LAS VEGAS — Despite 16 points from Brenna Chase and Malia Nawahine, No. 3 BYU women’s basketball fell to No. 6 San Diego 61-56 in the quarterfinal round of the West Coast Conference tournament at the Orleans Arena on Thursday night.
"Tonight sums up how are season has been," BYU head coach Jeff Judkins said. "We played hard tonight, but it just wasn't enough. This team is special. We didn't win a championship, but this team competed and wanted to win every game. I appreciate the seniors. I wanted this game for them."
Chase and Nawahine led the Cougars with 16 points a piece, with Cassie Broadhead Devashrayee scoring 12. Sara Hamson pulled down a team-high six rebounds.
After San Diego (15-15) started the game on a 4-0 run, the Cougars (16-14 countered, scoring four-straight points to tie the game at 4-all. BYU took its first lead of the game, 7-6, as Nawahine drained a 3 with 4:05 on the first quarter clock.
The Toreros retook the lead, 10-9, after Myah Pace knocked down a baseline jumper. Devashrayee hit a 18-footer to close the quarter and tie the game at 13-all.
At the 5:43 mark, Nawahine drilled her second trey of the game to give the Cougars the 23-18 lead, their largest lead of the game so far. San Diego outscored BYU eight to two to end the half, taking the slight 26-25 lead into the locker room. Nawahine lead all scorers with 12 points at the break.
Chase opened the half with a 3-pointer to help BYU retake the lead, but Aubrey Ward-El matched Chase’s 3 to give San Diego the two-point, 30-28 advantage. The Toreros stretched their lead to seven, 36-29, as Ward-El hit her second trey of the half.
Chase brought the Cougars back within four, 38-34, hitting yet another trey at the 3:54 mark. San Diego responded with a 4-0 run, increasing its lead to eight, 42-34. The Toreros and Cougars traded baskets to close the third quarter, with San Diego taking the 48-40 lead into the last 10 minutes of play.
BYU opened the fourth quarter with a layup to cut the Torero lead to six, 48-42. Amanda Wayment scored on the block to bring the Cougars within five, 50-45, with 6:33 left in the game. On the next BYU possession, Nawahine found the bottom of net from behind the arc again, making it a one possession game, 50-48.
After a San Diego basket, Devashrayee knocked down a long jumper to make it a one-point game, 52-51. The Toreros scored back-to-back baskets, taking the 56-51 lead with under three minutes to go. Chase made a layup with 1:22 to go to put BYU within three, 56-53.
Maya Hood sealed the victory for the Toreros as the senior made a jumper as the shot clock wound down, giving USD the 58-53 lead with 24 seconds left. Devashrayee drained a 3-pointer with five seconds left to make it 56-60, but it wasn't enough as San Diego gets the 61-56 win.
BYU women’s basketball finishes the 2017-18 season with a 16-14, 11-6 record.
Postgame Notes: BYU vs. USD
Team
BYU grabbed 11 rebounds to San Diego’s 16 after 20 minutes of action. For the game, BYU finished with 19, while USD had 37.
For the ninth time on the year, BYU had three players score in double figures. Malia Nawahine (16), Brenna Chase (16) and Cassie Devashrayee (12).
The Cougars shot 46.3 percent from the field, 54.5 percent from 3-point range and 54.5 percent from the free-throw line.
BYU dished out five assists in the first half while San Diego had four. The Torerors ended the game with 12 assists to the Cougars 10.
The Cougars recorded seven blocks in the game. The Toreros had none.
BYU got 20 points in the paint compared with 16 for USD.
Player
Malia Nawahine had 12 points at halftime, leading all scorers at the break and recording her 15th game with double digit points. She finished tied for a game-high 16 points with teammate Brenna Chase. Nawahine also tied for team bests in assists and in steals with four and five, respectively.
Brenna Chase picked up her 24th game with double figure points with 16 points, which tied for game highs. She also tied for team-bests in assists with four, while getting four steals.
Cassie Broadhead Devashrayee picked up her 29th game with double figures in points with 12. She grabbed five rebounds, had one assist and one steal.
Sara Hamson had a first-half high of three blocks and led BYU in rebounds with four. For the game, she finished with a game-high five blocks and a team-best six rebounds.