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BYU women’s basketball coach Jeff Judkins tests positive for COVID-19, will miss upcoming road trip

With assistant Lee Cummard in charge BYU women’s basketball stays perfect, scores 101 in blowout of Utah State

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Brigham Young Cougars head coach Jeff Judkins reacts to a call by the officials during a game in 2016. Judkins, the Cougars' longtime head coach, has tested positive for COVID-19.

  | Nov. 23, 2021, 9:41 p.m.
| Updated: 11:58 p.m.

Longtime BYU women’s basketball coach Jeff Judkins has tested positive for COVID-19 and did not travel with the Cougars to their upcoming tournament in Florida, officials say.

Judkins was not on the sidelines of Tuesday’s game between BYU and Utah State as the school awaited the results of his test. A BYU spokesperson later said Judkins tested positive for COVID-19 and will stay home to quarantine while the Cougars leave town for the St. Pete Showcase.

“The remainder of the team has been tested and it’s been determined by BYU’s sports medicine staff that they are safe to travel with no other positive tests in the team travel party,” the spokesperson said.

With Judkins missing, BYU assistant coach Lee Cummard will serve as the acting head coach for the game. Cummard coached the Cougars to an impressive win over the Aggies Tuesday.

The Cougars exploded for 36 points in the first quarter and beat the Utah State Aggies 101-74 on Tuesday afternoon. BYU improved its record to a perfect 5-0, while USU dropped to 2-3.

BYU’s Shaylee Gonzales scored a game-high 24 points at the Marriott Center in Provo.

“It’s awesome to get everyone in from the bench — the freshmen, the walk-ons,” Gonzales told BYUtv after the game. “It’s a great opportunity for them to get in, to play, to gain that confidence. And it’s so fun from the bench watching them play and get in.”

A late 3-pointer by Rose Bubakar put BYU at 101. It was the first time the Cougars scored more than 100 points since 2011, when they scored 102 against Utah State. BYU’s 36 first-quarter points were the most in any quarter since the NCAA moved to four quarters for women’s basketball.

The sophomore guard Gonzales led all scorers with 24 points, seven rebounds, six assists, four steals and a block. Senior guard Paisley Harding added 15 points, two assists and a block while making three of her first four 3-pointers.

Cougars sophomore forward Lauren Gustin scored 18 points on 7-of-8 from the field. Senior guard Tegan Graham had 14 points, seven assists and five rebounds.

Utah State senior guard Emmie Harris led her team with 17 points, three rebounds and three assists. Senior guard Kaylin Randhawa scored 13 points, senior forward Laci Hawthorne contributed 12 and junior forward Adryana Quezada both had 11 points.

BYU’s first five games have been at home. But its next four will come on the road, including the next two in Florida for the St. Pete Showcase over Thanksgiving weekend.