Fourth Place Cougars Host UNM, Play at AFA

The 2008 MWC season is coming down to the end with the Cougar team in fourth place in this week's standings. BYU (13-11, 7-5) hosts UNM (14-12, 6-7) on Tues. Feb. 26 at 6 p.m. Then the team travels to Colorado Springs to take on the Air Force Academy on Sat. Mar. 1 at 2 p.m. The Lobos are in fifth place while the Falcons are in eighth place in the latest league standings.

Game #25- 02/26/08: BYU vs. UNM Time: 6:00 p.m. MT Arena: Marriott Center

Game #26- 03/01/08: BYU @ AFA Time: 2:00 p.m. MT Arena: Clune Arena

Following the Cougars --

Television: BYU vs. UNM airs live on The Mtn. with Bill Doleman and Andrea Lloyd calling the action.

Radio: Both games this week will air live on KQMB 96.7 FM.

Internet: Both league contests can be heard live on the internet at byuradio.org/streaming. Jay Monsen will call the action for the audio streaming and FM radio broadcasts.

Live stats: All of the games can be accessed with the live stats link by logging onto: http://www.byucougars.com/basketball_w/

Cougar All-Acccess: Those who have signed up for Cougar All-Access can also view the games on their computers.

BYU Probable Starters

No. NamePos. Ht.Yr.PPGRPG

22 Mindy NielsonG5-10Fr7.32.8

30 Mallary G. CarlingG5-10Sr14.23.8

32 Shawnee SladeF 5-11Jr7.55.4

5 Ashley CheesmanF 6-0Sr2.12.2

52 Lauren R. VarleyC6-3Sr7.58.6

Reserve Players

No. NamePos. Ht.Yr.PPGRPG

45 Keilani MoeakiF6-2Fr4.23.4

54 Cassie KingF6-3Jr4.63.0

23 Coriann WoodF6-1Fr3.52.3

14 Sarah RedG/F5-11Jr (rs) 2.4 0.3

3 Jazmine ForemanG5-5Fr 2.0 1.0

13 Jaime JudkinsG5-6So0.90.5

55 Megan MarksF6-2Fr0.50.9

0 Lauren NicholsF6-0Fr (rs) 0.40.1

Team Stats -- 2007-08

-- Shooting from the field: (.388, 497-1280)

-- Shooting from the free-throw line: (.659, 213-323)

-- Shooting from three-point line: (.300, 121-404)

-- Average points per game: 55.3

-- Average rebounds per game: 38.8

byu quick hits

The team

-- Two starters are among the six letterwinners returning for the 2007-08 season.The team also returns two redshirts in addition to six very talented newcomers

-- The seniors are MWC Second Team honoree guard Mallary Gillespie-Carling and MWC Honorable Mention Lauren Riley-Varley. Both were also named to the 2007 MWC All-Tournament Team.

-- Among the letterwinners are junior forward/guard combo Shawnee Slade, senior forward Ashley Cheesman and junior center Cassie King. The trio return with the most playing experience and an understanding of coach Judkins' game plan. Guard Jaime Judkins who also comes in with significant playing time experience.

-- Two redshirts who were on the team last year, freshman forward Lauren Nichols and sophomore guard Sarah Red, a transfer from the University of Utah, will also provide solid experience on the team as newcomers.

-- Six new incoming freshmen will take to the court in 2007-08. They are:

Stephanie Buhler: 6-0, F, Oregon City, OR/Oregon City HS

Jazmine Foreman: 5-5, G, Vancouver, WA/Hudson's Bay HS

Megan Marks: 6-2, F, South Jordan, UT/Bingham HS

Keilani Moeaki: 6-2, F, Warrenville, IL/Wheaton Warrenville South HS

Mindy Nielson: 5-10, G, Centennial, CO/ Regis Jesuit HS

Coriann Wood: 6-1, F, Basin City, WA/Connell HS

2007-08 Highlights and Notables

TEAM

-- Team captains for the year are seniors Mallary Carling and Lauren Varley

-- When playing on the road this season, BYU has a 4-8 record to date.

--The 56-42 home victory over No.15 Wyoming marked the first time the Cougars have defeated a ranked opponent since the 55-52 upset against then No. 5 Stanford in Palo Alto Calif., in the 2007 Preseason WNIT on11/13/06. BYU was ranked No. 24 at that time.

-- With the 67 points scored vs. UNLV on 01/16/08, BYU improved to 7-0 this season when scoring at least 60 points a game.

-- The 6,206 fans in attendance in the Marriott Center for the Utah game on 01/19/08 set a new school record.

--The 55 rebounds by the Cougars vs Fresno St. on 11/17/07 are a season high and rank tied for third place in the program's history.

-- The win over Fresno St. improved BYU's all-time record in home openers to 24-11 and under coach Judkins is now 6-1.

-- The 78 points and the 55 rebounds recorded in the win over Fresno St. are the most in both categories to date.

-- For the first time this season four of BYU's five starters fouled out of the game at UNLV on 2/16/08.

-- The Cougars have gone into the locker room at the break tied just twice this year and have a 1-1 record ( a 52-54 loss to New Mexico State on 12/05/07 and most recently a 46-43 win over MWC foe SDSU on 2/23/08).

