PROVO -- The BYU Cougars defeated the first-place team in the Mountain West Conference, the New Mexico Lobos, 55-46 Saturday in their final home game of the season thanks to a strong defensive effort. With the win, BYU stands at 16-8 overall and 7-4 in MWC play. The Cougars also improved to 12-3 at the Marriott Center. The Lobos are now 20-4 and 8-2.
BYU Coach Jeff Judkins attributed the win to desire and a solid team effort.
"I felt they wanted this one," he said. "They really came together and did it as a team. Everyone that played contributed. It's a great win for this team."
Judkins added that the defense was a major factor in the victory.
"I thought we had a great defensive effort," he added. "They shot poorly but they didn't have a lot of good looks either. We forced them to take a lot of bad shots that they didn't want to take."
The Cougars limited the Lobos to 32 percent shooting and had the edge on the boards at 43-39. BYU is now 14-4 when winning the battle on the boards.
The Cougars who also struggled from the field, hitting just 30 percent of their shots, made their free throws. BYU hit 19-of-23 for the game, including 15-of-19 in the second half.
Kristen Kozlowski, one of four seniors honored before the game, led BYU with 11 ponts and seven rebounds. Mallary Gillespie was second on the team with 10 points, five of which came on a three and a breakaway layup early in the second half that pushed the Cougar lead to six.
Danielle Cheesman and Julie Sullivan, two other players making their final appearance in the Marriott Center, made big contributions as well. Cheesman had a game-high 10 rebounds and added nine points, two assists and two blocks. Sullivan hit 9-of-12 free throws, four coming in the closing minutes of the game to solidify the victory.
Dionne Marsh had 13 points and nine rebouinds for the Lobos while Lindsey Arndt added nine points and nine rebounds.
The Cougars took control early in the game, jumping ahead 10-6 as all five starters scored. Ambrosia Anderson came off the bench to score five quick points to extend the lead to 15-9. New Mexico came back with a 10-0 run to take the 15-19 lead.
It would be the last time the Lobos would lead in the game as BYU went on a 9-2 run to close out the half with a 24-22 lead. The run included four Cheesman points and was capped by Kozlowski three. The Cougars are now 14-2 when leading at the half.
Kozlowski scored again to start the second half before Judy Vogt three cut the BYU lead to 26-25. Gillespie then went on her five-point run to increase the lead to six at 31-25. New Mexico would get no closer than four the rest of the way as the Cougars made their free throws and came up big defensively to seal the win.
BYU will be on the road the rest of the season with its next game at the University of Utah, Thursday, Feb. 19 at 7 p.m. The game can be heard live on BYU Radio.
Official Basketball Box Score
New Mexico Lobos vs Brigham Young
02/19/05 2:00PM at MARRIOTT CTR, PROVO, UT
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VISITORS: New Mexico Lobos 20-4; 9-2
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
33 MARSH, Dionne....... f 5-12 0-0 3-6 7 2 9 3 13 0 3 1 0 23
42 ARNDT, Lindsey...... f 4-10 1-1 0-1 2 7 9 3 9 2 3 1 1 40
05 LETZ, Abbie......... c 2-6 1-4 0-0 0 1 1 2 5 1 0 0 1 22
13 MONTGOMERY, Katie... g 2-8 0-5 0-0 1 5 6 1 4 4 5 0 2 40
21 MOORE, Mandi........ g 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 1 7
04 SHETTERS, Jenny..... 2-4 0-0 0-0 0 2 2 2 4 0 1 0 0 8
14 VOGT, Judy.......... 2-6 1-5 0-0 1 3 4 0 5 4 3 1 1 30
24 FRANCIS, Jana....... 1-4 0-0 0-0 1 0 1 5 2 1 1 0 0 12
40 BRIODY, Julie....... 1-9 0-4 2-2 0 2 2 2 4 1 2 0 0 16
41 KIMBLE, Brandi...... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2
TEAM................ 2 3 5
Totals.............. 19-59 3-19 5-9 14 25 39 20 46 14 19 3 6 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 9-27 33.3% 2nd Half: 10-32 31.3% Game: 32.2% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 1-7 14.3% 2nd Half: 2-12 16.7% Game: 15.8% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 3-6 50.0% 2nd Half: 2-3 66.7% Game: 55.6% 1
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HOME TEAM: Brigham Young 16-8; 7-4
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 4-8 1-1 2-2 2 3 5 4 11 1 0 1 2 33
35 JOHNSEN, Melinda.... f 1-4 0-1 5-6 0 1 1 0 7 2 1 0 1 24
51 CHEESMAN, Danielle.. c 4-8 0-0 1-1 4 6 10 4 9 2 1 2 1 32
14 SULLIVAN, Julie..... g 0-9 0-2 9-12 1 3 4 2 9 3 4 1 2 32
30 GILLESPIE, Mallary.. g 4-9 2-5 0-0 3 4 7 0 10 1 2 0 2 24
13 GOOLD, Tiari........ 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 1 0 2 1 0 0 18
25 TAYLOR, Kali........ 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 3
33 ANDERSON, Ambrosia.. 3-12 1-6 0-0 3 4 7 1 7 1 3 0 1 20
45 KUBIK, Dani......... 0-3 0-0 2-2 0 0 0 4 2 0 5 1 1 13
52 RILEY, Lauren....... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
TEAM................ 1 7 8
Totals.............. 16-53 4-15 19-23 14 29 43 16 55 12 18 5 11 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 9-29 31.0% 2nd Half: 7-24 29.2% Game: 30.2% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 2-9 22.2% 2nd Half: 2-6 33.3% Game: 26.7% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 4-4 100 % 2nd Half: 15-19 78.9% Game: 82.6% 2
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Officials: CLARKE STEVENS, EDWARD FLORES, STANLEY EVANS
Technical fouls: New Mexico Lobos-None. Brigham Young-None.
Attendance: 803
Score by Periods 1st 2nd Total
New Mexico Lobos.............. 22 24 - 46
Brigham Young................. 24 31 - 55
OFFICIAL FINAL
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