The BYU women’s basketball team faces the Loyola Marymount Lions in the Marriott Center on Thursday in the Cougars’ first West Coast Conference game of the week.
The Cougars are still healing their wounds from their loss against the Gonzaga Bulldogs last week. They fell 59–74 in their first WCC game loss. The Cougars (12–5 overall) are anxious to play again to move on and apply what they’ve learned after their loss to the Bulldogs.
“It’s been a long week thinking about it,” guard Haley Steed said. “The best way to get the taste out of your mouth is to play again.”
Forward Morgan Bailey, who had a career-high 18 points against Gonzaga, is excited to play again and to apply what she has learned from the Gonzaga game and from the entire season so far.
“I learned to play hard the whole time,” Bailey said. “I have the opportunity to sit on the bench and see what we are lacking, and then I can try and pick up the slack.”
BYU looks to move on in WCC play against LMU (8–11, 2–4 WCC). The Lions are 0–2 on the road so far in conference play, while the Cougars have utilized their home court advantage to keep them 8–0 in the Marriott Center.
“Losing the game on Thursday night has got my team motivated to take care of things at home,” head coach Jeff Judkins said. “I think we’re excited to play at home and get the bad taste out of our mouth.”
The key to victory for the Cougars will be in the battle of the guards. LMU’s top player is guard/forward Alex Cowling, who is averaging almost 16 points and seven rebounds per game. BYU will look to its guards to control her.
“Cowling is one of the best players in the conference,” Steed said. “A lot of our focus will be on making her life difficult.”
Thursday is also Student Night. All high school and college students with an ID card will get into the game for free. Also, following the game, there will be free pizza, free Powerade and a dance on the Marriott Center floor. See the Facebook page for more information on the postgame events.
Tipoff for the Cougars and Lions is at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday in the Marriott Center.
