PROVO -- BYU drove past Wyoming to win 67-59 Saturday at home in the Marriott Center. The Cougars improved their record to 11-4, 2-0 while the Cowgirls fall to 10-5, 0-2.
A BYU career-high scoring performance by junior guard Kestlee Nelson gave the Cougars the needed spark to overcome an early deficit. Nelson scored 12 points, shooting 4-5 from behind the three-point line.
Nelson, in only her second start at BYU said, "It's getting easier, and hopefully it keeps getting easier."
BYU received another outstanding performance from two-time All-American Erin Thorn who scored a team-high 15 points and tied her career-best in assists with nine.
Sophomore guard Kali Taylor came off the bench late in the first half to make back-to-back three's to put the Cougars down by one 28-27 going into the half.
Jeff Judkins, BYU head coach said, "Kali played a great first half for us, hitting shots when we were really struggling."
To start the second half, senior Jennifer Leitner hit a three to give the Cougars the lead that the team would never relinquish. Leitner ended the game with 11 points and a game-high four steals.
Carrie Bacon, senior forward for Wyoming, scored a game high 19 points while shooting 5-6 from three point range.
The Cougars have won eight straight conference games dating back to last season.
BYU goes on the road to play at San Diego State on Thursday and at UNLV on Saturday. The next home game is Feb.1 against in-state rival Utah. Tip-off is at 4 p.m.
Official Basketball Box Score
University of Wyoming vs BRIGHAM YOUNG Cougars
01/18/03 1:00 PM at Marriott Center, BYU, PROVO UT
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VISITORS: University of Wyoming 10-5, 0-2
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
13 PICKUP, Brenda...... * 2-7 2-3 0-0 0 1 1 5 6 3 2 0 1 32
21 ARSENE, Darci....... * 2-7 0-0 6-7 3 2 5 3 10 0 5 0 0 28
24 ELLIOTT, Ashley..... * 2-8 1-4 0-2 0 4 4 1 5 4 2 0 3 31
41 BACON, Carrie....... * 6-14 5-6 2-2 1 6 7 2 19 2 5 0 3 34
51 MCCOLL, Ann......... * 5-8 0-0 2-6 3 2 5 3 12 0 4 0 0 26
11 MCCANN, Lisa........ 1-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 2 2 0 1 1 0 6
25 YOUNG, Cherrith..... 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 9
31 LENHARDT, Kristen... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3
42 EWING, Lorissa...... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3
52 WIERSMA, Chassie.... 1-2 0-0 3-4 0 1 1 0 5 3 0 0 0 20
53 HIPPEN, Sara........ 0-0 0-0 0-1 1 1 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 8
TEAM................ 2 4 6
Totals.............. 19-48 8-13 13-22 10 21 31 18 59 12 21 1 8 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 9-26 34.6% 2nd Half: 10-22 45.5% Game: 39.6% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 5-7 71.4% 2nd Half: 3-6 50.0% Game: 61.5% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 5-6 83.3% 2nd Half: 8-16 50.0% Game: 59.1% 3
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HOME TEAM: BRIGHAM YOUNG Cougars 11-4, 2-0
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
21 LEITNER, Jennifer... f 2-3 1-2 6-9 0 5 5 0 11 4 2 1 4 35
40 CHAMBERLAIN, A...... c 3-6 0-0 1-1 1 3 4 5 7 0 1 1 0 12
04 NELSON, Kestlee..... g 4-6 4-5 0-0 0 1 1 1 12 3 1 0 0 28
11 THORN, Erin......... g 4-6 1-3 6-6 0 2 2 0 15 9 6 0 2 40
51 CHEESMAN, Danielle.. * 1-6 0-1 1-2 2 3 5 5 3 0 2 0 0 20
01 SELJAAS, Nancy...... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
15 OVERDIEK, Jen....... 3-6 1-2 0-0 2 0 2 3 7 0 1 0 1 16
20 LARSON, Brittany.... 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 2 0 0 2 0 0 7
25 TAYLOR, Kali........ 2-6 2-3 0-0 0 1 1 3 6 0 0 0 1 18
30 BROWN, Melissa...... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0+
33 ANDERSON, Ambrosia.. 0-2 0-1 0-0 0 1 1 1 0 1 2 0 0 8
45 HANSEN, Lisa........ 3-4 0-0 0-0 1 2 3 2 6 0 5 3 0 14
TEAM................ 6 6
Totals.............. 22-46 9-17 14-18 6 25 31 22 67 17 22 5 8 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 10-22 45.5% 2nd Half: 12-24 50.0% Game: 47.8% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 5-9 55.6% 2nd Half: 4-8 50.0% Game: 52.9% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 2-4 50.0% 2nd Half: 12-14 85.7% Game: 77.8% 1
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Officials: SUE KENNEDY, SID GARCIA, EDWARD FLORES
Technical fouls: University of Wyoming-None. BRIGHAM YOUNG Cougars-None.
Attendance: 1217
Score by Periods 1st 2nd Total
University of Wyoming......... 28 31 - 59
BRIGHAM YOUNG Cougars......... 27 40 - 67
1ST HALF = OFFICIAL
2ND HALF = OFFICIAL
GAME = OFFICIAL