-- The team grabbed 48 rebounds in the game at UNLV on 2/16/08 marking the second best outrebounding game to date during MWC action. They grabbed 49 rebounds at UNM on 1/26/08.

-- The nine three pointers made at UNLV on 216/08 were the most against and MWC opponent to date and tied a season high. BYU also had nine treys vs. UCLA on 12/15/07.

-- In turnovers, the team had season lows of just 13 in two games vs. MWC opponents (Wyoming on 2/2/08 and AF on 1/30/08).

-- The team grabbed a game high 49 boards in the win at UNM on 1/26/08, marking the third best rebound output of the season and the best over an MWC foe to date.

-- In the win over Utah Valley, the team scored 72 points which is second best to date and the 20-point margin of victory is the most this season.

-- The 20 assists in the win over Utah Valley on 12/08/07 were the most to date.

--In the Dec. 8th win over the Wolverines, the 17 steals were a new season best.

--BYU scored 35 points in the first half vs. Utah Valley, the second most scored in a first half and the fourth most in any half to date.

-- The Cougars held CSU to 39 total points in the first league game of the year on 1/12/08, the lowest total points scored by an opponent to date. The Rams only scored 16 points in the first half of action, the lowest by an opponent to date. In the second meeting between the two teams on 2/13/08 CSU, scored 15 points in the first half.

--Scoring Summary:

Games with two players scoring in double figures- (8) UCSB, Ark. State, New Mexico State, UVU, at CSU on 1/12/08, vs. UNLV on 1/16/08, UNM, TCU.

Games with three players scoring in double figures- (5) Fresno State, Weber State, Utah State, Wyoming, and vs. CSU on 2/13/08.

Games with four players scoring in double figures- (2) UCLA and at UNLV on 2/16/08.

-- Starting lineups: most recent*Record

Foreman, Carling, Slade, Cheesman, Varley: 2-2

Foreman, Carling, Slade, King, Varley: 1-1

Judkins, Carling, Slade, Wood, Varley: 0-1

Foreman, Carling, Slade, Moeaki, Varley: 1-2

Nielson, Carling, Slade, Moeaki, Varley:4-2

Nielson, Carling, Slade, Chessman, Varley:5-2*

Nielson, Carling, Slade, Red, Varley:0-1

PLAYER

-- Center Lauren Riley-Varley: Recorded her fifth double double of the year and 10th career with 10 points and team high 13 rebounds at UNLV on 2/16/08. Added her fourth double double of the season and ninth career with 11 points and 11 rebounds vs. CSU on 2/13/08. In the home game vs. AF picked up new season and career highs in rebounds with 15. Versus UNLV on 1/16/08, she picked up her third double double of the season and eighth overall with the 14 points and 11 rebounds. She picked up back-to-back double doubles in the first two games of this season with 14 points and 11 rebounds against UCSB and 16 points and 13 boards at Arkansas State. The 16 points at Ark. St., were season highs to date. Varley scored 10 points in the game at Utah St., on 12/29/07 for her fourth double figure game this season and 23rd career double digit contest.

-- Guard Mallary Gillespie-Carling: Named MWC Player of the Week on Monday, Feb. 4, 2008. Has scored in double figures in 64 games during her career, 17 so far this year including the 20 points vs. SDSU on 2/23/08. She ranks 14th in BYU's 1,000-point club with 1,347 as of 2/24/08. Carling has scored 20-plus points six times this season including five times vs. MWC foes. In the home game vs. Utah on 01/19/08 she tallied five treys for new season highs. At home vs. UNLV on 1/16/08, she scored 17 first-half points, the most she has scored in any half this season, and her 10 free throws were the most she has made in any game during her career. In the three-point field goals made category, ranks second with a career total of 236, and 54 to date.

-- Guard Mindy Nielson: Scored a new season and career high in points with 16 at UNLV on 2/16/08 marking her seventh double figure contest of the year. Dished out a season high nine assists in the game vs. CSU on 2/13/08. Tallied 15 points at Weber State on 12/12//07. Picked up season and career highs in blocks (5), steals, (5), rebounds (6) vs. Utah Valley St. on 12/08/07.

-- Guard Shawnee Slade: Grabbed new season and career highs in rebounds with 12 vs. Wyoming on 2/2/08, and has recorded eight or more rebounds in seven games this season. Tallied 11 points in the contest at UNLV on 2/16/08 for her 18th career, seventh season, and third league double digit game. Scored 14 points in the game vs. CSU on 2/13/08 marking her 17th career double digit contest, her sixth this year and the second in MWC action. She led the team in scoring with 15 points vs. Utah Valley on 12/08/07 marking her 13th career double digit game contest. Grabbed a season and career high 11 rebounds vs. New Mexico State on 12/05/07. The 11 boards were team and game highs as well. Picked up 10 points vs. UCLA on 12/15/07.

-- Forward Coriann Wood: Picked up season and career highs in points with 13 in the league game at CSU on 01/12/08. In that same game, she tallied season and career highs in three-pointers with three. She grabbed season and career highs in rebounds in the game at UConn on 11/29/07 with five boards. Wood started her first collegiate game at Sacred Heart on 12/01/07.

