PROVO, Utah – Shalae Salmon, Brenna Chase and Paisley Johnson all scored in double digits to lead BYU women’s basketball to an exhibition win against Dixie State, 83-56, Tuesday.
"I thought Paisley and Shalae came out and played well," BYU women's basketball head coach Jeff Judkins said. "They played like they practiced and were very aggressive. Generally, we just need to have it all together. That's why you have these games, to build confidence and get things going. We have a lot of work to do, but we'll get there."
Chase led the team with 13 points, six assists and five steals, while Salmon contributed a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Johnson and Shaylee Gonzales followed with 12 and 11 points, respectively.
The game started with two free throws by Dixie State’s Mariah Martin. Martin quickly followed up with a two-pointer to put the Trailblazers up 4-0. BYU responded with a jumper by Salmon to put the team on the board.
The Cougars then scored three consecutive layups to take their first lead of the game in the seventh minute, 8-7, a lead they never relinquished. Salmon then added two layups to go up 12-9. Gonzales and Chase made back-to-back 3-pointers, and took a four-point lead 18-14.
Salmon went to the line for two and a jumper at the top of the paint by Ashley Beckstrand, gave BYU its largest lead of the game so far, 24-16. Dixie State tried to cut into the lead, but the Cougars pressed forward, up by 11, 35-24 in the sixth minute of the second period.
BYU scored three more times off of layups by Gonzales and Johnson, and a three-pointer by Abby Mangum, to give the team a 13-point lead at the half, 42-29. Salmon led the team with 11 points and eight rebounds at the break, while Johnson followed with 10 points and three rebounds. Chase also contributed four assists in the first half.
The second half started similar to the first, with BYU scoring twice on free throws by Gonzales, adding to its lead, 46-29. Chase and Moody contributed to the score with two jumpers to push the Cougars’ lead to 54-36. A big layup by Chase on a fast break added to BYU’s advantage, up by 21 points, 64-43. The Trailblazers cut the lead to 20, 66-46, on a layup to end the third quarter.
BYU’s Maria Albiero scored the first basket of the fourth quarter and her first of the game to go up 68-46. Soon after, Signe Glantz made her first basket of the evening off a layup, contributing two points to the Cougars’ 23-point lead, 73-50. With three minutes left in the game, Malli Valgardson also scored her first basket off a jumper at the top of the paint, giving BYU the 78-52 advantage. Valgardson ended the second half with a big three-pointer to make the final score 83-56.
The Cougars start the 2018-19 season with a home game vs. UC Riverside Friday, Nov. 9, at 5 p.m. in the Marriott Center. The game will be broadcast live on BYUtv and BYUtv.org.
Postgame Notes
First Quarter
BYU used an 8-0 run to take its first lead of the game, 10-7, midway through the first quarter
The Cougars closed the first quarter on an 8-2 run
Salmon had six points and five rebounds in the first quarter
Second Quarter
BYU went on a 10-0 run to go up 37-24 with three minutes left in the second
An extended 15-3 run put the Cougars in control, 42-27, with 2:37 left
BYU held Dixie State scoreless for the final 3:26 of the second quarter
BYU shot 52 percent from the field in the first half, with 26 points in the paint
The Cougars had six steals in the first half, and Mangum and Chase both had two
Salmon had 11 points and eight rebounds in the first half and Chase had four assists
Two Cougars were in double figures, Salmon with 11 and Johnson with 10, through two quarters
Third Quarter
Shaylee Gonzales reached double digits with a three-point play to open the second half
Salmon reached a double-double midway through the third quarter with 12 points and 10 rebounds
Chase reached double digits late in the third quarter with 11 points
BYU was up to 38 points in the paint after three quarters
The Cougars had nine steals through three quarters, with five from Chase alone
Fourth Quarter
Free throws from Alldredge put BYU up by 25, 75-50, with 4:28 to go
BYU shot 74 percent from the free-throw line, 17 of 23, in the game
BYU finished with 42 points in the paint
The Cougars shared the ball with 20 assists on the night
BYU’s defense stepped up to provide 11 steals