LOS -- Playing in the opening game of the first round of the Women's NCAA Basketball Championship, the 11th seeded BYU women's basketball team (23-10) lost to the 6th seeded Louisville Cardinals (27-7), 80 to 54 Saturday at the Galen Center in Los Angeles.

Louisville started strong from the opening tip, taking a 7-0 lead. Senior center Dani Wright scored the first two Cougar points by making a layup with 17:34 left in the half. BYU struggled to make baskets in the opening minutes of the game, shooting 16.7 percent in the first five minutes while the Cardinals shooting percentage was in the opposite direction, shooting over 40 percent. The Cardinals' hot shooting led to a 12 point lead with 12:43 to go in the first half.

Louisville continued to shoot well while keeping the Cougars in check defensively and led 22 to 10 with 8:27 before halftime. BYU kept playing hard despite being down and cut the Louisville lead down to seven points with defensive pressure and made lay-ups, 25 to 18, with 6:44 left in the half.

Louisville continued to lead BYU for the rest of the half and had a 44 to 23 lead going into the locker room at halftime.

BYU was led in the first half by Lauren Riley who scored six points, with Shawnee Slade and Dani Wright scoring four a piece.

Both teams traded baskets to open the second half with Louisville maintaining their 19- point lead, 48 to 29 with 15:28 left in the game.

A Shawnee Slade three-pointer brought the score to 32 to 50 with 14:38 remaining but Louisville answered the made basket with a six point unanswered scoring run that increased the Cardinal lead to 56 to 32 with 12 minutes to go in the second half.

The Cougars put together a run of their own to answer Louisville and went on an eight to three run that brought the score to 40 to 59. Dani Wright, who scored six of the eight Cougar points, with Melinda Johnsen accounting for the other two, led the run.

With 6:44 to go in the game, neither team had made a field goal for almost three minutes when Cardinal Jazz Covington made a jump- shot that brought the score to 62 to 40. After a Louisville free throw, Melinda Johnsen hit a jump-shot and the made basket brought the score to 42 to 64 in favor of Louisville with 5:27 left in the game.

Louisville would continue their lead for the remaining minutes of the game and finished with an 80 to 54 win.

"We didn't play as well as we needed too" said BYU Head Coach Jeff Judkins " We were a step slower and they seemed to be quicker at everything."

Dani Wright led BYU with twelve points followed by Mallary Gillespie with 10 points.

Seniors Jennie Keele, Melinda Johnsen and Dani Wright played their last game for BYU.

"The seniors played great all year," said Coach Judkins "I hope our younger players will learn from this and learn they have to play really hard and focused every game."

Despite the loss, BYU had a great season. They won the Mountain West Conference regular season title and made it to the championship game of the MWC tournament.

Their participation as an at-large bid in this years NCAA tournament was their eighth overall, second consecutive and fourth under current Head Coach Jeff Judkins.

