After two impressive league victories at home, BYU's women's basketball team takes its perfect 2-0 MWC record on the road. The Cougars battle the Aztecs of SDSU on Jan. 23 and the Rebels of UNLV on Sat., Jan. 25.
Tip off: BYU (11-4, 2-0) vs San Diego St. (6-7, 0-1) 7 p.m., PT Arena: Cox Arena
Tip off: BYU (11-4, 2-0) vs UNLV (10-4, 1-0) 7:35 p.m., PT Arena: Cox Pavilion
live TV/ webcast
All of BYU's women's basketball games can be heard live via the internet at byu radio. org BYU radio can also be heard on the Dish Network and on Direct TV. Veteran BYU broadcaster Jay Monsen is the play-by-play announcer for all games.
BYU's Probable Starters
Pos.#NameHt.Yr.PPGRPG
F21Jennifer Leitner6-1Sr14.19.3
F25Kali Taylor5-11So4.62.1
C51Danielle Cheesman6-2So10.55.4
G11 Erin Thorn 5-10 Sr18.34.9
G04Kestlee Nelson5-8 Jr2.91.5
Cougar Players Off The Bench
Pos.#NameHt.Yr.PPGRPG
F45Lisa Hansen6-5Sr4.33.3
F33Ambrosia Anderson6-2Fr2.52.1
G15Jen Overdiek5-10Fr2.71.9
G/F01Nancy Seljaas6-0 Fr1.50.6
F20Brittany Larson6-0Sr1.01.7
F40Ashleigh Chamberlain6-4Jr3.82.0
Player Updates/injuries
Sophomore guard Julie Sullivan injured her knee (torn ACL) during practice on Jan. 13. She is out for the rest of the season.
Cougar Review
The MWC race is just one week old and the Cougars are 2-0 with two impressive wins at home over conference foes CSU and Wyoming. To date the Cougars, who are the defending MWC tournament champions have compiled a 11-4, 2-0 record . The team's four losses to date have been on the road. At home the Cougars have a perfect 7-0 record.
BYU returns three starters from last season's 24-9, 10-4 team who made history by winning their first-ever NCAA Tournament game, going on to the "Sweet Sixteen" in the Midwest Regional.
All-American and MWC MVP Erin Thorn leads the Cougar offense with an average of 18.3 points and 4.9 rebounds a game. Senior Jennifer Leitner follows as the team's second leading scorer and the leading rebounder. Leitner averages 14.1 points and 9.3 boards a game. Sophomore forward Danielle Cheesman follows in scoring and is averaging 10.5 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.
This season's roster has seen the return of MWC's 1999-2000 Newcomer of the Year Julie Whetten Sullivan who redshirted last year. She reclaimed her starting point-guard spot contributing 6.7 points and 3.1 rebounds, but as of Jan. 13 will not continue to play suffering a torn ACL. UVSC junior transfer Kestlee Nelson has not replaced Sullivan at the point guard spot. Nelson contributes 2.9 points and 1.5 rebounds a game.
Sophomore Kali Taylor got the starting nod as a forward the past three games, replacing UC Santa Barbara senior transfer Lisa Hansen. Taylor contributes to the team with her 4.3 and 2.2 rebounds per game.
UCSB transfer and senior Lisa Hansen who came off the bench in every game last year, started in the first nine games and tallied 4.5 points and 3.5 boards a game. Hansen along with Kanab, Utah native Ashleigh Chamberlain have come off the bench at the forward and center spots. Chamberlain has tallied her first start vs Wyoming this week and is averaging 3.8 points and 2.0 rebounds per game. Senior forward Brittany Larson has played in all games and contributes 1.0 points and 1.7 rebounds.
Utah high school standouts Jen Overdiek, Nancy Seljaas and Ambrosia Anderson from Colorado Springs, Colorado are also contributing to this year's Cougar effort.
2002-03 Cougar Stats
u Shooting from the field: (.432, 366-848)
u Shooting from the free-throw line: (.730, 187-256)
u Shooting from three-point line: (.364, 98-269)
u Average points per game: 67.8
A look at this week's opponents
San Diego State University
The Aztecs opened up their conference schedule at home hosting UNLV, unfortunately it was the Rebels picking up the two-point 50-48 win. SDSU has compiled a 6-7, 0-1 record and are 4-3 when playing at home. Senior guard Jamey Cox is one of two players scoring in double figures for the Aztecs. Cox is averaging 14.9 points an 2.2 rebounds per game. Freshman forward Ashlee Dunlap follows with 11.2 points and leads the team in the rebound category with 8.8 boards a game. After 13 games, SDSU is shooting 40 percent from the field and60 percent from the free throw line.
