Kalani Purcell, junior forward from New Zealand, was honored as the WCC Newcomer of the Year and named to the ALL-WCC Women’s Basketball First Team last week.
Purcell’s consistency has been extremely valuable to the Cougars this season.
Purcell averages 11.5 points, 12.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists and is the only Cougar averaging a double-double this season. Purcell has stuffed the stat line game after game to help BYU win their first regular-season conference crown.
Purcell is ranked first in the WCC for rebounding and assists. Averaging 35.4 minutes per game, she’s also averaging more minute per game than any other WCC player.
It’s no surprise she earned three consecutive conference Player of the Week honors in January.
Purcell is also ranked second in the nation in defensive rebounds per game and fifth in total rebounds per game.
Here are her top five performances in regular-season games:
BYU vs. Utah State Nov. 24 (W 81-69)
In BYU’s fourth game of the season, Purcell pulled down a total of 21 rebounds and earned the first of her 17 double-doubles as a Cougar.
BYU vs. Portland Jan. 16 (W 78-66)
Purcell had a career-high 6 steals against the Pilots at home. She has had a total of 56 steals this season and averages two steals a game.
BYU vs. LMU Jan. 21 (W 75-61)
Purcell scored a career-high 18 points during BYU’s first match-up with Loyola Marymount. She has scored 15 points or more in eight games this season.
BYU vs. Pepperdine Jan. 23 (W 69-64)
Purcell grabbed a career-high 24 rebounds, the second-most in BYU history as the Cougars defeated the Waves at home. She scored her 10th double-double and was 6-6 from the free-throw line.
BYU @ SMC Feb. 6 (W 65-44)
Purcell contributed career-high 10 assists to BYU’s victory over Saint Mary’s on the road. She has dished out five or more assists in 15 games this season.