Official Basketball Box Score
BYU vs Louisville
03/17/07 5:15 p.m. at Los Angeles, Calif. (Galen Center)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VISITORS: BYU 23-10
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
35 JOHNSEN, Melinda.... f  2-3    1-2    2-2    0  3  3   1   7  4  2  0  0  30
52 RILEY, Lauren....... f  4-7    0-0    0-2    2  4  6   5   8  0  4  0  0  30
45 WRIGHT, Dani........ c  5-7    0-1    2-3    3  4  7   5  12  0  2  0  0  23
15 KEELE, Jennie....... g  1-6    0-5    1-2    3  0  3   2   3  5  4  0  0  30
30 GILLESPIE, Mallary.. g  3-15   1-8    3-4    0  3  3   3  10  1  3  0  1  34
05 CHEESMAN, Ashley....    0-1    0-0    1-2    0  0  0   0   1  0  1  0  0   5
13 JUDKINS, Jaime......    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   1   0  0  1  0  0   3
22 FADDIS, Brittany....    0-0    0-0    3-4    1  0  1   0   3  0  0  0  0   2
31 AINA, Rachel........    0-0    0-0    0-1    0  0  0   0   0  0  0  0  0   2
32 SLADE, Shawnee......    3-10   1-4    0-0    1  2  3   1   7  2  0  0  0  27
54 KING, Cassie........    1-1    0-0    1-2    0  1  1   0   3  0  1  0  0  14
   TEAM................                            4  4
   Totals..............   19-50   3-20  13-22  10 21 31  18  54 12 18  0  1 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 10-22 45.5%   2nd Half:  9-28 32.1%   Game: 38.0%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  1-7  14.3%   2nd Half:  2-13 15.4%   Game: 15.0%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  2-5  40.0%   2nd Half: 11-17 64.7%   Game: 59.1%   1,5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOME TEAM: Louisville 27-7
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
05 TOKOVA, Yuliya...... f  0-3    0-2    1-1    0  3  3   3   1  1  0  0  0  13
12 COVINGTON, JAZZ..... f  6-9    0-0    2-2    3  4  7   3  14  2  2  0  1  29
35 MCCOUGHTRY, Angel... f  8-15   2-5    6-7    5  4  9   1  24  1  1  2  2  35
03 BARLOW, Patrika..... g  2-7    0-4    0-0    1  2  3   1   4  3  0  0  1  27
22 RADDE, Brandie...... g  3-8    2-6    0-0    0  1  1   1   8  3  0  0  0  29
02 SMITH, Jasmine......    1-2    0-0    0-0    1  1  2   1   2  0  0  0  0   2
13 SLAUGHTER, Toni.....    2-6    1-4    1-2    1  5  6   2   6  1  2  1  1  22
23 JOHNSON, Helen......    2-8    2-6    0-0    0  3  3   2   6  1  0  0  0  17
25 POINDEXTER, Michelle    2-4    0-0    2-3    1  3  4   2   6  1  0  0  0   7
32 FAULKNER, Kala......    1-1    0-0    2-2    0  0  0   0   4  0  0  0  1   2
33 OLSON, Katie........    0-2    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   1   0  2  2  0  0   8
42 WRIGHT, CHAUNTISE...    2-4    0-0    1-1    1  1  2   1   5  0  0  0  0   9
   TEAM................                         2  1  3             2
   Totals..............   29-69   7-27  15-18  15 28 43  18  80 15  9  3  6 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 17-35 48.6%   2nd Half: 12-34 35.3%   Game: 42.0%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  5-13 38.5%   2nd Half:  2-14 14.3%   Game: 25.9%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  5-5  100 %   2nd Half: 10-13 76.9%   Game: 83.3%   2,1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Officials: Roy Gulbeyan, Felicia Grinter, Taiqua Stewart
Technical fouls: BYU-None. Louisville-None.
Attendance:
Score by Periods                1st  2nd   Total
BYU...........................   23   31  -   54
Louisville....................   44   36  -   80

With an impressive 23-9 record and a second consecutive MWC regular season title, BYU's women's basketball team heads to the NCAA Championships for their eighth appearance and second straight. The Cougars are the No. 11 seed and will play No. 6 seed Louisville (26-7) on Sat. Mar. 17 at 5 p.m. PT. The winners advance to Monday's round of 32 to play the winner of the ASU/UC Riverside game. All games will be played at the Galen Center on the USC campus.

Complete Broadcast Plans

On the internet - BYU Radio via audio streaming will carry the games live with Jay Monsen. Log on to: http://www.byuradio.org/streaming

Live stats - fans can follow the game action via stats by clicking on:

http://www.byucougars.com/Schedule.jsp?SP=112&YR=2006

LIVE TV - Saturday's game will also air on ESPN2. All first-and second-round games will are available in their entirety on ESPN Full Court. Go to www.ncaasports.com for updated on game time. Bob Wischusen (play-by-play), Lisa Leslie (analyst) and Krista Black (sideline reporter)

BYU Probable Starters

Pos. # Name Ht Yr PPG RPG

G/F 15 Jennie Keele 5-10 Sr 6.3 3.7

G 30 Mallary Gillespie 5-10 Jr 13.7 3.7

G/F 35 Melinda Johnsen 5-10 Sr 6.0 2.8

C 45 Dani Kubik Wright 6-3 Sr 13.4 6.8

F 52 Lauren Riley 6-3 Jr 7.3 6.6

Reserve Players

Pos. # Name Ht Yr PPG RPG

G/F 32 Shawnee Slade 5-11 So 7.8 4.6

C 54 Cassie King 6-3 So 3.5 2.7

F 05 Ashley Cheesman 6-0 Jr 2.2 1.8

F 22 Brittany Faddis 6-0 So 1.0 1.2

G 13 Jaime Judkins 5-6 Fr 0.2 0.6

G 31 Rachel Aina 5-9 So 0.1 0.1

Team Stats --

-- Shooting from the field: (.433, 750-1733)

-- Shooting from the free-throw line: (.618, 329-532)

-- Shooting from three-point line: (.310, 171-552)

-- Average points per game: 62.5

2006 Run In Preseason WNIT

The Cougar team ended their run in this year's Preseason WNIT after a disappointing 58-84 loss to No. 16 Baylor on Thurs. Nov. 16. BYU had advanced to the Final Four after a 73-50 home victory over Idaho State on Nov. 10 and then a come from behind 55-52 upset victory over No. 4 Stanford. Dani Kubik Wright was named to the All-Tournament Team.

