Bailey and Eaton guide BYU Cougars to win over Pacific

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BYU players celebrate after defeating Pacific 89-72. (Ari Davis)
The BYU women’s basketball team celebrates after defeating Pacific in the Marriott Center 89-72. The team will next take on Saint Mary’s Saturday, Jan. 17, at 2 p.m. (Ari Davis)

Morgan Bailey and Lexi Eaton gave one of their best performances of the season as BYU topped Pacific 89-72 Thursday night.

Bailey got her eighth double-double of the season, ending with 31 points and 11 rebounds. Eaton led all scorers with a career-high 32 points and five rebounds. The team played well both offensively and defensively, leading Pacific the entire game. The Cougars shot 55 percent from the field and 64 percent from the 3-point line.

“One of the best games of the year,” Cougars head coach Jeff Judkins said. “Morgan proved who the best player in the league is.”

Bailey and Eaton weren’t the only ones assisting in the win. Kylie Maeda had a career-high nine assists, and Makenzi Morrison had a career-high six assists.

The game started off quickly for the Cougars, with Bailey making the first three shots of the game. Eaton went on a six-point run with 12:45 left in the first half to put the Cougars up 20-14.

Bailey put down 21 points and six rebounds in the first half, and Eaton was close behind with 17 points and four rebounds.

“When Bailey and I are attacking, we set the tone for everyone else on the team,” Eaton said.

The Cougars came into the second half determined to keep Pacific at bay. Bailey started the Cougars with a well-fought basket, followed by Morrison with a layup off a fast break. The Cougars would make the first nine points of the half, and with 12 minutes left in the game Eaton would hit two back-to-back threes to put BYU up 72-47.

“We have threats inside and outside, and that’s what makes us so hard to defend,”  Bailey said.

Ari Davis
Lexi Eaton drives the ball to the hoop against Pacific. Eaton scored a career-high 32 points and had five rebounds. (Ari Davis)

Judkins took Eaton and Bailey out of the game with 10 minutes left and gave every one the Cougars a chance to play.

“It will help in our upcoming game this Saturday against Saint Mary’s,” Judkins said. “There is no need to chance an injury when we are up by 30 points.”

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