PROVO, Utah – Once again, a big game from Morgan Bailey wasn't enough as BYU fell 63-54 in its home opener against Cal State Northridge (CSUN) Wednesday at the Marriott Center.

"First off, we have to give them a lot of credit," BYU head coach Jeff Judkins said. "I think what killed us was their rebounding. They had 22 offensive rebounds and it gave them a lot of second and third opportunities to score, especially late in the game. We have to do better at rebounding and we need to make shots in crunch time."

Bailey finished the game with 22 points, leading all scorers. The senior from Orem has scored 47 points in her last two games for the Cougars (0-2).

Ashley Garfield and Lexi Eaton sparked a quick start for BYU. Garfield made a free throw for the first point of the game, and after a CSUN (3-0) two-pointer, Garfield connected on a jumper from just outside the free throw line. A pair of free throws and 3-pointer by Eaton in subsequent possessions gave BYU a 10-2 lead five minutes in.

The Matadors cut in to the Cougars' lead with three unanswered field goals before Eaton hit another 3-pointer from the top of the key. CSUN answered with a 3-pointer of its own before BYU's Bailey put in her first two points of the game. Another Matador three tied the game at 15 halfway through the first half.

After the two teams traded baskets to knot the score at 17-17, CSUN finished the first half on a 17-6 run to take a 34-23 lead. BYU's points in the stretch came on 3-pointers from Kristine Fuller and Alohi Robins-Hardy.

Four points from Bailey were part of a 7-0 run early in the second half that cut into the Matador lead. CSUN scored on consecutive possessions to end its drought, but BYU answered with a 3-pointer from Makenzi Morrison and another two from Bailey, bringing the Cougars within five with 14 minutes to play.

The Matadors created distance with a 5-0 run, before another basket from Bailey put the score at 49-41 for CSUN with ten minutes to play. Another two by Bailey and a 3-pointer from Cassie Broadhead brought BYU within three points with 7:30 on the clock.

Again, the Matadors pulled away using defense and offensive rebounds to extend their lead to eight with just two minutes left to play. Bailey completed a three-point play for the Cougars with just under two minutes remaining, bringing BYU within five. Following two made Matador free throws, Fuller scored on a floater in the middle of the lane to again bring the Cougars within five.

BYU was unable to score again, however, as CSUN put in two more shots to win 63-54.

The Cougars are at home again for Saturday night's game against Nevada. The game tips off at 7:30 p.m MST and can be viewed live on BYUtv.

Postgame Notes

Team

BYU led by as many as eight in the first half at 10-2 following an 8-0 Cougar run. CSUN also led by as many as 11 in the first half, capping off a 7-0 run with a 3-pointer to take a 34-23 lead at the break. The Matadors' largest lead of the game was 15 points in the second half with 18:58 remaining in the game. 

CSUN outrebounded the Cougars 48-31.

There were three ties and three lead changes in the game, all in the first half.

Coach Jeff Judkins is now 11-3 in home openers.

Player

Morgan Bailey led all Cougars with 22 points to go along with two rebounds and three assists. She shot 53 percent from the field.

Ashley Garfield fouled out of the game after getting a team-leading seven rebounds and five assists, while Cassie Broadhead contributed a career-high three blocks.

Alohi Robins-Hardy played in her first collegiate basketball game, scoring three points and grabbing a pair of boards.

BYU women’s basketball opens up the home portion of the 2014-15 campaign hosting Cal State Northridge (CSUN) Wednesday at 11 a.m.

The Cougar women enter the week with a 0-1 record after suffering a 10-point, 75-65 setback at South Dakota State last Friday. Wednesday’s game airs live on BYUtv and will be simulcast on BYU Radio.

SPECIAL PROMOTION
Kids’ Day – Elementary school-age children from around the valley will be in attendance at the game vs. the Matadors. The game is  FREE to the public.

About BYU
After the disappointing road loss, the Cougar women are looking to bounce back returning to the Marriott Center this week.

The Cougars return three starters and nine letterwinners from last year’s team that won a program-best 28 wins, finished second in the West Coast Conference, advanced to the championship game of the league tournament and made some noise in the NCAA tournament, making it to the Sweet 16 before losing to eventual champion UConn.

This year BYU was selected to finish second in the WCC regular season race.

Morgan Bailey, a  6-foot-2 senior forward recorded a career-high 25 points in the loss to South Dakota State (SDSU). She also pulled down eight rebounds tying with teammate Ashley Garfield for the most boards in the game. Bailey also dished out a team best four assists. Garfield scored six points. In just the second start of her career, sophomore Makenzi Morrison picked up her first career double digit outing in points with 11, going 3 of 4 from 3-point range in the game at SDSU. Returning starter Lexi Eaton tallied seven points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals in the game. Xojian Harry came off the bench and contributed seven points, three assists and two rebounds in the road contest.

The Cougars shot 42 percent from the field, 70 percent at the free throw line and dished out 14 assists, one more than the Jackrabbits.

• Head coach: Jeff Judkins (Utah, ‘78) 14th season
• Team’s leading scorer: #41 M. Bailey, 25.0 ppg
• Team’s leading rebounder: #41 M. Bailey & #3 A. Garfield, 8.0 rpg
• Team’s assists leader: #41 M. Bailey, 4.0 apg
• Team’s steals leader: #21 L. Eaton, 3.0 spg
• Team’s blocks leader: #20, Cassie Broadhead, 1.0 bpg

ABOUT CSUN
CSUN comes to Provo with a 2-0 record, picking up home wins over Idaho and Sacramento State. The game in Provo marks the first road contest for the Matadors.

CSUN returns all five starters and nine letterwinners from last year’s team that won the Big West Conference regular season and tournament title. The Matadors were picked to win this year’s league race as well.

Three players are scoring in double digits for CSUN led by senior guard Janae Sharp who is averaging 20.6 points per game. Cinnamon Lister another senior guard follows averaging 14.0 points and 2.5 rebounds a game. Camille Mahlknecht, a 6-foot-2 forward also scores in double digits with 11.5 points and she averages 9.0 rebounds per game. The Matadors are averaging 74 points per contest and are shooting 50 percent from the field.

• Head coach: Jason Flowers (UCLA, 2001) 5th season
• Team’s leading scorer: #03 J. Sharpe,  20.5 ppg
• Team’s leading rebounder: #04 C. Mahlknecht, 9.0 rpg
• Team’s assists leader: #05 A. Guay, 5.5 apg
• Team’s steals leader: #11 C. Lister, 3.0 spg
• Team’s blocks leader: #04 C. Mahlknecht, 3.0 bpg

Series History
BYU leads the series 4-0.

Last Meeting
These two teams met in Northridge last season where the Cougars picked up the 82-66 road victory.  Jennifer Hamson and Lexi Eaton led the way for the Cougars. Hamson recorded her second-straight double-double from game highs in points with 24 and rebounds with 11. Eaton chipped in 16 points and pulled down seven rebounds. Ashley Garfield came off the bench and grabbed the second most boards with 10. BYU shot 47 percent from the field and 80 percent from the charity stripe.

Cinnamon Lister led the way for the Matadors with 20 points, 15 coming from behind the arc. Ashlee Guay was the other CSUN player in double digit points with 16. They shot 31 percent from the field and 79 percent from the free throw line.

UP NEXT
The team remains in Provo for its second straight home game when they host Nevada on Saturday, Nov. 22 at 7:30 p.m.  That game airs live on BYUtv and will be simulcast on BYU Radio. 

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