Cougars Team Summary

After compiling the best season record in school history (26-6), making their seventh postseason NCAA Championships appearance and clinching the 2006 MWC Regular Season Champion crown, the BYU team looks to take that success and winning attitude into the 2006-07 year.

BYU returns a nucleus of four starters and five letterwinners that will make this year's squad tough to beat during its non-conference and league schedules.

Once again the Cougars should finish at the top of the MWC standings, leading the way to an eighth appearance in the NCAA Championships and advancing further in that national tournament.

2006-07 Season Highlights and Notables

TEAM

-- BYU advanced to the title game of this year's MWC Championships for the second straight time since the first MWC tournament back in 2000.

-- The Cougars 32-point margin of victory over Air Force on 03/07/07 is the fourth-largest in MWC Tournament history. It was also the second-largest margin of victory for BYU. They beat Weber State 79-42 on Dec. 14.

-- As of 03/12/07, the team improved to 18-2 when leading at the half.

-- BYU is 18-5 when outrebounding opponents.

-- OT woes - in the two overtime games the Cougars have played so far this season, they have lost both by five points each. One at home vs. UNM on 02/10/07 and @ UNLV on 02/21/07.

-- The 11 turnovers BYU had vs. UNLV on 01/20/07 and vs. UNM on 02/10/07 were the lowest of the year.

-- The 10 blocks vs. SDSU on 02/24/07 are a new team season high.They had nine at San Diego State on 01/25/07.

-- The Cougars have had three players scoring in double figures in 13 games. BYU has won all but three (Baylor, Oregon, UNM) of those games.

-- Two players have scored in double figures in 11 games this season, the most recent, vs. AF in the MWC Champs on 03/07/07.

-- The 79 points scored against Weber State are the most scored by BYU this year and the (13) three-point goals, are team highs as well.

-- BYU has had eight games where they have scored at least 70 points in the contest. They have won six of those, and only two have been against an MWC team, both versus AF (72 on 03/07/07 at the MWC Champs., and 70 on 02/08/07 in Provo).

-- BYU's defense held the Cowgirls to 28.3 percent shooting from the field on 02/15/07, and also held Air Force to the same percentage on 03/07/07 making it the fifth lowest on the season.

-- The Cougars picked up a season best in 3-point field goal percentage .542 (13-24) in the Weber State game on 12/14/06.

-- To date, BYU has shot 50 percent or better from the field in four games (vs. AF on 03/07/07 .509 ; @ Wyoming on 02/15/07 .511; vs. Weber State .534 on 12/14/06 and vs. UCR .521 on 12/20/06)

-- The Cougars have had four players score in double figures three times this year: (vs. SCU, @ Harvard, and @ UVSC).

-- In the home game vs. Santa Clara University on 11/22/06, the .839 (26-31) free throw percentage was the best for the team in regular season games. In league games, they shot .800 (16-20) vs. TCU on 02/01/07 for the highest charity stripe percentage in league games.

-- The 55 total rebounds grabbed in the game vs. CSUN on 12/09/06 are a new season high for the team.

-- The 4,018 fans in attendance at the Utah game on 02/28/07 were the highest home attendance record in the program's history.

-- The 15 steals in the game @ UNLV on 02/21/07 were season

highs.

-- The Cougars non-conference road record finished at 4-4.

PLAYER

-- Dani Wright scored a new season and career high 30 points @ UNLV on 02/21/07.

-- Dani Wright set a new season and career high in rebounds with 15 vs. TCU on 02/01/07.

-- Dani Wright - Preseason WNIT All-Tournament Team

-- Dani Wright - In the game @ Stanford - played a total of 35 minutes, the most minutes played in her college career.

-- Dani Wright surpassed 1,000 points with a total of 1,014 with the as of 03/12/07. Her total career points include one year at Auburn and her two and half years at BYU. She scored her 1,000th at 13:27 left in the first half of the Utah game on 03/09/07 and it sparked a 9-0 run by the Cougars.

-- Melinda Johnsen - team's assist leader: (337) for her career, 143 this season, as of 03/12/07.

-- Melinda Johnsen grabbed seven boards against Wyoming on 02/15/07 tying her season high in rebounds and the most boards versus a league opponent this year.

-- Lauren Riley picked up a season and career high five blocks vs. AF on 02/08/07.

-- Lauren Riley picked up a new season and career high 18 points vs. UNM on 02/10/07.

-- Mallary Gillespie picked up new season and career highs in points with 31 at Wyoming on 02/15/07.

-- Mallary Gillespie picked up her third season and career MWC Player of the Week honor on Feb. 19 after her 31 point performance in the game at Wyoming on 02/15/07.

-- Jennie Keele tallied a season high 16 points at Colorado State on 02/17/07, one point shy of her 17 career high.

-- Jennie Keele finished with a career-high tying five steal in the game vs. AF on 03/07/07, which also tied for third-most in MWC tournament history.

