PORTLAND, Ore. — Double figure performances from Makenzi Pulsipher, Kalani Purcell and Cassie Broadhead helped BYU to a 39-point 77-38 victory over Portland at the Chiles Center on Saturday.
“I thought we played well defensively today,” BYU head coach Jeff Judkins said. “As great of a player a Cassie (Broadhead) is on offense, she played outstanding defense. Kalani (Purcell) and Makenzi (Pulsipher) also played great defensively. People don’t give Makenzi enough credit on defense.”
Pulsipher led the Cougars with a game-high 16 points. Nine of her 16 came from behind the arc. Purcell recorded her 13th double-double of the season, tallying 13 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Broadhead added 10 points and four rebounds.
BYU (14-9, 8-4 West Coast Conference) led for the entirety of the game, shooting 48.1 percent from the field to Portland’s (4-19, 2-10 WCC) 19.2 percent.
The Cougars started the game on a 6-0 run, backed by six points from Jasmine Moody. With 4:28 to go in the first quarter, Purcell found a cutting Broadhead for the backdoor layup to give BYU the 8-1 lead.
Purcell then recorded a quick four points to extend the Cougar lead to 11, 12-1. BYU held Portland to 0 of 11 shooting and just three free throws in the first quarter, taking the 14-3 lead into the second quarter of play. Three points is the lowest amount of points allowed by BYU in a quarter all season.
BYU began the second quarter on a 4-0 run with both baskets coming from junior forward Amanda Wayment. After a Portland score in the paint, Purcell found Kristine Nielson on the fast break for another basket, increasing the Cougar lead to 15, 20-5.
At the 2:30 mark, Pulsipher gave BYU its biggest lead of the game to that point, 29-11, as she converted her first 3-pointer of the contest. The Cougars took the 31-13 lead into halftime. Purcell led the Cougars with eight points and 10 rebounds going into the break.
Midway through the third quarter, Pulsipher and Nielson hit back-to-back treys to give BYU the 39-15 lead. With 6:06 to go in the third, Pulsipher hit another 3-point field goal, her third of the game.
The Cougars then went on a 10-4 run, fueled by five points from Purcell and Pulsipher, respectively. Brenna Chase put BYU on top 61-23 as she dribbled the full length of the court for the layup. BYU took the 61-23 lead into the fourth quarter.
With 7:28 to go in the game, Micaelee Orton converted a 3-pointer to give the Cougars the 67-28 advantage. MaCayla Hanks scored her first bucket of the game with 2:56 left in the fourth quarter to put BYU up 69-32. Hitting her first field goal of the game, Haley Rydalch buried a three, giving her a season- and career-high three points.
BYU women’s basketball will return to the Marriott Center Thursday to take on Pepperdine. The game will begin at 7:00 p.m. MST and will be broadcast on BYUtv and simulcast on BYU Radio – Sirius XM 143. Links to live stats and other media can be found on the BYU women’s basketball schedule page.
Postgame Notes
Team
With the 77-38 road win at Portland, BYU women’s basketball improved its record to 14-9, 8-4 on the year. The team remains in third place in the West Coast Conference. BYU took a 15-point, 31-13 lead at half time. They would extend the lead to 30, 45-15 with 4:42 in the third quarter. With one quarter left, the Cougars enjoyed a 38-point advantage, 61-23.
For the eighth time this season, three Cougar players picked up double digits in points. Makenzi Pulsipher (16), Kalani Purcell (13), Cassie Broadhead (10).
BYU was 6 of 8 from the free-throw line in the first half shooting 75 percent. They finished the game shooting 85.0 (17-20) percent from the charity stripe. The Cougars shot 48.1 percent from the field and 42.1 percent from behind the arc.
At halftime, the Cougars had pulled down 20 rebounds to the Pilots 14. For the game, BYU grabbed 42 rebounds to Portland’s 31. The Cougars are now 7-2 on the year when they record more boards than their opponents.
Cougar players had dished out five assists in the first half compared with just two for the Pilots. BYU finished the contest with 16 assists to Portland’s four.
In the steals category after 20 minutes of action, the Cougars had the advantage with 4 to Portland’s two. At the end of the game, BYU had five steals; the Pilots had three.
For the first time this season, all 14 players available to play got playing time in the road win at Portland.
Holding Portland to 38 points makes for the Cougars best defensive outing of the season.
Player
In her eighth start of the year, Jasmine Moody scored the first six points for the Cougars. She finished the game with six points and grabbed three bounds.
With a first-half high 10 rebounds and eight points, Kalani Purcell had nearly a double-double. She had also dished out four assists at the break. Purcell finished with her 13th double-double from 13 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. She also dished out the most assists in the contest with seven. Purcell also tied for game-highs in the steals category with two.
With just 55 seconds left in the third quarter, Cassie Broadhead’s jumper gave her 10 points for the game, marking the 22nd time this year she’s tallied double digits in points. She also grabbed four rebounds and dished out two assists while remaining perfect from the free-throw line, going 4 for 4 for the second straight time.
Makenzi Pulsipher picked up her 16th game with double figures in points, contributing 16 in the road win. She was 3 of 3 from the charity stripe for the second straight time. In the win, Pulsipher also grabbed one rebound, dished out two assists and got one steal.