 9.7 rebounds per game, it was business as usual. Playing just 13 minutes in first half, Anderson amassed 17 points, and she did it from the everywhere--inside and outside, driving and jump-shooting.

Two moves in particular showcased her finesse and feeling for the game. After scrambling to collect a lose ball, Anderson eyed an opening down the left lane. She drove, ducked under a Lumberjack defender for the bucket and one.

A few plays later on an inbound, Vanessa Hutson sent a lob to the opposite block for Anderson, who rose into the air and gently tapped the ball in for two points.

Shortly after the second half began, Judkins put the reigns on Ambrosia to give the other players some looks.

Anderson's 26 points ties her season and career highs. She has scored in double figures in every game this season.

The entire Cougar team played well and played together. Mallary Gillespie scored 12 points, including a long two and two three-pointers to begin the second half. She also contributed five assists and two steals. Lauren Riley added 12 points for the Cougars.

Player Injury Report

Sophomore forward Mary Martha Abell, from Monroe, Louisiana suffered a torn ACL injury to her knee in the exhibition game against Westminster College on Nov. 1. She will use this season as an injury redshirt year.

Head Coach - Jeff Judkins

Overall Record: 84-46, in his fifth season at BYU.

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 (25), Jordan (23), Jenna (21), Jaime (18), Jaxson (15).

This Week's Cougar Opponent

Utah Valley State

Nearby UVS is playing in its first year as a Div. I program. To date the Wolverines have tallied a 2-6 record and are 0-2 on the road. Freshman forward/center Robyn Fairbanks is one of three players scoring in double figures for UVS with 14.0 points and a team high 7.5 rebounds per game. She's followed by Senior Miriam Palkki, from Provo and Timpview HS, who tallies 11.6 points and is grabbing 6.6 boards a game. Sandy Marvin who prepped at Payson HS rounds out the top scoring on the team with 11.5 points and 2.9 rebounds per game. The Wolverines are shooting 36 percent from the field, 70 percent from the free throw line and 33 percent from behind the arc. UVS is picking up 64.5 points per game and allowing opponents 78.2 points. BYU alum Cathy Nixon is in her 11th season at Utah Valley State.

Utah Valley State Probable Starters

Pos. # Name Ht. Yr. PPG RPG

F 20 Ashley Grimm 6-0 Fr 6.0 4.4

F/C 44 Robyn Fairbanks 6-1 Fr 14.0 7.5

C 24 Miriam Palkki 6-1 Sr 11.6 6.6

G 25 Hollie Beaman 5-9 Fr 6.1 4.3

G 34 Sandy Marvin 5-6 Fr 11.5 2.9

Series Record: 0-0

Last time: Despite the fact that these two teams have played each other in recent history as exhibition games, this will be the first time the two programs meet in Div. I competition.

Up Next

BYU hosts North Carolina State on Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. After Christmas the Cougars will play at Weber State on Dec. 28 before finishing the year and pre-season schedule hosting Portland on Dec. 30.