The BYU women’s basketball team ran out to an early 10-point lead over the first four minutes of the game and never trailed during its 72-58 win over Montana State on Thursday in Provo.
“I thought we came out at the start of the game with a lot of intensity defensively,” BYU coach Jeff Judkins said. “We didn’t let them score for a while. We struggled offensively for the first three or four minutes, but I thought our defense was aggressive. We took some of their key players out early and then we started going. This team can score and when it gets going, it can score very quickly.”
A step-back 3-pointer by Shaylee Gonzales with time winding down in the second quarter made it 40-18 at the half.
The Cougars shot 48.1% from the field and 43.3% from deep on the day. The Cougars set a season high in 3-pointers made, going 14 of 31 from distance.
Gonzales led the team with 18 points, three rebounds and three assists. Paisley Johnson Harding finished with 11 points and six rebounds.
BYU improves to 3-1 on the season. The Cougars are back in the Marriott Center on Saturday, Dec. 12, at noon to play Boise State.
Utah Valley 84, William Jessup University 43 • In Orem, playing for the first time since Nov. 28, the Wolverines returned to the court with a big win over the Warriors. All 11 UVU players active for the game got into the scoring column.
The Wolverines (2-0) used a 23-2 run that spanned the end of the second quarter and first half of the third quarter to take a 34-point lead en route to the lopsided win. UVU outscored the Warriors (1-4) 47-17 in the middle quarters.
Maria Carvalho led three Wolverines in double figures with 14 points while Shay Fano added 13 points, seven rebounds and four assists, and Josie Williams scored 10. Several players notched career highs, including Sydney Wright and Eleyana Tafisi, who each scored nine.
Utah Valley recorded assists on its first 11 made field goals and finished with 22 in the game, with Kayla Anderson’s five leading the way.