-- Guard Jazmine Foreman: Dished out season and career highs in assists with eight vs. Utah Valley on 12/08/07.

-- Guard Jaime Judkins: Started in the game at Sacred Heart on 12/01/07. Dished out three assists in the game at Weber St. on 12/12/07 for new season and career highs.

-- Guard/Forward Sarah Red: Got her first start on the season in the game at Utah on 2/19/08. Grabbed a season and career high three boards vs. CSU on 2/13/08.

-- Forward Ashley Cheesman: Tallied new season and BYU career high in points with 10 vs. CSU on 2/13/08. Dished out season and BYU career highs in assists with three vs. SDSU on 2/23/08.

About This Week's League Opponents

NEW MEXICO - Provo, Utah at 6 p.m. (02/26/08)

New Mexico comes to Provo with a 14-12, 6-7 record and is in fifth place in the MWC standings this week. Last week they beat Air Force and lost to Utah at The Pit. On the road, the Lobos have a 3-4 record in league action. Leading the way in scoring is senior forward Dionne Marsh who averages 14.9 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. She's followed by Amy Beggin who scores 11.8 points and 3.5 boards. She also tops the list in assists with a total of 114 on the year. Brandi Kimble leads the team in the rebound category grabbing 7.1 boards per game. Head Coach Dan Flanigan is in his 13th season at the helm of the UNM women's basketball program.

UNM Probable Starters

Pos.No.NameHtYrPPGRPG

F33Dionne Marsh6-1Sr14.95.9

F44Angela Hartill6-3 Jr6.12.8

F/G03Eileen Weissmann6-0So3.63.2

G10Amy Beggin5-6 So11.83.5

G41Brandi Kimble5-8Sr9.67.1

Stat Comparisons BYUNM

Field Goals:.388.394

Free Throws:.659.696

Three-Pointers:.300.336

Points Per Game:55.362.4

Rebounds Per Game:38.838.8

Series History

Record: 38-22 favoring BYU.

Last Meeting: During the first meeting between these two MWC foes, BYU defeated UNM in Albuquerque 41-38 marking the second straight time the Cougars have won at "The Pit." The Lobos won in Provo last year, an 80-75 overtime victory. When playing in the Marriott Center, New Mexico has a 5-22 record.

AIR FORCE ACADEMY - Colorado Springs, Colo. at 2 p.m. (03/01/08)

The Air Force Falcons have compiled a 9-16, 3-10 record after a 62-53 win over CSU on 2/24/08. They are in eighth place in this week's league standings. Two players are scoring in double figures for AF with 12.2 points from Alecia Steele and 10.7 from Pamela Findlay. Steele tops the list in rebounds grabbing 7.2 boards per game while Raimee Beck and Brooke Cultra lead in assists with each dishing out 66 so far this year. Ardie McInelly has been the head coach at the Air Force Academy for the past six years.

AFA Probable Starters

Pos.No.NameHtYrPPGRPG

F32Alecia Steele6-0Sr12.27.2

C43Kim Kreke6-3 Jr10.75.1

G20Raimee Beck5-8Fr9.63.7

G30Pamela Findlay5-11 Sr9.03.2

G34Brooke Cultra5-11 Jr8.14.9

Stat Comparisons BYUAF

Field Goals:.388.379

Free Throws:.659.718

Three-Pointers:.300.333

Points Per Game:55.357.6

Rebounds Per Game:38.836.0

Series History

Record: 20-0 favoring BYU.

Last Meeting: The first meeting this year between the Cougars and Falcons took place in Provo on 1/30/08 with BYU picking up the 52-47 victory.

BYU Traveling Schedule

Team Flight: Fri., Feb. 29, Delta flight # 3939 departs from Salt Lake City at 1:40 p.m., arriving in Colorado Springs at 3:17 p.m.

Team Flight: Sat., Mar. 1, Delta flight # 3916 departs Colorado Springs at 6:45 p.m., arriving in Salt Lake City at 8:18 p.m.

Team Hotel: Colorado Springs Marriott, 5580 Tech Center Drive, 719-260-1800, 719-260-1492, fax.

Media Availability

Team Practice Times - at home

-The BYU team practices at the Marriott Center MWF from 11:30 a.m., to 1:30 p.m. On Tuesday's, practice is scheduled from 1 to 3 p.m., and on Thursday's from 11:30 to 2 p.m.

- Coach Judkins and players are available for interviews prior to or after practice. All interviews are scheduled in advance. Norma Collett is the Basketball Communications Director for the team and can be contacted by phone or email. Contact at: 801-422-4908, office, 801-372-0989, cell, and email norma_collett@byu.edu

Looking Ahead

The 2008 regular MWC season finishes for the Cougars with a road game at Wyoming on Wed., March 5, and a home game vs. TCU on Sat., Mar 8. The contest at Wyoming can be seen live on The Mtn., while the TCU game will be seen live nationally on CSTV. Start times are 6 and 5:30 p.m. respectively.

The 2008 MWC Championships are scheduled for Mar. 11-15 at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas.