PROVO -- After a tough loss to in-state rival Utah, BYU rebounded with an all-around team effort, defeating San Diego State 62-49, at the Marriott Center Thursday night behind the career performance of sophomore Dani Kubik with 14 points and seven rebounds.
Kubik was one of three Cougar players to score in double figures, the ninth time to happen this season.
"Tonight we needed a post-game and I tried my hardest to get in there and get in the action," said Kubik.
Senior Julie Sullivan had her sixth consecutive game in double figures as she finished with 10 points and six assists. Freshman Mallary Gillespie also added 10 points.
A turnover-plagued first half saw the lead change nine times, including two ties. Both teams combined for 19 turnovers. Head coach Jeff Judkins saw many adjustments the team could make for the second half, despite leading the Aztecs 30-26.
"We needed to get the ball inside and use our strength. We did a better job in the post in the second half. We had 25 turnovers and the game wouldn't have been that close if we didn't have so many turnovers."
Kubik provided an early spark coming off the bench for the Cougars, scoring four straight points and pushing the lead to 24-18. BYU enjoyed their largest lead of the first half at 28-21 after a layup by freshman Lauren Riley, who spun around her defender to lay the ball off the glass.
BYU opened the second half with an 18-8 run, led by Kubik with eight points. Freshman Mallary Gillespie hit one of her two shots beyond the three-point arc to give BYU it's largest lead at 53-38.
The Cougars controlled the tempo throughout the second half and put the game away from the free-throw line, making 20 of 22 attempts. Sullivan and Kubik each made all six shots from the line. Judkins even found minutes for 13 different players, leaving him to wonder if he may had overworked the team in practice the last two days.
"It was a good team effort tonight. We had moments we played well. I just think the girls were tired, and that may have been my fault. I felt we lost the game against Utah at the end because we were fatigued and so I wanted to work them a little bit," added Judkins.
The Cougars improve to 12-7 overall, and 3-3 in conference play while SDSU falls to 6-12, and 1-5 in MWC.
BYU has another home game Saturday at 3 p.m. against UNLV (11-9, 2-4), before they take to the road next week for two games. BYU travels to Fort Collins to face Colorado State on Thursday at 7 p.m., and onto Laramie against the University of Wyoming, Saturday at 2 p.m.
All women's basketball games can be heard live on BYU radio via the internet at www.byuradio.org. Saturday's game against UNLV will be live on BYUTV and KBYU. Veteran BYU broadcaster Jay Monsen calls the action. Fans can also access the game through BYU Radio on the Dish Network.
Official Basketball Box Score
San Diego State vs Brigham Young
02/03/04 7:06 pm at Marriot Center, Provo, UT
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VISITORS: San Diego State 6-12;1-5
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
42 CASEY, Lindsey...... f 5-13 0-0 0-0 1 3 4 2 10 2 1 0 1 26
50 CHEESMAN, Ashley.... f 3-13 0-0 2-4 0 0 0 2 8 0 1 1 0 31
05 ELLIOTT, Michelle... g 0-6 0-4 4-4 1 4 5 1 4 6 2 0 2 36
20 STRAWBERRY, Michelle g 4-11 0-4 5-5 1 3 4 3 13 1 2 0 2 31
21 SHAW, Veronica...... g 3-5 0-2 0-2 1 1 2 4 6 0 1 0 2 24
10 HUETTL, Jessica..... 1-6 1-5 0-0 4 0 4 2 3 0 2 0 1 18
11 EVELAND, Kate....... 2-6 1-1 0-0 0 0 0 1 5 0 1 0 3 27
13 MCCUE, Marin........ 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 5
33 SMITH, Jordie....... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 3 0 0 1 0 0 2
TEAM................ 2 4 6
Totals.............. 18-60 2-16 11-15 10 16 26 19 49 9 11 1 11 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 9-32 28.1% 2nd Half: 9-28 32.1% Game: 30.0% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 1-9 11.1% 2nd Half: 1-7 14.3% Game: 12.5% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 7-9 77.8% 2nd Half: 4-6 66.7% Game: 73.3% 1
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HOME TEAM: Brigham Young 12-7;3-3
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
32 KOZLOWSKI, Kristen.. f 4-5 0-0 0-0 1 2 3 0 8 0 2 1 2 22
35 JOHNSEN, Melinda.... f 2-6 0-1 2-3 0 2 2 1 6 2 3 0 1 30
51 CHEESMAN, Danielle.. c 2-6 0-0 0-0 1 4 5 2 4 0 2 0 0 18
14 SULLIVAN, Julie..... g 2-7 0-0 6-6 2 6 8 2 10 6 3 2 0 27
30 GILLESPIE, Mallary.. g 3-7 2-3 2-2 2 2 4 1 10 2 2 0 1 22
05 CROSS, Julie........ 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 2
10 STRATTON, Laura..... 0-0 0-0 2-2 0 0 0 1 2 0 2 0 0 2
13 GOOLD, Tiari........ 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 2 2 2 0 4 3 0 2 22
21 COOK-TOWNER, Jenn... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 3
33 ANDERSON, Ambrosia.. 2-3 0-0 0-0 0 3 3 1 4 0 3 1 0 17
45 KUBIK, Dani......... 4-7 0-0 6-6 2 5 7 3 14 0 2 3 0 18
50 ABELL, Mary Martha.. 0-1 0-0 0-1 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 6
52 RILEY, Lauren....... 1-1 0-0 2-2 0 3 3 4 4 1 2 2 0 11
TEAM................ 1 3 4
Totals.............. 20-43 2-4 20-22 9 35 44 17 62 15 25 10 8 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 10-23 43.5% 2nd Half: 10-20 50.0% Game: 46.5% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 1-3 33.3% 2nd Half: 1-1 100 % Game: 50.0% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 9-9 100 % 2nd Half: 11-13 84.6% Game: 90.9% 0
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Officials: RANDY CAMPBELL, ERNEST SOLIS, BRIAN ABBOTT
Technical fouls: San Diego State-None. Brigham Young-None.
Attendance: 617
Score by Periods 1st 2nd Total
San Diego State............... 26 23 - 49
Brigham Young................. 30 32 - 62
OFFICIAL FINAL