--Ashley Cheesman started in her first game for the Cougars in the second half of the AF game on 03/07/07 for an injured Dani Wright. In the game she picked up a new season and BYU career high six rebounds, and she tied her season high in points with eight.

Balanced BYU Scoring (as of 03/12/07)

Games With Four In Double Figures (3)

vs. SCU 11/22/06 - Keele (12), Gillespie (14), Slade (22), Johnsen (10)

@ Harvard 11/29/06 - Gillespie (10), Hall (10), Wright (14), King (11)

@ UVSC 12/16/06 - Gillespie (14), Slade (13), Wright (12), Riley (13)

Games With Three In Double Figures (13)

@ Baylor 11/16/06 - Keele (12), Slade (11), Wright (17)

vs. UC Riverside 12/20/06 - Gillespie (11), Wright (27), Riley (10)

@ Oregon 12/30/06 - Johnsen (10), Wright (20), Riley (13)

@ Air Force 01/06/07 - Keele (10), Slade (13), Wright (13)

vs. Wyoming 01/13/07 - Keele (11), Slade (11), Wright (12)

vs. CSU 01/18/07 - Gillespie (16), Wright (15), Riley (12)

vs. TCU 02/01/07 - Gillespie (21), Slade (12), Riley (10)

vs. UNM 02/10/07 - Gillespie (24), Wright (20), Riley (18)

@ WY 02/15/07 - Gillespie (31), Slade (15), Wright (13)

vs. SDSU 02/24/07 - Gillespie (17), Wright (15), Riley (11)

vs. Utah 02/28/07 - Gillespie (15), Wright (11), Riley (10)

vs. Utah(@ MWC tourney) 03/09/07 - Wright (14), Gillespie (13), Johnsen (12)

vs. UNM (@ MWC tourney) 03/10/07 - Gillespie (17), Slade (14), Riley (10)

Games With Two In Double Figures (11)

vs. Idaho St. 11/10/06 - Gillespie (10), Slade (10)

@ Stanford 11/13/06 - Gillespie (12), Hall (15)

@ Fresno St. 11/17/06 - Johnsen (12), Wright (10)

@ NMex.St. 01/06/07 - Gillespie (14), Wright (16)

vs. Weber St. 12/14/06 - Keele (13), Gillespie (30)

@ UNM 01/10/07 - Gillespie (18), Slade (16)

@ SDSU 01/25/07 - Gillespie (10), Wright (12)

vs. AFA 02/08/07 - Wright (21), Johnsen (10)

@ CSU 02/17/07 - Wright (22), Keele (16)

@ UNLV 02/21/07 - Wright (30), Gillespie (19)

vs. AF (@ MWC tourney) 03/07/07 - Gillespie (20), Riley (12)

Double Digit Scoring 06-07

-- Mallary Gillespie has scored in double figures in a total of 22 games this season. Of those games, 10 were against MWC foes.

-- Dani Wright has scored in double figures in 22 games including 13 of 16 MWC contests.

-- Jennie Keele has scored in double digits in six games, most recently (16) at CSU on 02/17/07.

-- Shawnee Slade has scored in double figures in 10 contests this season, which includes five league game, and most recently vs. UNM on 03/10/07 in the MWC title game.

-- Lauren Riley has 10 games this year where she has tallied double digit scoring. This includes five conference games, most recently vs. UNM on 03/10/07 in the MWC Championships.

Cougar Double Doubles 06-07

-- Dani Wright picked up her fifth season and sixth career double double with the 11 points and 12 rebounds vs. Utah on 02/28/07.

-- Lauren Riley recorded her fifth double double of the season and fifth career with 10 points and 14 rebounds vs. UNM in the MWC title game on 03/10/07.

Long Range Gillespie

-- Mallary Gillespie continues to get hot from three point range. She has picked up the majority of her points from behind the arc. At Wyoming on 02/15/07 where she tallied a new season and career high 31 points, she shot .714(5-7) from three point range. In the game vs. TCU on 02/01/07 she scored 15 of her team and game high 21 points from three-point land. She also tallied 18 of her team high 24 points vs. UNM on 02/10/07 from behind the arc.

--Gillespie scored a team and game high 16 vs. CSU on 01/18/07 scoring 12 of those from three-point range.

-- In the home league game vs. UNLV on 01/20/07, she had another game and team high performance with 17 points, 15 of which were from behind the arc.

Injury Update -

Freshman point guard Haley Hall is out for the rest of the season. She tore her ACL in her left knee at the New Mexico State game on 12/06/06.

