BYU Cougars || 9-5, 0-3 || Big 12 Conference
WHAT'S AT STAKE || With a win, the Cougars would move to 2-1 against Houston since joining the Big 12. It would also mark BYU’s first Big 12 win of the season.
VALUING THE BASKETBALL || Ball security is imperative for BYU. In their three Big 12 games this season, the Cougars have committed 24.3 turnovers per game and opponents are scoring 23.7 points off turnovers. In wins this season, the Cougars average 13.7 turnovers, 8.5 less than in losses, and only give up 10.1 points off of giveaways.
FINISHING POSSESSIONS || Grabbing defensive boards to finish possessions has been a point of emphasis for Whiting’s squad which is giving up 12.7 offensive boards to opponents in conference play. The Cougars are also surrendering 16.7 second-chance points in three Big 12 games thus far. In wins, the Cougars only surrender 6.7 second-chance points.
COUGAR ASSIST CLUB || BYU has assisted on 214-of-357 (.599) field goals this year and has had three or more players finish in double-figures in nine of 14 games. In wins this season, BYU averages 16.6 assists in comparison to just 13 in losses.
Head Coach – Amber Whiting
- Alma Mater: BYU, 2001
- Division I Career Record: 41-39 || 3rd Season
- Record at BYU: 41-39 || 3rd Season
Houston Cougars || 4-10, 0-3 || Big 12 Conference
THREE-HEADED MONSTER || The Houston Cougars are led by Laila Blair, Gia Cooke and Eylia Love who each score over 11 points per game.
Blair leads UH at 11.8 points on 31.3 percent shooting from the floor and 28.1 percent from behind the arc. The fifth-year senior guard has scored 10 or more points in eight of her last nine games including 12 against No. 12 Kansas State in her last outing.
Cooke is the second-leading scorer at 11.4 points while recording 2.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists. The sophomore has finished in double figures in seven games, four times finishing with 15 or more points.
Love is a fifth-year transfer from Louisville who leads the Cougars in rebounding at 7.1 per game while scoring 11.3 points per contest. She has nine games this season with 10 or more points, seven of which were 14-point performances or better.
LOCKING IN ONE-ON-ONE || The Houston offense only assists on 47.8 percent of made field goals which will force BYU’s defense to be sound in their individual defensive principles.
CAUSING CONFUSION || Ronald Hughey’s crew is set on causing confusion and wreaking havoc on the defensive end. Houston forces opponents into 17.9 turnovers per game with full-court pressure that speeds teams up. In two meetings last season, BYU turned it over 25 times in Houston leading to 27 Houston points and 18 times in the game in Provo leading to 21 points off turnovers for the Cougars in red.
Head Coach – Ronald Hughey
- Alma Mater: Limestone, 2006
- Career Record: 139-180 || 11th Season
- Record at Houston: 139-180 || 11th Season
