With a 20-9 overall record and an 11-5 mark in the West Coast Conference, the Cougar women enter this week’s league tournament as the No. 4 seed. BYU tied for third place with Saint Mary’s, but the Gaels split the series with Gonzaga and the Bulldogs swept the series with BYU.As the No. 4 seed, the team plays in the first quarterfinal game on Fri., March 8at 12 p.m. PST. BYU awaits the winner of the game between LMU and either USF or Pepperdine. The quarterfinal game will be carried live on BYUtv and on BYU Radio.
BYU CAPSULE
The Cougar team has outrebounded its opponents in 19 of the 29 games played.
The BYU bench has outscored the opponent’s bench 519-387.
When comparing points in the paint, the Cougars have scored 740 points to 608 from opponents.
BYU has had a halftime lead in all but seven games to date (vs. Gonzaga, vs. SD, vs. SMC, at USF, at Gonzaga, vs. Seattle and at Washington State).
In only five contests (vs. Gonzaga, at USF, at Gonzaga, at Boston College and at Washington State) the Cougars did not record more assists than their opponents.
Balanced scoring has added to theteam’s success this year. To date, three players have put up double figures in points in 12 games and four players finished with double-digit scoring in five games (at POR, at PEP, vs. PEP, vs. Tulsa, vs. UCSB)
• Head coach: Jeff Judkins (Utah, ‘78), enters his 12th season
• Team’s leading scorer: #33 Haley Steed, 10.6 ppg
• Team’s leading rebounder: #5 Jennifer Hamson, 8.1 rpg
• Team’s assists leader: #33 Steed, 7.7 apg
• Team’s steals leader: #33 Steed, 2.0 spg
BYU’S PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
#33 Haley Steed– (5-4 guard, GS.) 10.6 ppg; 4.0 rpg; 7.7 apg
#4 Kim Parker Beeston– (5-11 guard, Jr.) 10.1 ppg; 4.0 rpg; 2.4 apg
#12 Stephanie Vermunt Seaborn – (6-0 guard/forward, Jr.) 6.8 ppg; 2.6 rpg; 1.7 apg
#45 Keilani Unga– (6-2 forward, Sr.) 7.4 ppg; 4.6 rpg; 0.9 apg
#5 Jennifer Hamson– (6-7 center, Jr.) 10.4 ppg; 8.1 rpg; 0.7 apg
WCCQUARTERFINALS- POSSIBLE OPPONENTS (USF, PEP, LMU)
During the WCC season the Cougars split the series with USF. Each team won on its home court.
In the series with PEP, BYU swept the series.
In the series with LMU, the Cougars split the series. Each team won on its home court.
What’s Next
A win in Friday’s Quarterfinal game would advance BYU into one of two semifinal games. The Cougars would play Gonzaga on Sat. March 9 at 12 p.m. PST. The Bulldogs swept the series with the Cougars in this year’s WCC race.
Last season, the two conference foes split the series with each team winning on its home floor and both advanced to the championship game with BYU getting the win and receiving the automatic appearance in the NCAA tournament.