PROVO -- In the second loss of the season decided by two or less points, the BYU women's basketball team (3-5) dropped a close one to New Mexico State University (6-1), 54-52, Wednesday in the Marriott Center.

Senior Mallary Gillespie-Carling led the Cougars with 16 points and six assists. Gillespie-Carling has now scored more than 10 points in six games this season in 53 in her career. Her six assists is also a season high and ties her third-highest career mark.

"It an uphill battle for us right now," said head coach Jeff Judkins. "We had many opportunities to win the game tonight, but we just couldn't pull through. I am proud of the girls. They fought hard tonight. The shots just weren't falling, but they were aggressive and didn't quit."

The Cougars jumped out quick with a basket by freshman Keilani Moeaki in the first seconds of the game. The Aggies stayed with the Cougars and followed closely until 12:30 when New Mexico State dropped a three-point shot to tie the game at eight points.

The two teams battled for the lead, with five lead changes in the first half. With a little less than six minutes left in the first half, the Cougars scored six unanswered points and took an eight point lead, the largest leading margin in the first half, at the 4:35 minute mark with a jump-shot by Moeaki.

New Mexico State tightened the game before the end of the half, tying the game 24-24 with a breakaway lay-in at the 1:20 minute mark. The Aggies took the lead with another quick two-point shot, but the Cougars responded with three seconds left. Senior Lauren Riley-Varley dropped a basket of her own tying the score 26-26 to end the half, marking the only tie at the half that BYU has had all year.

Starting the second half strong, New Mexico State scored four points and held at 26 points until 17:14 when Gillespie-Carling responded with a three-point shot. She followed-up sinking another 3 point-basket at 16:07 for the sixth tie of the game. The score was tied up one last time at 34-34 with a lay-in by junior Cassie King 14:33.

"If you look at the stats they are pretty even," said Coach Judkins. "The difference of the game was the first six minutes of the second half."

The Aggies gradually pulled away, being ahead by as much as seven points and scoring 12 of 18 total points in the last eight minutes in the game. The Cougars fought hard to close the gap coming within two with at 1:41.

With five seconds left and down by two, the Cougars looked to tie the game but were not able to seal the deal.

"We are just having a hard time pulling through on crucial plays, and we're having a hard time getting over the hump," said Coach Judkins.

The Cougars will continue home play in the Marriott Center when they face the Utah Valley Wolverines Saturday, Dec. 8, at 5 p.m.

Official Basketball Box Score
New Mexico State vs Brigham Young Univer
12-05-07 4:30 pm at MARRIOT CTR, BYU, PROVO UT
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VISITORS: New Mexico State 6-1
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
02 Neal, Sherell....... f  4-5    1-1    0-1    1  4  5   4   9  0  0  0  2  31
12 Henderson, Brittany. f  3-8    0-1    0-2    2  2  4   2   6  3  0  0  2  25
21 Jawara, Anikia...... f  4-11   0-0    3-4    1  5  6   3  11  1  2  0  1  22
24 Spence, Madison..... g  3-8    0-2    3-6    1  5  6   1   9  1  4  0  1  32
35 Walton, Tyshae...... g  1-7    0-2    0-0    0  2  2   1   2  1  2  0  0  17
04 Spanich, Hannah.....    0-3    0-3    0-0    1  3  4   3   0  4  2  0  4  19
10 Bribiescas, Monique.    1-5    1-4    0-0    0  4  4   2   3  1  2  0  0  21
13 Kmitaite-Smith, Irma    3-4    2-3    0-0    0  2  2   1   8  1  2  0  0  10
33 Denning, Carla......    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   1   0  0  0  1  0   6
45 Stevens, Danielle...    3-5    0-0    0-2    1  2  3   0   6  0  0  0  0  17
   TEAM................                         4  2  6
   Totals..............   22-56   4-16   6-15  11 31 42  18  54 12 14  1 10 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 11-28 39.3%   2nd Half: 11-28 39.3%   Game: 39.3%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  2-9  22.2%   2nd Half:  2-7  28.6%   Game: 25.0%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  2-6  33.3%   2nd Half:  4-9  44.4%   Game: 40.0%    4
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HOME TEAM: Brigham Young Univer 3-5
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
32 SLADE, Shawnee...... f  0-5    0-1    3-5    7  4 11   3   3  0  2  0  0  32
45 MOEAKI, Keilani..... f  3-6    0-0    0-3    1  3  4   4   6  2  5  0  0  22
52 VARLEY, Lauren...... c  6-11   0-0    0-1    0  4  4   3  12  0  1  2  3  29
03 FOREMAN, Jazmine.... g  0-2    0-1    0-0    0  1  1   1   0  2  1  0  0  17
30 CARLING, Mallary.... g  5-18   2-11   4-6    1  4  5   2  16  6  1  1  2  38
05 CHEESMAN, Ashley....    1-2    0-0    0-0    0  2  2   0   2  0  1  0  0   8
13 JUDKINS, Jaime......    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   1   0  1  0  0  0   5
22 NIELSON, Mindy......    0-5    0-2    2-4    2  0  2   1   2  1  2  0  1  29
23 WOOD, Coriann.......    2-6    0-3    1-1    1  3  4   0   5  0  1  0  0   9
54 KING, Cassie........    2-3    0-0    2-2    0  2  2   1   6  1  1  0  0  11
   TEAM................                         3  5  8
   Totals..............   19-58   2-18  12-22  15 28 43  16  52 13 15  3  6 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 10-26 38.5%   2nd Half:  9-32 28.1%   Game: 32.8%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  0-5   0.0%   2nd Half:  2-13 15.4%   Game: 11.1%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  6-9  66.7%   2nd Half:  6-13 46.2%   Game: 54.5%    3
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Officials: RANDY CAMPBELL, SHELLEY NAKASONE, MIKE PETTY
Technical fouls: New Mexico State-None. Brigham Young Univer-None.
Attendance: 512
Score by Periods                1st  2nd   Total
New Mexico State..............   26   28  -   54
Brigham Young Univer..........   26   26  -   52
OFFICIAL FINAL
Points in the paint-NMSU 22,BY 22. Points off turnovers-NMSU 14,BY 10.
2nd chance points-NMSU 13,BY 10. Fast break points-NMSU 6,BY 0.
Bench points-NMSU 17,BY 15. Score tied-7 times. Lead changed-5 times.
Last FG-NMSU 2nd-04:25, BY 2nd-04:55.
Largest lead-NMSU by 7 2nd-12:37, BY by 8 1st-04:35.

After two disappointing losses in Connecticut, the Cougar team looks to get back on the winning side with two home games in the Marriott Center.

On Wed., Dec. 5, BYU (3-4) hosts New Mexico State(5-1) in a 4:30 p.m. tip. Then on Sat., the team will host crosstown rival Utah Valley University (8-0) in a 5 p.m., tip off.

That's a half hour later than the original scheduled time.

Game #8-12/05/07:BYU vs. New Mexico St. Time:4:30 p.m. MT Arena:Marriott Ctr.

Game #9-12/08/07:BYU vs. Utah Valley Univ. Time:5:00 p.m.MT Arena:Marriott Ctr.

Following the Cougars --

Radio: Both of the games this week will air live on KOVO 960 AM.

Internet: They will also be heard live on the internet at

http://www.byuradio.org/streaming Jay Monsen will call the action for both games.

Live stats: All of the games can be accessed with the live stats link by logging on to: www.byucougars.com/basketball_w/.

Cougar All-Acccess: Those who have signed up for Cougar All-Access can also view the games on their computers.

BYU Probable Starters

No. Name Pos. Ht. Yr. PPG RPG

03 Jazmine Foreman G 5-5 Fr 3.3 1.1

30 Mallary G. Carling G 5-10 Sr 13.3 2.7

32 Shawnee Slade F 5-11 Jr 7.1 6.0

54 Cassie King F 6-3 Jr 3.6 2.4

52 Lauren R. Varley C 6-3 Sr 9.0 9.1

Reserve Players

No. Name Pos. Ht. Yr. PPG RPG

45 Keilani Moeaki F 6-2 Fr 5.7 4.6

22 Mindy Nielson G 5-10 Fr 5.0 1.9

23 Coriann Wood F 6-1 Fr 3.8 2.4

14 Sarah Red G/F 5-11 Jr (rs) 2.5 0.0

05 Ashley Cheesman F 6-0 Sr 1.7 1.7

13 Jaime Judkins G 5-6 So 1.2 0.7

0 Lauren Nichols F 6-0 Fr (rs) 0.8 0.3

55 Megan Marks F 6-2 Fr 0.3 1.3

21 Stephanie Buhler F 6-0 Fr

Team Stats -- 2007-08

-- Shooting from the field: (.394, 146-371)

-- Shooting from the free-throw line: (.584, 52-89)

-- Shooting from three-point line: (.278, 32-115)

--Average points per game: 53.7

2007-08 Season Highlights and Notables

TEAM

-- The captains on the 2007-08 season are seniors Mallary Gillespie-Carling and Lauren Riley-Varley

-- When playing on the road this season, BYU has a 1-3 record.

-- The 55 rebounds by the Cougars vs Fresno State on 11/17/07 are a season high and rank tied for third place in the program's history.

-- The win over Fresno State improved BYU's all-time record in home openers to 24-11 and under coach Judkins is now 6-1 in home openers.

-- The 78 points and the 55 rebounds recorded in the win over Fresno State are the most in both categories to date.

-- Starting lineups:

Foreman, Carling, Slade, Cheesman, Varley: 2-2

Foreman, Carling, Slade, King, Varley: 1-1

Judkins, Carling, Slade, Wood, Varley: 0-1

PLAYER

-- Center Lauren Riley-Varley picked up back-to-back double doubles in the first two games of this season. She tallied 14 points and 11 rebounds against UCSB and 16 points and 13 boards at Arkansas State. She led all players in the rebound category in those contests.

-- Varley's 16 points at Ark. State were season highs to date

-- Varley tops the list in rebounds for the team to date grabbing an average of 10.0 boards per contest.

-- Mallary Gillespie-Carling has scored in double figures in 52 games during her career, including five so far this season, most recently (22) at Sacred Heart, (17) at UCSB, (13) at Ark. St., (17) vs. Fresno St., and (15) vs. Seton Hall.

-- Carling is the team's assist leader so far this year dishing out a total of 19.

-- Freshman Mindy Nielson tallied a career-high 11 points vs. Fresno State on 11/17/07.

-- Shawnee Slade led the team in scoring at Connecticut on 11/29/07 with 10 points, marking her 12th career double figure contest, and the second this season.

-- Freshman Keilani Moeaki tallied a career- and game-high 19 points in the game vs. Hartford

-- Freshman Coriann Wood picked up season and career highs in points and rebounds in the game at UConn on 11/29/07 with eight points and five rebounds. She had her first collegiate start at Sacred Heart on 12/01/07.

About This Week's Opponents

NEW MEXICO STATE UNIV. - Provo, Utah at 4:30 p.m. (12/05/07)

The Aggies from New Mexico St., have compiled a 5-1 record to date with their most recent win, a 58-42 victory over New Mexico on 12/02/07 in Las Cruses.The team returns four starters and a totalof nine letterwinners from a team that went 13-18 last season. Head Coach Darin Spence is in his fifth season with the Aggies where he has a 50-74 record to date. Three players from NMSt., are currently scoring in double figures led by senior forward Sherell Neal with 13.8 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. Madison Spence follows with 12.3 points and grabs 3.2 boards per contest. Anika Jawara, a 6-0 senior forward rounds out the double digit scoring with 11.5 points and a team high 9.7 rebounds per game.

New Mexico State Probable Starters

Pos. # Name Ht Yr PPG RPG

F 02 Sherell Neal 6-0 Sr 13.8 8.8

F 21 Anikia Jawara 6-0 Sr 11.5 9.7

G 24 Madison Spence 5-11 Fr 12.3 3.2

G 35 Tyshae Walton 5-8 Jr 6.8 2.5

G 05 Hannah Spanich 6-0 So 2.7 3.0

Stat Comparisons BYU NMSt.

Field Goals: .394 .385

Free Throws: .584 .704

Three-Pointers: .278 .280

Points Per Game: 53.7 67.7

Rebounds Per Game: 37.7 46.5

Series History

Record: 13-10 favoring BYU. The Aggies have not made an appearance in the Marriott Center since a game on 2/16/90 where NMSt., got the 77-63 win.

Against the Cougars in the Marriott Center they have a 3-8.

Last Meeting: Dec 6, 2006 where the Cougars picked up a 60-43 win in Las Cruces.

UTAH VALLEY UNIV. - Provo, Utah at 5 p.m. (12/08/07)

The Wolverines from crosstown rival UVU have an impressive 8-0 record having just won the Air Force Classic in Colo. Sprgs. The team plays at Montana St. on Wed., Dec. 5 prior to the matchup with the Cougars on Saturday. Four starters and 13 letterwinners return to the team that went 15-13 last season. In scoring, three players are in double figures for the Wolverines. Senior Robyn Fairbanks tops the list in both scoring and rebounding with 22.9 and 9.0 respectively. Junior guard Sandy Marvin follows with 20.0 points and 3.1 boards and Julie McMurray who contributes with 15.5 points and 6.4 boards per contest. Cathy Nixon is in her 12th season with UVU and fourth as a NCAA Div. I program.

Utah Valley Univer. Probable Starters

Pos. # Name Ht Yr PPG RPG

C 00 Kaitlin Sowinski 6-4 Jr 18.0 6.0

G 04 Maggie Cosgrove 5-3 Fr 4.8 3.3

G 22 Stephanie Ryan 5-10 Jr 6.0 7.3

G 24 Khalia Cain 5-7 Jr 7.8 2.8

G 35 Alisa Apo 5-9 Fr 5.0 1.8

Stat Comparisons BYU UVU

Field Goals: .394 .490

Free Throws: .584 .761

Three-Pointers: .278 .444

Points Per Game: 53.7 86.1

Rebounds Per Game: 37.7 41.8

Series History

Record: 2-0 favoring BYU since UVU became a Div. I program four years ago. When playing in the Marriott Center in those four seasons, they have a 0-1 record.

Last Meeting: The Cougars and Wolverines played last year in Orem where BYU picked up the 71-57

Media Availability

Team Practice Times - at home

-The team practices are held at the Marriott Center MWF from 11:30 a.m., to 1:30 p.m. On Tuesday's, practice is scheduled from 1 to 3 p.m., and on Thursday's from 11:30 to 2 p.m.

- Coach

Judkins and players are available for interviews prior to or after their practices. All interviews are scheduled in advance. Norma Collett is the Basketball Communications Director for the team and can be contacted by phone or email.

Contact at -- office: 801-422-4908, cell: 801-372-0989 and email: norma_collett@byu.edu

Looking Ahead

Three more games round out the nonconference schedule for the Cougars. The team plays at Weber State on Wed., Dec. 12 at noon, then hosts Pac-10 powerhouse UCLA on Dec. 15 at 4 p.m.

BYU has a short Christmas break before a Dec. 29 game at Utah State. That contest tips off at 5 p.m.