2007 NCAA Div. I Women's Basketball Championships

-- Greensboro Regional - Schedule

First Round - Sat. Mar. 17, 2007 Los Angeles (Galen Center)

Game 1 - No. 4 Texas A&M (24-6) vs. No. 3 Texas-Arlington (24-8), 11:00 a.m. {ESPN}

Game 2 - No. 5 George Washington (26-3) vs. No. 12 Boise State (24-8), approx. 30 minutes after Game 1 {ESPN/ESPNU}

Game 3 - No. 6 Louisville (26-7) vs. No. 11 Brigham Young (23-9), 5:00 p.m. {ESPN2}

Game 4 - No. 3 Arizona State (28-4) vs. No. 14 UC Riverside (21-10), approx. 30 minutes after Game 3 {ESPN2}

Second Round - Mon. Mar. 19, 2007 Los Angeles (Galen Center)

Game 1 - Teams to be determined, 5 p.m. MST {ESPN2}

Game 2 - Teams to be determined, approx. 30 minutes after Game 1 {ESPN2}

BYU In NCAA Women's Basketball Championships

2007 NOTES

-- This will be the eighth time and second straight that the Cougars have received an invitation to the NCAA tournament.

-- It is coach Judkins fourth time in his six seasons at the helm of the women's basketball program.

-- When BYU went to the Sweet Sixteen during the 2002 championships, the team was also a No. 11 seed.

-- In the 64-team tournament the Cougars have played seven of the team's participating (Harvard, TCU, New Mexico, Baylor, Stanford, UC Riverside and Idaho State)

-- Assistant coach Stacy Jensen and basketball operations director Erin Thorn were on the 2002 Sweet Sixteen team. Jensen was a senior, Thorn a junior.

-- Three student-athletes on this year's roster hail from California. Lauren Riley is from San Clemente and went to San Clemente HS. She also attended Woudbridge HS. Redshirt freshman Lauren Nichols is from Hesperia and attended Hesperia HS. Walkon Jaime Ribera is from Danville and went to San Ramon Valley HS.

Year Record @ NCAA Tournament

2005-06 26-6, 13-3 1-1 (beat Iowa 67-62 @ Pepsi Center, lost to Ok. 70-86

2002-03 19-11, 8-6 0-1 (lost to Colorado 45-84 @ Colorado)

2001-02 24-9, 10-4 2-1 (@ Iowa St., beat Fla. 90-52, lost to Tenn. 57-68)

1999-00 21-8, 104 0-1 (lost to Oklahoma 81-86 @ Purdue)

1992-93 24-5, 13-1 0-1 (lost to UCSB 79-88 in Santa Barbara)

1984-85 19-1, 11-1 0-1 (lost to Long Beach State 85-112 )

1983-84 18-8, 9-1 0-1 (lost to USC 72-97 in Los Angeles)

Year by Year Summary:

1983-84

The BYU Cougars received a bid for the first time in history during the 1983-84 season, drawing the University of Southern California in the first round. On March 16 BYU lost 97-72 and finished 17th in the tournament. The Cougars finished with an 18-8 overall record.

1984-85

BYU made its second-straight appearance to the NCAA Tournament in 1985, facing Long Beach State on March 16. Playing in front of a large 49ers crowd, the Cougars lost 112-85 and finished 17th in the tournament. BYU compiled a 19-9 record over the season.

1992-93

After a seven-year absence from the NCAA Tournament, the Cougars went to the Big Dance in 1993, losing to UC Santa Barbara, 88-19. The March 17 loss gave BYU a 33rd-place finish in the tournament. The Cougars finished with a 24-5 record, the best in the program's history at that time.

1999-00

Despite a strong, hard fought effort and 13 three pointers, BYU suffered a disappointing 86-81 loss to 18th ranked Oklahoma on March 18 in the first round of the tournament. Senior Cady Williams led the BYU effort with 27 points and a career-high six three pointers. The Cougars took a one-point, 33-32, lead at half time, but an early run by the Sooners at the start of second-half action gave them a 12-point lead with 13 minutes to go in the game and was the key to their victory. The loss put BYU's record at 22-9.

2001-02

This was the Cougars' year. They had their best finish in school history, going to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time.

Florida: All-American Erin Thorn's 28-point stellar performance lifted BYU to a huge 90-52 upset victory, and its first NCAA Tournament win, over No. 6 seed Florida on March 16. The Cougars offensive play and tough defense smothered the Florida team who only scored 18 points in the first half and were held to just 15 percent shooting in the first 20 minutes of play. Just five minutes into the second half, BYU had extended its lead by 31, 52-21.

Iowa State: Two days later BYU overcame a 13-point deficit to pull off its second-straight upset, beating the No. 3 seed Iowa State Cyclones, 75-69, to earn its first trip to the Sweet 16. Iowa State built a 13-point lead eight minutes into the second half, but the Cougars turned up the defensive pressure to draw even with 5:12 remaining. The second half featured three ties and six lead changes, most coming in the final five minutes as the Cougars and Cyclones traded shots and free throws.

