PROVO, Utah —Tied for first place in the latest West Coast Conference standings after the first half of league play, BYU women’s basketball (16-4, 8-1) hits the road for the next four conference games.
The four-game stretch begins at LMU (7-13, 3-6) on Thursday, Jan. 28, at 7 p.m. PT. Then on Saturday, Jan. 30, the Cougar women are in Malibu to take on Pepperdine (5-15, 1-8) at 1 p.m. PT. That game can be heard live on BYU Radio. The game vs. the Lions is on TheW.tv.
BYU at a Glance
All-American senior guard Lexi Eaton Rydalch is one of three BYU players that is putting up double figures in points with a team-best 23.4 points. She ranks second on the team in rebounds, pulling down 5.5 boards a game. Junior Makenzi Morrison Pulsipher contributes 11.7 points to the Cougars’ offensive threat. All-American Kalani Purcell, a JC transfer from Hutchinson Community College and Hamilton, New Zealand, rounds out the scoring with her 11.4 points and with a team best 12.7 rebounds is averaging a double-double. Purcell tops the league in rebounds and in assists and on Monday picked up her third straight WCC Player of the Week honor. With the 21 points she scored against Pepperdine, Rydalch reached third place all-time in scoring at BYU. She can pass LMU’s Alex Cowling for the top spot in the WCC record book with 16 points. Currently, Rydalch leads the conference in scoring.
The Cougars are scoring 68.5 points and grabbing 39.2 rebounds while shooting 41.4 percent from the field, 68.0 percent from the free throw line and 35.1 percent from 3-point range. BYU is holding opponents to 60.8 points per game.
• Head coach: Jeff Judkins (Utah, ‘78) 15th season
• Team’s leading scorer: #21 L. Eaton Rydalch, 23.4 ppg
• Team’s leading rebounder: #32 K. Purcell, 12.7 rpg
• Team’s assists leader: #32 K. Purcell, 4.5 apg
• Team’s steals leader: #32 K. Purcell, 2.0 spg
• Team’s blocks leader: #32, K. Purcell, .75 bpg
LMU at a Glance
Loyola Marymount has a 7-13, 3-6 record. The Lions have captured wins over Portland, Pepperdine and Pacific in league play. When playing at home, LMU is 2-3 in WCC action.
The Lions return eight letterwinners including three starters that finished last year with a 7-24, 4-14 record and finished eighth in the WCC regular season race. Head coach Charity Elliott is in her fourth season at the helm of LMU’s women’s basketball program.
LMU currently has two players that are scoring in double figures with both Cheyanne Wallace and Sophie Taylor contributing 11.7 points each. Taylor is the team’s leading rebounder, grabbing 8.6 boards a game.
The Lions are scoring 66.8 points and grabbing 41.2 rebounds a game. They shoot 37.0 percent from the field, 30.1 percent from 3-point range and 70.2 percent from the free throw line.
• Head coach: Charity Elliott, Fourth Year
• Team’s leading scorer: #20 S. Taylor & #04 C. Wallace, 11.7 ppg
• Team’s leading rebounder: #20 S. Taylor, 8.6 rpg
• Team’s assists leader: #11 A. Velasco, 3.6 apg
• Team’s steals leader: #20 S. Taylor, 2.0 spg
• Team’s blocks leader: #04 C. Wallace, 2.2 bpg
Series History
BYU leads the overall series over LMU 11-1.
The two met last week in Provo where the Cougars came away with the 75-61 home win. When playing in Los Angeles, BYU has a 3-1 mark. They last lost at Gersten Pavilion on Feb. 28, 2013, a 13-point 68-55 victory for the Lions.
PEPPERDINE at a Glance
Entering the second half of WCC action, Pepperdine is in ninth place with a 5-15, 1-8 record. They will host San Diego Thursday night before BYU’s game on Saturday afternoon at Firestone Fieldhouse.
The Waves return eight letterwinners and have seven newcomers on this year’s team. Two new assistant coaches also joined this year’s squad.
Erica Ogwumike tops the leaderboard in both scoring and rebounding with 16.9 points and 7.2 boards, respectively. The Waves shoot 38.3 percent from the field, 34.0 percent from 3-point range and 72.3 percent at the free throw line while scoring 63.3 points per contest.
• Head coach: Ryan Weisenberg, Third Year
• Team’s leading scorer: #13 E. Ogwumike, 16.9 ppg
• Team’s leading rebounder: #13 E. Ogwumike, 7.2 rpg
• Team’s assists leader: #11 P Fecske, 3.5 apg
• Team’s steals leader: #13 E. Ogwumike, 1.9 spg
• Team’s blocks leader: #44 K. Brockway, .50 bpg
Series History
BYU leads the series with Pepperdine, 11-2.
In last week’s first meeting between the two league foes, BYU got the 69-64 win in Provo, on Jan. 23. When playing in Malibu, the Cougars have a 3-2 mark. The last time they lost in Firestone Fieldhouse was on Feb. 2, 2012 when Pepperdine picked up the 12-point, 61-49 home win.
Coming Up
The Cougars will remain on the road for two more critical league games. BYU is at Pacific on Thursday, Feb. 2, and at Saint Mary’s on Saturday, Feb. 4. Both games are scheduled to air on TheW.tv.