69-58 victory over SDSU advances BYU in WNIT

PROVO, Utah – Four players scored in double figures as the BYU women’s basketball team advanced in the 2013 WNIT with a 69-58 victory over the visiting San Diego State Aztecs on Saturday at the Marriott Center.

“San Diego State is a very good team,” BYU head coach Jeff Judkins said. “I have a lot of respect for them. I was proud of how our team handled their pressure tonight. This was the first night in a long time we had the balanced scoring I had hoped for all season. It’s a great win for us.”

Kim Parker Beeston led BYU with 17 points. Also in double figures were Haley Steed, Stephanie Vermunt Seaborn and Jennifer Hamson with 13, 12 and 10, respectively. Hamson added a team-high and career-high 17 rebounds for her sixth double-double this season and second straight.

The Cougars shot 43.8 percent compared to San Diego State’s 32.3 while pulling down 41 boards to the Aztecs’ 33.

BYU’s Keilani Unga kicked off the scoring with an easy layup, followed by a basket from Jennifer Hamson to give the Cougars a 4-0 lead. Chelsea Hopkins hit a 3-pointer for San Diego State to cut the lead to one before Beeston put BYU back in the lead, 7-3, with a 3-pointer of her own.

The Aztecs outscored BYU 9-3 from there to take a 12-10 lead. The Cougars responded a few minutes later with an 8-0 run to go back on top, 20-14.

BYU held San Diego State scoreless for the last 2:36 of the half to hold a two-point lead, up 28-26 as they headed into the locker room.

Both teams traded baskets to start the second half until three-straight 3-pointers from Stephanie Seaborn, Beeston and Seaborn again gave BYU some more breathing room and a 42-32 lead with 14 minutes to play.

Continuing the scoring streak, BYU scored five more points to cap a 14-0 run before the Aztecs scored again after being held scoreless for six minutes.

With under seven minutes to play, the Aztecs pulled within three, but the Cougars went on a 6-0 run to prevent a comeback and take a 58-49 lead with 5:19 to play. 

BYU took a 10-point lead with two minutes left and the Aztecs cut it to five but, with under a minute left, San Diego State was forced to foul and the Cougars won the game on a 6-0 run, all coming at the free-throw line.

The Cougars now wait to hear where they’ll be playing and who their opponent is in the Third Round.

Postgame Notes

Team

• Back-to-back-to-back 3-pointers gave BYU its first double-figure lead of the game at 42-32 with 14:19 left in the second half. The three treys were part of a 14-0 Cougar run.
• BYU outrebounded the Aztecs 41-33 and outscored in the paint 20-18.
• The Cougars led 17-12 in assists and shot 43.8 percent from the field compared to San Diego State’s 32.3 percent.
• BYU’s largest lead of the game came with 12:02 left in the second half when the Cougars led by 15.
• Four Cougars scored in double figures for the sixth time this season.

Player

• Jennifer Hamson led the Cougars with a career-high 17 rebounds. She also contributed 10 points for her sixth double-double of the season and second straight, and five blocks, tying her season high. She tied her career high of two assists.
• Kim Parker Beeston was the first to hit double figures with a long jumper at 8:26 in the second half. She finished with 17 points.
• Haley Steed finished with 13 points and six assists to lead the team.
• Stephanie Seaborn scored 12 points and had four assists.
• Keilani Unga tied her career high of four assists and also had eight points.