Tennessee: On March 23, the Cougars put a scare into the Tennessee Volunteers through most of the first half but couldn't hold on as Tennessee took over to win, 68-57. BYU dominated the first half, leading by as many as nine points before the Tennessee offense came alive. The Vols went on a 15-1 run in the closing minutes of the first half to take a 35-30 lead into the break. BYU kept fighting and were within six points with 3:05 left in the game, but the Vols proved too tough, hitting six free throws in the closing minutes. BYU finished 9th in the tournament and compiled a 24-9 overall record.

2002-03

The Cougars were no match for the Buffalos on March 22, who cruised by shooting 60 percent from behind the arc and 50 percent from the field on their way to an 84-45 rout over BYU. Four minutes passed in the game before Erin Thorn put BYU on the scoreboard with a jumper. The Cougars were outscored 26-10 in the first 10 minutes of the game. Colorado came out in the second half unconscious, going 3-for-3 from three-point land and 5-for-5 shooting, leaving BYU behind on the scoreboard, 21-56. The 2002-03 campaign ended with a 19-12 record.

2005-06

In the 2006 NCAA Tournament, BYU was the no.7 seed the highest ever for the program. In first round action from the Pepsi Center in Denver, the Cougars squeaked by a feisty Iowa team 67-62 at the hands of a well-rounded team effort. With two of BYU's post players Dani Kubik and Lauren Riley fouling out midway through the second half, the team turned to Mallary Gillespie and Melinda Johnsen for leadership and scoring. Both stepped up and nailed big three-point shots to give BYU a 60-49 lead with 3:51 remaining. Iowa never gave up, closing th leads to five, 65-50 with 1:08 left in the contest. The Cougars were able to hold off the Hawkeyes in the end at the line.

A second-half three-point barrage was too much for No. 19 BYU as No. 2 seed Oklahoma overwhelmed the Cougars with a 16-point victory, 86-70. Despite six steals in the first half, the cougars went into halftime with a nine-point deficit.

In the second half, the Sooners shot an astounding 51.7 percent from the field and 50 percent from behind the three-point line, while BYU hit 43.1 percent from the floor and just 26.2 percent from behind the arc on 3-13 shooting.

First & Second Round NCAA Women's Championships - Opponents

University of Louisville (26-7) - ranked 24th, No. 6 seed

The University of Louisville earned its third consecutive at-large bid to the 2007 NCAA Tournament. The Cardinals are the No. 6 seed in the Greensboro Regional after finishing the season with a 26-7 overall record. The sixth seed is the best seed in the Cardinals' NCAA history. Louisville finished with a 10-6 Big East Conference record entering the league's tournament as a fifth seed. They eventually lost to Connecticut in the championship game. Angel McCoughtry, the Big East Player of the Year tops the team's scoring list with 21.9 points and a team high 10.6 rebounds per game. The sophomore forward is joined in double digit scoring by senior forward Jazz Covington who scores 10.6 points and grabs 6.8 boards a contest. Junior guard Patrika Barlow leads the team in assists (156) while McCoughtry ranks first in steals (107). Yuliya Tokova, a 6-1 junior forward tops the list in blocks (59).

Head Coach: Tom Collen is in his fourth season (87-36)

University of Louisville Probable Starters

Pos. # Name Ht Yr PPG RPG

F 05 Yuliya Tokova 6-1 Jr 7.3 5.9

F 12 Jazz Covington 6-2 Sr 10.6 6.8

F 35 Angel McCoughtry 6-1 So 21.9 10.6

G 03 Patrika Barlow 5-6 Jr 5.3 3.3

G 22 Brandie Radde 5-11 Fr 6.0 2.6

Stat Comparisons BYU LOU

Field Goals: .433 .438

Free Throws: .618 .630

Three-Pointers: .310 .303

Points Per Game: 62.5 73.8

Rebounds Per Game: 38.2 45.4

Series History

This will be the first meeting between the two schools. However, Coach Judkins and Coach Collen played against each other during the 2000-01 year and the 2001-02 season when Collen was at the helm of the CSU program.

Arizona State University (28-4) - ranked 9th, No. 3 seed

The Sun Devils are making their eighth appearance in the NCAA tournament where they have compiled a 6-7 record. ASU is part of the Pac-10 and head into this week's competition ranked no. 9 with an overall record of 28-4, and a 16-2 league record. In the conference tournament, ASU was the no. 2 seed and advanced to the title game before losing to Stanford. This season the team has set records for most wins (26) and most Pac-10 wins (16). Senior forward Emily Westerberg tops the list in scoring with an average of 13.7 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. The team's leading rebounder is 6-2 forward Aubree Johnson who grabs 5.6 boards a game. In the assist and steals categories the leader is Briann January with 131 and 69 respectively. Johnson is the team's blocks leader with 37 to date.

