BYU Women's Basketball Final: Lady Cougars Route Lady Rebels

Despite an inability to execute offensively in the first half, the BYU women’s basketball team defeated the UNLV Lady Rebels 76-61 Thursday night in the Smith Fieldhouse. The Cougars were lead by Lexi Eaton who scored a game high 19 points, while Makenzi Morrison scored 15 of her career high 17 points in the first half. Morgan Bailey was held to 12 points, but grabbed 11 rebounds and Ashley Garfield also had a double-double with 10 points and 15 rebounds, including 8 offensive rebounds.

The Cougars started off the game with a four point deficit that lasted until the Cougars went on an 8-0 run about 5 minutes in to take the lead for good. Bailey was dominant early on which triggered UNLV to switch to a zone defense which stymied BYU and kept the game close. BYU stretched the lead to 14 using defense and transition offense.

The second half started much like the end of the first half with the Cougars starting with a 10-0 run. The lead actually reached 19 after an 8-0 run ten minutes into the second half. Coach Jeff Judkins used the rest of the half to clear the bench. 14 players got to play in the game while the Cougars routed the Lady Rebs.

Danielle Miller, the Lady Rebs’ leading scorer at 21 a game, was held to 11 points on 3-14 shooting while dealing with foul trouble throughout the game. Alana Cesarz lead UNLV with 24 points and 11 rebounds. Curiously, both Cesarz and Miller were on the bench when BYU first started to pull away in the first half.

The Cougars next game is Saturday, December 6, at Noon Mountain Time in Energy Solutions Arena in Salt Lake City.