BYU women's basketball set for Sweet 16 matchup


4 photos
Save Story
Leer en español

Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

PROVO — They were just a small team from a mid-major conference playing in one of the most historic venues in college basketball — Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles.

At the site where the late John Wooden led UCLA to an unprecedented — before or since — 10 national championships in 11 years, the BYU women's basketball team was about to make history itself. The Cougars were about to become only the third 12-seed in Sweet 16 history.

And so it was. Head coach Jeff Judkins' band of spunky Cougars, ranked the 12th-best team in the West region, took down fourth-seeded Nebraska 80-76 on Monday night to secure a spot in BYU's first Sweet 16 since 2002. Behind 15 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks from two-sport standout Jennifer Hamson, the Cougars led nearly wire-to-wire against the Big Ten champion Huskers, and contained the league's player of the year in Jordan Hooper enough to advance to the regional semifinals — ironically, in Lincoln, Neb.

"(It's) taken me 12 years to get back here, so I'm not going to take this for granted at all," Judkins told the media after BYU's win. "I just can't say enough about the NCAA tournament, how exciting it is to play. You work so hard for this."

Hard work paid off for Hamson, who redshirted her senior season with the BYU women's volleyball team to focus on basketball. That sacrifice has led to increased chemistry with her teammates, along with 18 points and 11.5 rebounds per game.

Statistically, Hamson has nearly doubled every major offensive category since focusing on the sport of her mother, former BYU All-American Tresa Spaulding. Hamson increased her junior year output of 72 to an NCAA-leading 141 blocks as a senior.

"Oh, man, I would say it's indescribable," said Hamson, who has attributed much of her statistical increase to playing — and practicing — a full season with the team. "Just so many emotions flow through me. I absolutely loved it, being here, playing basketball now. I love these girls. I wouldn't do it with anyone else."


I think these guys will execute. I know we'll fight, and I know these guys know they can beat anybody. They play the way they're supposed to play, they can beat anybody. That's what we're excited about.

–Jeff Judkins, BYU Women's Basketball Head Coach


BYU's run has also been paced by the offense of a shooting guard with a recently repaired anterior cruciate ligament and a pint-sized point guard in her first year starting at "the one." Redshirt sophomore Lexi Eaton, a Springville High School product, had 15 points in the Cougars' win over Nebraska, and sophomore point guard Kylie Maeda added nine points and four assists.

Defense came in the form of Kim Beeston, who slid in to guard Hooper and held the Big Ten player of the year to five points in the first half and 20 overall. Beeston also contributed six points, five rebounds and a game-high eight assists.

"I think what happened," Judkins said, "is these guys just stepped it up and made big plays when they had to."

Now the challenge turns to top-ranked Connecticut, which enters the game riding a 36-game winning streak that dates back to last year's tournament. The Huskies feed off post player Breanna Stewart, who averages 19.7 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. Veteran guard Bria Hartley can also attack the basket and has an average of 16.5 points per game and has 75 3-pointers for the season.

The Huskies visited Provo in 2008, when legendary UConn guard Maya Moore poured in 17 points on a breezy 7-of-9 shooting.

But these two teams are completely different from the 2008 versions of each other. UConn has been defined this year as a team that can score in bunches, even if the offensive output is slow at the start of games. BYU, on the other hand, has used a flurry of fast starts in upset wins over the Wolfpack and the Huskers.

The Huskies own eight national championships while the Cougars are making their second Sweet 16 appearance. BYU last made such a deep run in the postseason with current Minnesota Lynx shooting guard Erin Thorn in the first season of a coach called "Juddy."

Before Judkins' arrival from the University of Utah, BYU's women's team had never made the second round of a postseason tournament. The Cougars only managed four tournament berths since they began play in 1971. But since Judkins, an eight-year NBA player, took over in Provo, BYU has had three conference regular season titles, two conference tournament titles and five NCAA tournament appearances.

The Cougars have every reason to enjoy the ride, being happy to be in a spot only two other 12 seeds have found themselves in NCAA women's basketball history. But Judkins said BYU will be ready to play Saturday.

"I think these guys will execute," he said. "I know we'll fight, and I know these guys know they can beat anybody. They play the way they're supposed to play, they can beat anybody. That's what we're excited about."


Sean Walker is a recent journalism graduate of Syracuse University and longtime soccer guy who adds a few stories to KSL.com when he has a spare minute. Follow him on Twitter @ReporterSean.

Photos

Related links

Related stories

Most recent Sports stories

Related topics

BYU CougarsSports

ARE YOU GAME?

From first downs to buzzer beaters, get KSL.com’s top sports stories delivered to your inbox weekly.
By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to KSL.com's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

KSL Weather Forecast