San Diego State Probable Starters
Pos.#NameHt.Yr.PPGRPG
F35Ashlee Dunlap6-1Fr11.28.8
F/C24Nicolette McCartny6-2Jr8.56.6
G20Jamey Cox5-7Sr14.92.2
G21Veronica Shaw5-7Fr7.42.2
G23Amber Fouse5-7Fr6.92.3
Last meeting
These two conference foes met two times during league play with the Cougars picking up both wins.
Series record
Record: 14-9 for BYU. In San Diego, the Cougars are 5-7.
UNLV
UNLV will be playing at home this week hosting Utah on Thursday night before meeting the Cougars on Saturday night. The Rebels are currently 10-4, 1-0 on the year with their first conference win of the season, over SDSU on the road. At home they are 6-2. All-American candidate Constance Jinks is the lone players scoring in double digits with 21.6 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. Sophomore forward/center Sherry McCracklin tops the list in the rebound category with a team high 7.7 boards a game and she also contributes 9.2 points. As a team, UNLV is shooting 42 percent from the field, 65 percent at the free throw line and 36 percent when shooting behind the arc.
UNLV Probable Starters
Pos.#NameHt.Yr.PPGRPG
F/G30Talisha Mitchell5-9Sr5.14.1
F 54Sherry McCracklin6-2So9.27.7
C 55Dishawn McCracklin6-2Sr5.95.6
G11Julia Gray5-6Sr7.23.5
G23Constance Jinks5-7Sr21.64.8
Last meeting
The Cougars and Rebels met three times during last year's MWC schedule. BYU won all three contests including the 61-46 victory at the Thomas & Mack Center for the MWC championship crown.
Series record
Record: 13-5 for BYU. On the road vs UNLV the Cougars are 6-4.
Thorn watch
Erin Thorn - 5-10 Senior Guard, Orem, Utah/Mountain View HS
u Senior Erin Thorn was picked as a 2002-03 Pre-Season College All-America Second Team honoree.
u Thorn was also named to the "Players to Watch" list for the 2003 Senior CLASS Award.
u Stats to date include scoring in double figures in all games, tallying a season high 34 points (just two shy of her career high 36 points) against Montana State on Dec. 30. She continues to be the team's leading scorer with an average of 18.3 points, is third on the list in rebounds with 4.9 boards a game and has tallied a team high 75 assists to date, that's an average of 5.0 per game. Thorn had 21 straight free throws before missing one against the University of Denver on 1/4/03.
Media Picks Cougars MWC Champs
During this year's MWC Basketball Media Day, the media picked BYU to win this year's regular season title capturing eight of the 15 first-place votes.
Senior guard and All-American Erin Thorn earned Top Returning Player honors.
She was joined on the squad by five additional seniors, including teammate Jennifer Leitner. Colorado State's Ashley Augspurger, New Mexico's Jordan Adams, UNLV's Constance Jinks and Wyoming's Carrie Bacon.
2002-03 Mountain West Conference Preseason Media Poll
Rk. Team (1st-place votes) Pts
1. BYU (8) 110
2. Colorado State (7) 103
3. New Mexico (1)91
4. Utah 70
5. UNLV 69
6. Wyoming 49
7. San Diego State 31
8. Air Force 17
2002-03 MWC Women's Basketball Preseason All-Conference Team
Jennifer Leitner, Sr., F BYU
Erin Thorn, Sr., G BYU
Ashley Augspurger, Sr., F Colorado State
Jordan Adams, Sr., C New Mexico
Constance Jinks, Sr., G UNLV
Carrie Bacon, Sr., F Wyoming
2002-03 MWC Women's Basketball Preseason Top Returning Player
Erin Thorn, Sr., G BYU
COUGARS IN THE MWC ( as of Jan. 21, 2003)
TEAM (All Games)
CategoryPlaceAvg/G
Scoring Offense2nd69.0
Scoring Defense5th57.5
Scoring Margin3rd69.0 off/57.5 deff, +11.5
Free Throw %4th17-25, .680
Field Goal %2nd51-107, .477
3-Pt FG %1st19-41, .463
Rebounding Offense 2nd36.0
Rebounding Defense4th32.0
Blocked Shots2nd3.50
Assists2nd19.00
Steals4th8.50
3-PT FG Made1st9.50
INDIVIDUAL
CategoryPlaceAvg/G
Scoring: Erin Thorn5th17.5
Scoring: Jennifer Leitner10th13.5
Rebounding: Jennifer Leitner3rd7.0
Assists: Erin Thorn2nd7.00
Assists: Jennifer Leitner8thT3.00
Field Goal %: Jennifer Leitner5th.643 (9-14)
Field Goal %: Erin Thorn11th.545 (12-22)
Free Throw%: Erin Thorn1st1.000 (6-6)
Steals: Jennifer Leitner3rd2.50
3-PT FG%: Erin Thorn7th.500 (5-10)
3-PT FG Made: Erin Thorn3rd2.50 (5)
3-PT FG Made: Kestlee Nelson4th2.00 (4)
Blocked Shots: Lisa Hansen4th1.50 (3)
Defensive Rebounds: J.Leitner7th4.50 (9)
Offensive Rebounds: J. Leitner8th2.50 (5)
The Judkins file
Jeff Judkins, begins his second season at the helm of the Cougar women's program. Judkins, a longtime University of Utah coach and player has a proven record of success dating back to his high school days at Highland HS in Salt Lake City.