Head Coach: Charli Turner Thorne is in her 11th season with a 198-132 record.

Arizona State Probable Starters

Pos. # Name Ht Yr PPG RPG

F 04 Emily Westerberg 6-0 Sr 13.7 5.1

F 05 Aubree Johnson 6-2 Sr 9.9 5.6

G 02 Reagan Pariseau 5-5 Jr 4.4 1.7

G 20 Briann January 5-8 So 9.7 2.3

G 22 Jill Noe 5-10 Jr 9.3 4.9

Stat Comparisons BYU ASU

Field Goals: 433 .474

Free Throws: .618 .748

Three-Pointers: .310 .346

Points Per Game: 62.5 74.1

Rebounds Per Game: 38.2 35.8

Series History

These two teams have a 5-3 record that dates back to 1975 in the IAC, but have not played each other in over 16 years.

Last Meeting

The Sun Devils and Cougars last me on Dec. 07, 1991 in the Arizona State Classic. In that game, ASU picked up an 86-75 victory.

UC Riverside (21-10), No. 14 seed

The Highlanders come into this year's NCAA tournament as the automatic qualifier after winning the Big West Championship with a 70-67 victory over UC Santa Barbara. UC Riverside has compiled a 21-10 overall record and a 12-2 league record. They were the no. 1 seed in their conference championship, and are making their second consecutive appearance in the NCAA's. Two Highlanders are scoring in double figures led by junior forward Kemie Nkele who averages 16. 1 points and a team high 8.8 rebounds per game. Sophomore guard Syeram Gbewonyo follows with 10.2 points and 5.9 boards. She also tops the list in assists (89) and is tied in steals (36) with Nkele. Nkele is also the team's blocks leader with a total of 73 for an average of 2.4 per game.

Head Coach: John Margaritis is in his third season, and has compiled a 53-38 record

UC Riverside Probable Starters

Pos. # Name Ht Yr PPG RPG

F 11 Roney Friend 6-0 So 6.6 5.7

F 22 Amber Cox 6-2 So 5.1 3.6

F 33 Kemie Nkele 6-1 Jr 3.6 2.4

G 02 Seyram Gbewonyo 5-10 So 3.9 1.6

G 42 Chanel Foster 5-7 So 17.6 4.8

Stat Comparisons BYU UCR

Field Goals: .433 .403

Free Throws: .618 .677

Three-Pointers: .310 .346

Points Per Game: 62.5 61.6

Rebounds Per Game: 38.2 38.3

Series History

Both of these teams recently added each other to their schedules. BYU leads the series 2-0.

Last Meeting

The Cougars and Highlanders played on Dec. 20, 2006 in Provo where BYU grabbed the 66-57 victory.

BYU Mountain West Conference Championships History

-- With a 12-4 record in league play, BYU's women's basketball team clinched its second consecutive MWC Regular Season Crown and were the number one seed heading into the 2007 tournament that returned to Las Vegas and the Thomas & Mack Center after a three-year stint in Denver at the Pepsi Center.

In the quarterfinals, the team easily defeated the Air Force Academy 72-40. The Falcons advanced after a win over CSU in the play-in game.

In one of two semifinal games, the Cougars battled instate rival Utah to a 55-49 victory. The two league foes had split the regular season competition with each team winning on its home court.

In the title game between BYU and UNM, the number three seeded Lobos captured the league title with a 63-49 win. During the regular season the two foes won on each others home courts.

-- The Cougar women have advanced to the championship game in six of nine years including this season . BYU won the title in 2002 defeating UNLV 61-46. That same year, the team went on to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA tournament.

--BYU and New Mexico met for the second time in the MWC tournament title game. Back in the championship game in 2003 the Lobos picked up the crown with a 52-46 victory.

-- During the 2006 MWC tournament the Cougars were the No.1 seed and ended up losing to Utah in the championship game 60-84, at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado.

Previous Seeds:

BYU in 2000 - 2nd

BYU in 2001 - 4th

BYU in 2002 - 3rd

BYU in 2003 - 5th

BYU in 2004 - 6th

BYU in 2005 - 3rd

BYU in 2006 - 1st

BYU in 2007 - 1st

-- BYU Record In MWC title games:

In 2000 - lost to Utah 61-47

In 2001- lost to CSU 59-56

In 2002 - beat UNLV 61-46

In 2003 - lost to UNM 52-46

In 2006 - lost to Utah 84-60

In 2007 - lost to UNM 49-63

Cougar MWC Season Honors for 2006-07

Player of the Week - Mallary Gillespie (Feb. 19, 2007)

Player of the Week - Mallary Gillespie (Feb. 5, 2007)

Player of the Week - Mallary Gillespie (Dec. 18, 2006)

Player of the Week - Shawnee Slade (Nov. 12, 2006)

2007 MWC Postseason Honors

Co-Player of the Year - Dani Wright#

Coach of the Year - Jeff Judkins %

First Team All-MWC - Dani Wright

Second Team All-MWC - Mallary Gillespie

Honorable Mention All-MWC - Melinda Johnsen, Lauren Riley

2007 Championships - All Tournament Team

Mallary Gillespie

Lauren Riley

# This award was given to another BYU player last year - senior Ambrosia Anderson. She's currently on the WNBA's NY Liberty roster.

