PROVO, Utah—BYU women’s basketball (0-0) opens the 2017-18 campaign hosting in-state foe Southern Utah (0-0), Friday, Nov. 10, at 7 p.m. A live video stream will be available on theW.tv. The Cougars are coming off an 86-68 exhibition win over Colorado Mesa.
About BYU
The16-member BYU team returns two starters, six letterwinners and welcomes eight newcomers to the program. Only five players back this season saw significant playing time last year. Earlier this month, the Cougars were picked to finish third in the 2017-18 West Coast Conference Preseason Poll behind Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s.
Reigning WCC Player of the Year Cassie Broadhead Devashrayee, was named to the 10-member 2017-18 All-WCC Preseason Women’s Basketball Team.
In the exhibition win, four players scored in double figures led by a team-best 16 points from Devashrayee. Brenna Chase tallied 12 points while newcomer Malia Nawahine contributed 11 points in the win. Shalae Salmon was the fourth player to record double-digit points with 10. She recorded a double double with a game-high 11 rebounds. She also had a game-best three blocks.
BYU finished the 2016-17 campaign with a 20-12 record, for the 11th overall and eighth straight 20-plus win season. In league play, the Cougars tied for second place with Saint Mary’s with identical 13-5 marks. For the second straight season, the Cougars finished conference play undefeated at home. BYU also extended its season by competing in the first round of the WNIT.
About Southern Utah
Southern Utah played two exhibitions games at home earlier this month, defeating Concordia 82-62 and Northern New Mexico 86-67. Senior center Whitney Johnson led the way for the Thunderbirds in both exhibitions tallying 16 and 14 points, respectively. SUU returns three starters from last year’s team that compiled a 7-23 record.
There are three SUU/BYU connections heading into Friday’s game.
1. Head Coach Chris Boettcher, was an assistant on the women’s basketball team from 2009 to 2013.
2. Current BYU basketball operations director, Kim Parker, was on assistant coach at SUU for two seasons before returning to BYU.
3. SUU sophomore Jessica Chatman played her freshman season in 2016-17 at BYU.
After the home game vs. SUU, the BYU women’s team takes its first road trip of the season. They will be at the University of Washington on Wed., Nov. 15 and at Eastern Washington on Fri., Nov. 17.