/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70530303/merlin_2909458.0.jpg)
It’s been 777 days since No. 20 BYU girls’s basketball misplaced within the Marriott Heart.
That streak continued Saturday, because the Cougars took care of enterprise in a dominating 63-39 victory over Gonzaga.
Although a lot has modified on the earth for the reason that Cougars’ final dwelling defeat, a loss to Portland over two years in the past, BYU’s unblemished dwelling report has remained fixed, the profitable streak has continued because the Cougars completed with an ideal dwelling report for the second season in a row, extending that streak to 30 video games Saturday afternoon.
Three extra consecutive Marriott Heart victories would match a faculty report 33 straight dwelling wins set 41 years in the past.
BYU head coach Jeff Judkins was unaware how excessive the streak had climbed, however mentioned his staff knew. He was extra centered on what his staff nonetheless may accomplish.
“I feel tonight you noticed what the BYU staff is about,” Judkins mentioned. “I feel as we speak was this staff. That is how this staff was constructed. That is how this staff performs. I’m simply so pleased with them. This was a giant recreation. So much was on the road.”
BYU and Gonzaga every got here into the sport with only one loss in convention play, with Gonzaga’s solely defeat coming towards the Cougars two weeks in the past.
In that recreation, BYU outscored the Bulldogs 42-15 within the second half to beat a 15-point halftime deficit and are available dwelling victorious.
This time, there was no comeback wanted, because the Cougars remained in management for a lot of the competition.
Two Cougars scored in double figures, with sophomore Shaylee Gonzales pouring in 21 factors and Paisley Harding including 16 to steer all different scorers.
A rambunctious Marriott Heart crowd of 6,289, a faculty report for ladies’s basketball, aided the Cougars of their 24-point win.
“I knew we’d have a extremely good crowd,” Judkins mentioned. “I feel we had greater than 6,000 individuals to let you know the reality. I feel individuals snuck in right here, didn’t pay for a ticket, no matter, however what an environment.”
For 5 Cougars, it marked their remaining recreation in entrance of the Marriott Heart crowd.
Although she didn't swimsuit up, Kayla Belles-Lee’s BYU profession got here to an finish Saturday, and he or she was joined by heart Sara Hamson and guards Harding, Tegan Graham and Maria Albiero.
Hamson, Graham, Albiero and Harding all acquired on the board towards Gonzaga, combining for 32 factors.
“Each considered one of them has been a giant piece of BYU basketball, and so they’ll all be remembered for what they’ve achieved right here,” Judkins mentioned of the seniors.
“They set the tone for this program. These little freshmen proper now, they’re seeing the best way it’s purported to be carried out.”
Regardless of taking part in its final recreation within the Marriott Heart this yr, BYU feels the season is much from over. After being ranked as excessive as No. 16, the Cougars have far more they wish to accomplish, with their sights set on a deep run within the NCAA Match.
Judkins acknowledges that rather more lies forward previous the Cougars’ win on Senior Evening.
“They (need) to have the ability to actually make a mark, and that is a part of it,” Judkins mentioned of his staff’s victory. “There are various many extra components of it.”
One other one of many Cougars’ targets is a West Coast Convention championship, and with Saturday’s win, BYU’s grip on first place within the WCC standings simply acquired tighter.
Yet one more victory would give the Cougars simply their second WCC common season championship.
“I feel (the staff) noticed this, and so they felt this was going to occur for them this yr,” Judkins mentioned.
The Cougars will proceed the conclusion of their convention title dream subsequent Thursday with a possibility to clinch the crown on the highway towards the Santa Clara Broncos.
That recreation is scheduled to tip at 7 p.m.