BYU gamers huddles throughout sport towards Gonzaga March 6, 2023, in Las Veagas. The Cougars host Rice in a first-round WNIT sport Friday night time. Nate Edwards, BYU Photograph
BYU coach Amber Whiting coaches throughout sport towards Gonzaga on March 6, 2023 in Las Vegas. Nate Edwards, BYU Photograph
Following BYU’s loss to Gonzaga within the West Coast Convention event in Las Vegas final week, Lauren Gustin, and her teammates, didn’t need their season to finish.
The Cougars didn’t need it to complete the best way it did towards the Zags — a 79-64 setback within the event semifinals.
Because it turned out, it’s not over but.
Coach Amber Whiting’s inaugural season continues Friday (7 p.m. MDT) when BYU hosts Rice within the first spherical of the 64-team WNIT.
“We're tremendous excited to be internet hosting the primary spherical of the WNIT,” Whiting stated. “These ladies are actually excited to get again on the market, play one other sport and compete for the best to increase our season.”
The Cougars will probably be making their ninth look within the WNIT and their first since 2017, after they dropped a 72-64 resolution at residence to Washington State.
BYU superior to the WNIT’s quarterfinals in 2010 and the third spherical in 1982, 2011 and 2013.
Rice, in the meantime, captured the WNIT championship in 2021.
As for this season, the Owls have posted a 22-8 file. They ended the common season on a five-game profitable streak earlier than dropping to UTSA within the first spherical of the Convention USA event.
Rice enjoys balanced scoring. The Owls are led by Ashlee Austin (12.5 factors per sport), Malia Fisher (12.1 ppg), Future Jackson (10.9) and India Ballamy (10.7).
As a staff, Rice averages 72.3 factors per sport and shoots 44.4% from the sphere and 32.5% from 3-point vary. The Owls are limiting opponents to 66.6 factors, 41.8% from the ground and 28.3% from the 3-point arc.
BYU is led by Gustin, who earned WCC Co-Defensive Participant of the 12 months honors. She led the nation in rebounding (16.6) and broke the league’s all-time single-game rebounding file with 27 towards USF within the WCC event.
Gustin, who averaged 16 factors per sport, additionally set the WCC single-season rebound file and recorded 27 double-doubles.
Gustin eclipsed two-time BYU All-American and 1980 Nationwide Participant of the 12 months Tina Gunn Robinson for the college’s single-season rebounding file (532) and she or he tied the Marriott Heart file for rebounds in a sport (24) twice.
In the meantime, sophomore guard Nani Falatea (15.1 ppg) earned All-WCC first staff honors with Gustin, whereas redshirt freshman Amanda Barcello was named to the WCC All-Freshman Staff.
The winner of BYU-Rice will face the winner of Friday night time’s sport between Oregon and North Dakota State, which will probably be performed in Eugene. The subsequent spherical is scheduled to be performed between March 18-21.
BYU coach Amber Whiting coaches throughout sport towards Gonzaga on March 6, 2023 in Las Vegas.
Nate Edwards, BYU Photograph