The women’s basketball team put on quite a show in its annual blue and white scrimmage on Tuesday night, as White defeated Blue 30-22 and Blue returned the favor in the second game, 19-17.
Senior center Jennifer Hamson was one of four players that scored more than 10 points in the games. Hamson played both volleyball and basketball for BYU last year but decided in August to just focus on basketball for this year. Both the players and staff were happy with her decision because this would give her more time to focus on building team chemistry earlier in the season.
“I think she kinda felt like she wanted to give her all to one sport and really try and focus on that,” said head coach Jeff Judkins. “I am glad she chose basketball because we’ve lost some inside players due to injury. “
Hamson’s decision is already paying off for the team, as she finished the night with 14 points and 10 rebounds and was a monster on defense.
Kim Beeston also had an impressive night. Beeston was able to pull in five rebounds, had two steals and scored 14 points in the games. During the last scrimmage, she caught on fire from beyond the arc and hit three consecutive 3’s in a row.
“Kim shot awesome and hit 3 threes in a row and really brought us back,” Kristen Fuller said.
But Beeston’s amazing effort was too little and too late, as her team lost 30-22 to the white team.
In the first scrimmage both teams struggled to consistently move the ball well, and neither team was able to score for the first five minutes of the game.
“There were moments that we looked good and were playing as a team and moving the ball well, and then there were moments that we didn’t,” Beeston said. “I think the thing to correct is consistency.”
After that both teams settled down and started to move the ball more, and it became a bitter fight until the end. With the help of Lexi Eaton, who had 11 points and 3 rebounds, the blue team came out victorious in the first scrimmage with a final score of 32-23.
It was another hard-fought battle in the second scrimmage as the white team barely squeaked by the blue team 19-17.
Next Friday at 7 p.m. the Cougars will host Colorado Mesa University. Then the following day at 3 p.m. in the Marriott Center, the team will play in-state rival Westminster College. Both games are free to the public.
