Jan. 5, 2012

Box Score

PROVO, Utah - The LMU women's basketball team could do little to cool off a red-hot BYU squad Thursday night at the Marriot Center as the Cougars built a 26-point halftime lead and cruised to a 80-47 West Coast Conference win.

BYU hit 61 percent from the field in the first half, including nearly 55 percent from beyond the arc (6-for-11), while shooting 52 percent for the balance of the game. The also utilized their distinctive size advantage to finish with a 42-25 rebounding advantage.

Both teams started solid, with Hazel Ramirez scoring the first four points for LMU (4-11, 0-3 WCC) and Alex Cowling following with a jumper and a three as the Lions trailed 12-9 at 15:42.

But a layup by Lexi Eaton a minute later sparked a 19-0 Cougar run, opening up a 31-9 advantage for the home team with eight to play in the half. A Ramirez layup at the 7:55 mark snapped the BYU (13-3, 2-1 WCC) scoring streak, but only briefly as the Cougars took a 48-22 lead into the break.

BYU stretched their lead to as many as 41 midway through the second half, though LMU did keep the second-half scoring close, 32-25, in favor of the Cougars.

Cowling led the Lions with 23 points including another perfect performance from the free throw line, going 7-of-7 to stretch her consecutive free throw streak to 33.

Kristen Riley led BYU with 16 points while Kylie Eaton added 14. Ten total Cougars scored in the game.

The Lions return to Gersten Pavilion Saturday for a 2 p.m. tip off against No. 24 Gonzaga.