The BYU women’s basketball team used a 28-3 second-half run to secure an 84-74 victory over Southern Utah on Friday afternoon at America First Event Center in Cedar City.
The Cougars (4-1) trailed 49-41 halfway through the third quarter before finding their rhythm and jumping out to a 69-52 lead three minutes into the fourth. BYU implemented a stifling, trapping defense in the second half that forced nine SUU turnovers over the final 20 minutes.
Liz Graves scored 34 points to lead the Thunderbirds (2-2).
The total is tied for the sixth highest in a game in program history.
Graves, who shot 11 for 17 from the floor and 9 for 9 from the free-throw line, also pulled down 10 rebounds.
Sophomore guard Shaylee Gonzales led the Cougars with 26 points on 12-of-21 shooting while also adding five rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block. Sophomore forward Lauren Gustin racked up 19 points and a game-high 13 rebounds to notch her third double-double of the year.
Arizona State 56, Utah 48 • It was a tale of two halves for the University of Utah women’s basketball team, which fell in a Pac-12 game after struggling to keep the momentum in the second half at the Huntsman Center.
Utah led by as many as 12 points in the first half, shooting 50% from the floor in the first quarter and 42% overall for the half, while holding Arizona State to just six made field goals (22%) and forcing nine turnovers.
The second half was a different story as the Utes mustered only 17% shooting with just five made field goals in the third and fourth quarters.
Utah’s defense was stingy throughout the game, holding the Sun Devils to 56 points on 25% shooting, but it wasn’t be enough for the win as Arizona State’s ability to get to the free-throw line made a difference. The Sun Devils shot 20 of 23 from the charity stripe.
Men’s basketball
Weber State 94, Portland State 66 • In Portland, Ore., Zahir Porter had 24 points as the Wildcats romped past the Vikings.
Isiah Brown had 18 points for Weber State (3-1, 1-0 Big Sky Conference). Cody Carlson added 14 points and nine rebounds. Seikou Sisoho Jawara had 11 points.
James Scott had 16 points for the Vikings (1-3, 0-1). Khalid Thomas added 12 points.