An all-state selection in basketball, football and baseball, Judkins went on to play for Utah from 1974-78. While playing for the Utes, he helped the team win one conference championship and two berths in the NCAA Tournament. He was a second-team academic All-American and three-time first-team District VII academic selection. Judkins earned three first-team All-WAC honors and was a member of the 1977 United States World Games team that captured the gold medal.
He played five years in the NBA for the Boston Celtics, Portland Trailblazers, Detroit Pistons and the Utah Jazz. He was a second-round pick by the Celtics in 1978, the same year the Celtics selected Larry Bird with the sixth pick overall.
After his NBA career, he returned to the U of U in 1989, and remained with the men's program for 10 years. Judkins, a Salt Lake City native, graduated from Utah in 1978 with a degree in health and physical education. He is a member of the Utah Sports Hall of Fame and the Crimson Club Hall of Fame.
He and his wife Mary Kay, are the parents of five children: Jessica (21), Jordan (20), Jenna (17), Jaime (14), Jaxson (11).
cougars road practice schedule
u The BYU team practiced Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at the Marriott Center before leaving for San Diego.
u In San Diego, the Cougars shoot-around is set for Thurs., Jan. 23 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. at Cox Arena.
u During their stay in Las Vegas, BYU will practice from 3 to 5 p.m. at Cox Pavilion on Fri., Jan. 24.
u The Cougars shoot-around in Las Vegas is set for Sat., Jan. 25, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
traveling with the cougars
u Team departs from SLC at 2:50 p.m., on Delta flight # 1449, arriving in San Diego at 3:40 p.m.
u Team will stay at Good Nite Inn, 4545 Waring Road, San Diego, 619-286-7000, 619-286-8403, fax.
u Team will fly to Las Vegas from San Diego on Southwest flight # 2519, arriving in Las Vegas at 12 p.m.
u Team will stay at Amerisuites, 4520 Paradise Road, Las Vegas, 702-369-3366, 702-369-0009, fax
u Team returns to Provo on Jan. 26 at 11 a.m, on Delta flight # 1568, arriving in Salt Lake City at 1:19 p.m.
Up Next for byu
After MWC play on the road, BYU is at home again on Feb. 1 hosting the University of Utah.
2002-03 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL - NUMERICAL ROSTER
No. Name Pos.Ht.Cl.Exp. Hometown/School
01 Nancy SeljaasG/F6-0Fr.HSBountiful, UT/Bountiful HS
03Maria ChiaraG5-8Jr2VHamilton, New Zealand Casper JC
04Kestlee NelsonG5-8Jr2VSandy, UT/Alta HS/UVSC
05Amy LewisG5-6Sr3VJefferson City, MT/No. Idaho College
10Marianne Miller*G5-6JrHSMiddleton, ID/Middleton HS
11Erin ThornG5-10Sr3VOrem, UT/Mountain View HS
12Angie GattenG5-6Jr2VJefferson City, MT/No.Idaho College
13Laura Stratton*G5-6SoHSMissoula, MT/Sentinel HS/BYU Idaho 14Julie SullivanG5-8So1VSilver City, NM/Silver City HS
15Jen OverdiekG5-10FrHSSyracuse, UT/Clearfield HS
20Brittany LarsonF6-0Sr3VChicago, IL/New Trier HS
21Jennifer LeitnerF6-1Sr3VChico, CA/Pleasant Valley HS
25Kali TaylorG5-11So1VLyman, UT/Wayne HS
30Melissa Brown *G5-8SoHSUniversity Place, WA/Curtis HS
32Kristen KozlowskiF6-2So1VCenterville, UT/Boise State
33Ambrosia AndersonF6-2FrHSColorado Springs, CO/Doherty HS
40Ashleigh Chamberlain C6-4Jr2VKanab, UT/UVSC
42Angie Wallace#F6-0FrHSCleburne, TX/Cleburne HS
45Lisa HansenC6-5Sr3VBakersfield, CA /Centennial/UCSB
51Danielle CheesmanF6-2So1VOrem, UT/Mountain View HS
* 2002-03 WalkOn/# 2002-03 Redshirt
HEAD COACH: Jeff Judkins (2nd Year)
ASSISTANT COACHES: Alli Bills, Jonas Chatterton
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT: Stacy Jensen
ATHLETIC TRAINER: Carolyn Billings
NICKNAME: Cougars
COLORS: Blue, White and Tan