Women play final nonconference game Saturday

With an 8-4 record and a five-game win streak, BYU women’s basketball plays its final nonconference game of the 2012-13 campaign this week. The Cougars, who are undefeated at home, host Western New Mexico (1-9) Saturday at 4 p.m. The game vs. the Mustangs can be seen live on BYUtv.

BYU Capsule
On the season, BYU has outrebounded its opponents in eight of the games played, including the last six. In all but two contests (at Boston College and at Washington State) the Cougars have dished out more assists than their opponents. BYU has enjoyed a halftime lead in all but two games to date (vs. Seattle and at Washington State). Entering this final week of nonconference action, the BYU bench has outscored the opponent’s bench 212 to 160. When comparing points in the paint, the Cougars have scored 330 points to 296 from opponents.

• Head coach: Jeff Judkins (Utah, ‘78), enters his 12th season
• Team’s leading scorer: #5 Jennifer Hamson, 13.6 ppg
• Team’s leading rebounder: #5 Hamson, 8.8 rpg
• Team’s assist leader: #33 Haley Steed, 7.5 apg
• Team’s steals leader: #33 Steed, 2.2 spg

BYU’S PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
#33 Haley Steed – (5-4 guard, GS.) 9.3 ppg; 4.2 rpg; 7.5 apg
#4 Kim Parker Beeston – (5-11 guard, Jr.) 10.0 ppg; 4.2 rpg; 2.0 apg
#11 Xojian Harry – (5-10 guard, So.) 3.9 ppg; 1.3 rpg; 0.5 apg
#45 Keilani Unga – (6-2 forward, Sr.) 5.9 ppg; 4.4 rpg; 0.8 apg
#5 Jennifer Hamson – (6-7 center, Jr.) 13.6 ppg; 8.8 rpg; 0.8 apg

Western New Mexico Capsule
The Mustangs from Silver City, New Mexico have compiled an 1-9 record. Western New Mexico, who competes in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, is making its first trip to Provo and the Marriott Center. Three players are scoring in double figures for the Mustangs.

• Head coach: Rusty Kennedy is in his first year with Western N.M.
• Team’s leading scorer: #44 Morgan Wohltman, 13.8 ppg
• Team’s leading rebounder: #42 Jelesia Gray, 8.5 rpg
• Team’s assists leader: #2 Larissa Loera, 2.4 apg
• Team’s steals leader: #44 Wohltman, 1.5 spg

Series History
This is the first meeting between the two schools

What’s Next
BYU begins its quest for a regular season crown in the West Coast Conference. The Cougars were picked to finish first in the 2013 WCC race by the league’s coaches. Last year the team finished second and won the WCC championship in Las Vegas.

The Cougar women open up WCC action hosting San Francisco on Sat., Jan. 5 at 2 p.m. The following week the team travels to San Diego for a game against the Toreros on Thurs., Jan. 10 before returning to Provo to play Pepperdine on Sat. Jan. 12 at 2 p.m.