League-Leading Cougars At Wyoming, Host SDSU

All alone in first place in the MWC standings, the 13-1, 3-0 BYU women's basketball team takes its five-game winning streak and 7-0 road record to Laramie for a Wed., Jan. 18 game against the Cowgirls (11-1,1-1). The team then returns to the Marriott Center to face SDSU ( 6-10-0-3) on Sat. Jan. 21. The Wyoming game tips off at 7 p.m., while the Cougars and Aztecs take to the court at 2 p.m.

Teams:BYU(13-1,3-0) vs. WYO (12-3, 2-2) Date: 01/18/06 Time: 7 p.m. Arena: Arena Aud.

Teams:BYU(13-1,3-0) vs. SDSU (3-11, 0-4) Date: 01/21/06 Time: 2 p.m. Arena: Marriott Ctr.

Follow the women's basketball action on BYU Radio

The Wyoming game on 01/16/06 will be tape delayed starting at 9 p.m. MDT. To follow the live action log on to www.byucougars.com/basketball_w/ and click on the schedule/results link for live stats of the game.

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.

BYU's Probable Starters

Pos. # Name Ht. Yr. PPG RPG

G/F 15 Jennie Keele 5-10 Jr 5.1 3.8

G 30 Mallary Gillespie 5-10 So 10.54.2

F 35 Melinda Johnsen 5-10 Jr 4.4 4.4

F 33 Ambrosia Anderson 6-2 Sr 20.47.9

C 45 Dani Kubik 6-3 Jr 8.6 5.7

Cougar Players Off The Bench

Pos. # Name Ht. Yr. PPG RPG

F 01 Nancy Seljaas 6-0 Sr 3.2 1.4

G 10 Laura Stratton 5-6 Sr 1.3 0.7

G 23 Brit Brown 5-7 So 0.5 0.4

G 24 Vanessa Hutson 5-8 Fr 3.1 1.5

G/F 32 Shawnee Slade 5-11 Fr 3.5 1.6

F 41 Brittany Faddis 6-0 Fr 1.0 0.4

C 52 Lauren Riley 6-3 So 6.6 6.3

C 54 Cassie King 6-3 Fr 1.2 1.4

2005-06 Team Stats --

-- Shooting from the field: (.430, 363-844)

-- Shooting from the free-throw line: (.618 , 141-228)

-- Shooting from three-point line: (.345, 87-252)

-- Average points per game: 68.1

Notables in 2005-06

-- Team breaks into top 25: Ranked 23rd by AP Poll on 01/16/06

-- Leading scorer: Ambrosia Anderson - 20.4 ppg

-- Leading rebounder: Ambrosia Anderson - 7.9 rpg

-- Assist leader: Melinda Johnsen- 3.57 apg

-- Blocks leader(s): A. Anderson- 9 to date and Lauren Riley- 7to date

-- Steals leader: Melinda Johnsen - 31 to date, 2.21 spg

-- BYU continues its best record and start in school history. During the 2002-03 season they went 5-0 through the first five games before the team's first loss.

-- BYU has outrebounded its opponents in 11 of 13 games to date

By The Numbers

2 games where the Cougars have shot at least 50 percent: vs. UNLV 01/14/06 and vs. NAU, 50.8

2 games where four players have scored in double figures (@ Stony Brook and @ UC Riverside)

10 games in which two players have scored in double figures

11 games where BYU has outrebounded opponents

14 games where Ambrosia Anderson has scored in double figures

34 biggest margin of victory, vs. NAU 82-48

BYU Team Gets Top 25 Ranking

For the first time since the 2002-03 season, BYU's women's basketball team and its 13-1 record breaks into this week's 01/16/06 AP Poll at the no. 23 spot. The team's last top 25 ranking came during the 2002-03 year when the Cougars had tallied a 5-1 record before losing at George Washington who was ranked 22nd, on 12/11/02. BYU also finished ranked 17th after its first-ever Sweet Sixteen finish in 2001-02.

Cougar Honors To Date

Ambrosia Anderson - named the M WC Player of the Week on Nov. 28, 2005

MWC PreSeason Poll

Cougars Picked To Finish 6th In PreSeason Poll

Rk. Team (1st-place votes) Points

1. Utah (23) 214

2. New Mexico (2) 180

3. TCU (1) 164

4. UNLV 137

5. Colorado State 117

6. BYU 107

7. Wyoming 90

8. San Diego State 45

9. Air Force 31

BYU IN Mountain West Conference Stats

TEAM ALL GAMES CONF. GMS.

Category Place Place

Scoring Offense 2nd, 68.1 ppg 2nd, 67.3

Scoring Defense 2nd, 53.9 ppg 3rd, 53.7

Scoring Margin 1st, +14.3 1st, +13.7

Free Throw Pct. 9th, .616 (141-229) 5th, .676

Field Goal Pct. 2nd, .430 (363-844) 2nd, .441

Field Goal Pct. Def.1st, .347 (274-790) 1st, .347

3-Point FG Pct. 2nd, .345, (87-252) 1st, .404

3-Point FG Pct. Def.2nd, .248, (54-218) 3rd, .246

Rebounding Offense 1st, 43.1 1st, 41.0

Rebounding Defense 5th, 36.3 4th(t), 35.3

Rebounding Margin 3rd, +6.8 2nd, +5.7

Assists 2nd, 15.50 4th, 15.67

Blocked Shots 9th, 2.36 7th(t), 2.67

Steals 3rd, 9.71 2nd, 9.00

Turnover Margin 7th, +0.71 6th, -0.67

Assist/Turnover Ratio 5th, 0.87 5th, 0.90

Offensive Rebounds 3rd, 14.14 3rd, 14.33

Defensive Rebounds 1st, 28.93 1st, 26.67

3-Point FG's Made 3rd, 6.21 2nd, 7.00

All Gms Conf. Gms.

Category Name Place Place

Scoring Ambrosia Anderson 1st, 20.4 1st, 19.3

Scoring Mallary Gillespie 20th, 10.5 12th(t), 12.0

Scoring Dani Kubik 28th, 8.6 28th, 8.7

Rebounding Ambrosia Anderson 3rd, 7.9 -- -- --

Rebounding Lauren Riley 11th, 6.4 5th, 7.3

Rebounding Dani Kubik 15th, 5.7 8th, 6.7

Rebounding Mallary Gillespie -- -- -- -- 9th(t), 6.3

Field Goal Pct. Dani Kubik 2nd, .533 (49-92)8th(t), .500 (11-22)

Field Goal Pct. Ambrosia Anderson 9th, .454, (113-249)-- -- --

Assists Melinda Johnsen 8th, 3.57 2nd, 5.00

Assists Mallary Gillespie 11th(t), 3.14 -- -- --

Assists Jennie Keele -- -- -- -- 14th(t), 3.000

Steals Melinda Johnsen 5th, 2.21 1st, 3.33

Free Throw Pct. Ambrosia Anderson -- -- -- 15th, .625 (10-16)

3-Point FG Pct. Vanessa Hutson -- -- -- 1st, .800 (4-5)

3-Point FG Pct. Shawnee Slade -- -- -- 2nd, .750 (3-4)

3-Point FG Pct. Ambrosia Anderson 6th, .384 (28-73)-- -- --

3-Point FG Pct. Mallary Gillespie 7th, .368 (28-76)13th, .375 (6-16)

3-Point FG Made Vanessa Hutson -- -- -- 5th (t), 2.00

3-Point FG Made Ambrosia Anderson 5th(t), 2.0011th (t), 1.00

3-Point FG Made Mallary Gillespie 5th(t), 2.004th (t), 2.00

3-Point FG Made Jennie Keele -- -- -- 12th (t), 1.33

3-Point FG Made Vanessa Hutson -- -- -- 12th (t), 1.33

Blocked Shots Ambrosia Anderson 15th, 0.64 5th (t), 1.000

Assist/To Ratio Melinda Johnsen 4th, 1.67 9th, 2.14

Assist/To Ratio Jennie Keele -- -- -- 10th, 1.80

Assist/To Ratio Mallary Gillespie 5th, 1.52 -- -- --

Offen. Rebs. Dani Kubik 4th(t), 2.50 6th (t), 2.67

Offen. Rebs. Lauren Riley 14h, 2.21 6th (t), 2.67

Offen. Rebs. Mallary Gillespie -- -- -- 9th (t), 2.33

Defen. Rebs. Ambrosia Anderson 1st, 5.86 -- -- --

Defen. Rebs. Dani Kubik -- -- -- 14th (t), 4.00

Defen. Rebs. Lauren Riley 14th(t), 4.14 7th (t), 4.67

Defen. Rebs. Mallary Gillespie -- -- -- 14th (t), 4.00

Last Game Recap

vs. UNLV

Behind the stellar play of Mallary Gillespie, who posted her first career double-double, BYU (13-1, 3-0) overcame a sluggish first half to defeat UNLV (9-4,1-1), 77-58 Wednesday. Gillespie netted 21 points, tying her career high and setting a season high, while also snatching 10 rebounds.

Although the Cougars struggled with turnovers and inconsistencies in the first half, BYU took a 33-26 lead into the break. The two teams exchanged baskets for most of the first half, neither able to find its shooting touch. Seven minutes into the game the score was only 9-9.

BYU then went on a five minute shooting slump that wasn't broken until Mallary Gillespie finally nailed a three pointer with 11 minutes remaining in the half.

UNLV star Sheena Moore, who is averaging 12.7 points per game, responded with her own three pointer to tie the game, 12-12. Kameca Simmons then converted a three-point play to give the Rebels their first lead of the game, 15-12.

The Cougars then went on a run which consisted of a put back by Anderson, a three pointer by Shawnee Slade and a bucket from Dani Kubik, giving the Cougars a 19-17 lead.

After allowing the Rebels to climb back, 28-26, Laura Stratton drove and hit a pull-up jumper with just over a minute remaining in the half, followed by an Anderson trey that gave the Cougars a seven point half-time lead.

BYU finally found its rhythm in the second half, settling down and trusting its offense. To start the half Johnson scrambled for a long rebound and threw the ball ahead to Gillespie for an easy lay-up, followed by an up-and-under by Anderson and a three pointer by Gillespie.

The Rebels responded with two quick buckets by Simmons and Faye Muller, but was immediately followed by a Gillespie three-pointer that gave the Cougars a 44-33 lead.

The remainder of the half showcased a BYU offense that worked as a team and made the smart play, while the Cougars continued to widen their lead.

Although BYU dominated in the second half, the Cougars had a scare with 10 minutes remaining after Lauren Riley and Dani Kubik each received their fourth foul.

At the 6:37 mark, Kubik fouled out on a questionable call, but Gillespie responded to the news, draining her fifth three pointer of the game. Anderson then added two buckets of her own. One play in particular emphasized Anderson's athletic ability and sheer determination. Johnsen received an outlet pass and threw a long pass up court to Anderson who was forced to put feet between her and the ground in order to barely snatch the pass and score the basket. She immediately followed that play with a three pointer, giving BYU a 67-48 lead.

Rebounding proved to be a struggle as the Rebels out rebounded BYU 40-38, including a 21-9 advantage in offensive rebounds.

Anderson led all scorers with 24 points. Simmons paced UNLV with 15 points, while Moore was held to just seven points.

Gillespie Buzzer Beater Basket Makes ESPN Highlights

Sophomore guard Mallary Gillespie's winning bucket at Utah on 01/07/06 made that night's ESPN Sports Center list o 10 best Plays of the Day. It also took the number seven spot on Chris Berman's Plays of the Week on Sunday, Jan. 8.

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: 90-47, 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 Opponents

Wyoming

The Cowgirls have compiled an impressive 12-3, 2-2 record to date and are in fifth place in this week's MWC standings. Wyoming's league wins are over TCU 68-67 and at Air force 64-55. They've lost at UNLV and at New Mexico. Two players are scoring in double figures for the Cowgirls, led by sophomore forward Hanna Zavecz's 13.9 points and team high 6.0 rebounds per game. Another sophomore on the squad, Jodi Bolerjack is contributing 12.7 points and grabbing 2.4 boards a game. After playing 15 games Wyoming is shooting 38 percent from the field,, 70 percent at the free throw line and 32 percent from three point range. The team is scoring 61.5 points per point while holding opponents to 52.4 points a game. Head Coach Joe Legerski is in his third season with the Cowgirls.

Wyoming Probable Starters

Pos. # Name Ht. Yr. PPG RPG

F 05 Hanna Zavecz 6-0 So 13.9 6.0

F 10 Rebecca Vanderjagt 6-3 So 2.8 2.8

F 25 Michelle Taylor 5-11 Sr 6.4 3.4

G 02 Jodi Bolerjack 5-9 So 12.7 2.4

G 23 Erin Hicks 5-9 Sr 8.7 5.5

Series Record: 40-17 favoring BYU

Last time: The Cowgirls and Cougars played twice during the MWC race last season with Wyoming picking up both wins, 74-63 in Provo on 01/13/05 and 75-56 in Laramie on 02/12/05. It was the first time that Wyoming had swept the series since the 94-95 season. BYU has a 16-11 record when playing at the Arena Auditorium.

San Diego State

San Diego State is currently in last place in the conference standings with an 0-4 and 3-11 overall record. Head Coach Beth Burns is in her first season at the helm of the Aztecs program since leaving it to be the head coach at Ohio State in 1997. This is her second time coaching the Aztecs. The team returns two starters and five letterwinners from last year's team that compiled an 8-20, 2-12 record. Senior forward Michelle Strawberry tops the list in scoring and in rebounding with 15.0 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. Veronica Shaw, a senior guard, follows with 11.9 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. The team is shooting 37 percent from the field, 63 percent at the line, and 24 percent from behind the three-point arc.. SDSU is averaging 57.0 points per game while opponents are scoring an average of 66.6 points a game.

SDSU Probable Starters

Pos. # Name Ht. Yr. PPG RPG

F 20 Michelle Strawberry 5-10 Sr. 15.0 6.6

F 22 Shanna Demus 5-8 So 5.9 4.6

C 32 Desiree Johnson 6-2 Jr 7.3 6.0

G 11 Kate Eveland 5-8 So 2.4 1.5

G 21 Veronica Shaw 5-7 Sr 11.9 4.1

Series Record: 20-9 in favor of the Cougars

Last time: The two league teams met twice during last year's MWC race with BYU getting both wins, a 62-49 decision at the Marriott Center on 02/03/05 and a 69-61 victory at Cox Arena on 03/05/05.

Travel Plans/Road Practice

BYU leaves from Salt Lake City on Tues. Jan. 17 on United Flight#0252, at 1:20 p.m. , arriving in Denver at 2.40 p.m., then travel by bus to Laramie.

Hotel in Laramie: Hampton Inn, 3715 E. Grand Ave., 307-742-0125, 307-742-0126, fax.

Team Shoot-Around: Wed. Jan. 18, 12:00 p.m., at Arena Auditorium

Hotel in Denver on Wed., Jan. 18: Fairfield Inn Denver Airport

BYU returns from Denver on Thur., Jan. 19 on United Flight#1245 at 8:35 a.m., arriving in Salt Lake City at 10 a.m.

Practice/Media Interviews

All team practices are held at the Marriott Center. Schedule: MWTHF 12:30 - 2:30 p.m., Tues 1-3 p.m. Media requests for coach Jeff Judkins and players are made in advance with a 24-hour notice. No interviews are granted on game-day until after that day's game. Media should contact Norma Collett via phone or email at: 801-422-4908 office, 801-372-0989 cell, or via email: norma_collett@byu.edu

Up Next

Next week the team has a similar schedule, playing at TCU on Jan. 25 before returning home to host CSU on Sat. Jan. 28, in a 2 p.m., contest.