% Second straight honor for Coach Judkins

Travel Plans

Hotel: Sheraton Downtown, 711 South Hope Street, Los Angeles, 213-488-3500, 213-488-4110, fax.

Practice Times

Fri. Mar. 16 - 4-4:50 p.m. at Galen Center. Practice is open to the public and credentialed media

Sat. Mar. 17 - 8:40-9 a.m. at Galen Center

Mon. Mar. 19 - 11:50-12:50 at Galen Center

Press Conference

Fri. Mar. 16 - 3:20-3:50 p.m. at Galen Center Media Interview Room (Founders Club)

Sun. Mar. 18 - 2:30-3 p.m. at Galen Center Media Interview Room (Founders Club)

Head Coach - Jeff Judkins

Overall Record:126-61

2006-07: 23-9, 12-4

2006 MWC Coach of the Year Jeff Judkins begins his sixth year as head coach of the women's basketball program. Prior to heading up the women's program, he served one year (1999-2000) as Director of Basketball Operations for the BYU men's team. In 2000 he became an assistant coach on the women's team.

Last season under Judkins, the Cougars compiled their best finish in school history with a 26-6 record, clinched their first MWC regular season title since 1992 and received a no. 7 seed in the NCAA tournament, the highest seed for any BYU program.

For the first time since the 2002-03 season, the team and its 13-1 record to start the year broke into the women's basketball collegiate polls, ranked No. 23 by the AP Poll and the USA Today/Espn/WBCA Coaches Poll. They would rank as high as 18 and 16 in the two respective polls, finishing the year at No. 20. Last season Judkins picked up his 100th win, a 69-67 victory over CSU on Mar. 2, the same time the team clinched the league's regular season title.

Under Judkins tutelage, the women's basketball program has had consistent success with four postseason appearances including three NCAA Championships, guiding the team to its first ever Sweet Sixteen finish in 2002. In 2005, the 19-11 team played in the first round of the WNIT. Judkins has also coached two All-Americans in Erin Thorn and Ambrosia Anderson. Both have gone on to play in the WNBA for the New York Liberty. Thorn has been with the team for the past four years while Anderson just completed her first year playing professionally.

Coach Judkins has won at least 17 games every year but one since becoming the women's head coach. With his 22 wins this season he has recorded three 20 win seasons and two MWC Regular Season titles.

The longtime University of Utah coach and player came to Provo with a proven record of success dating back to his high school days at Highland HS in Salt Lake City. An all-state selection in basketball, football and baseball, Judkins went on to play for the University of Utah from 1974-78.

While playing at Utah, Judkins helped lead the Utes to one conference championship and two berths in the NCAA tournament. He was a second-team academic All-American and three-time District VII academic selection. He also earned three first team All-WAC honors and was a member of the 1977 United States World Games team that captured the gold medal.

Judkins also played five years in the National Basketball Association for the Boston Celtics, Portland Trailblazers, Detroit Pistons and Utah Jazz. He was a second-round pick of the Celtics in 1978, the same year the Celtics selected Larry Bird with the sixth pick overall.

After his NBA career, he returned to Utah in 1989 and was an instrumental part of that program's success during his 10 years, recruiting such players as Keith Van Horn, Andre Miller, Mike Doleac, Hanno Mottola, Alex Jensen, Trent Whiting, Garner Meads, Jeff Johnsen and Britton Johnsen. Judkins, graduated from the University of Utah in 1978 with a degree in health and physical education. He and his wife Mary Kaye are the parents of five children: Jessica (26), (married to Paul), Jordan (24), Jenna (22), Jaime, who plays on the basketball team, (19), and Jaxson (16). Jenna plays on the volleyball team at BYU.

Hobbies: Waterskiing, horseback riding, hunting, golf, softball, and watching ESPN.

Judkins Record vs. MWC School

School Record In 2007

Air Force 10-0 2-0

CSU 5-5 2-0

New Mexico 5-8 1-1

San Diego State 10-0 2-0

UNLV 8-5 1-1

Utah 4-7 1-1

Wyoming 7-4 2-0

TCU 2-1 1-1