Purcell's double-double helps BYU women rally by Gonzaga 58-54

Purcell's double-double helps BYU women rally by Gonzaga 58-54

(Chris Samuels/Deseret News/File)


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PROVO — For the second straight game, the BYU women's basketball team found itself in a fourth-quarter deficit in West Coast Conference play — just like it did Saturday at San Francisco.

And for the second straight game, the Cougars found a way to win.

Kalani Purcell totaled 17 points and 16 rebounds, including the go-ahead step-back jumper with 1:25 left, to give BYU a 58-54 win over Gonzaga for the Zags' first loss in WCC play Thursday night at the Marriott Center.

"This is one of the best wins I've had in a long time," BYU coach Jeff Judkins said. "It's not because we beat Gonzaga or won the game; we were down seven points with three minutes to go in the game, and we didn't give up.

"I think that shows a lot of character for my team, and what they really believe in. You want someone that fights to the end, no matter what."

Lexi Eaton Rydalch had a game-high 18 points and two assists for BYU (13-5, 5-1 WCC), which also got seven points and three assists from Kylie Maeda. The Cougars also limited each opponent to a balanced scoring effort, with Shelby Cheslek's 11 and Kiara Kudron's 10 being the only Zags in double-figures.

"I think everyone on this team understands their role, so that helps a lot," said Purcell, who tallied her seventh double-double of the season. "Everyone does their part, and we work really well together."

BYU ended the game on a 17-4 run, including four straight free throws from Cassie Broadhead to ice the game and put the Cougars (13-5, 5-1 WCC) up six, 57-51. The sophomore from Glenville, New York stepped up to the line four times in the final 18 seconds and swished each free throw to put a game in which BYU trailed by as much as nine out of reach in the closing moments.


This is one of the best wins I've had in a long time. It's not because we beat Gonzaga or won the game; we were down seven points with three minutes to go in the game, and we didn't give up. I think that shows a lot of character for my team, and what they really believe in. You want someone that fights to the end, no matter what.

–BYU coach Jeff Judkins


"To be honest, I wasn't nervous. They're just more free throws," said Broadhead, whose teammates call her Automatic when she steps to the line. "I just go up, just like in practice, and don't think about it. Those are the best free throws, the ones under pressure. It was fun."

Gonzaga (13-5, 5-1 WCC) took a 42-35 lead into the final period behind eight points from Kiara Kudron and a balanced attack that included Laura Stockton's seven points and three players with six each.

But Rydalch scored four straight to pull BYU within a point, 42-41, with 6:59 left in the game. Gonzaga rallied again, going on a 6-0 run capped by back-to-back transition layups from Chelsea Waters — and it looked like the Zags were pulling away, up 48-41 with 5:53 left.

Then Judkins called timeout. He admitted to his own shortcomings, then told his players to play perfect basketball the rest of the way.

Perfect or not, it worked.

"One thing about this team is when stuff like that happens, we are really good at not freaking out," Purcell said. "We keep calm, and we just keep playing our game."

Amanda Wayment scored only two points on 1-of-3 shooting but her putback layup with 1:41 remaining couldn't have been much bigger. The sophomore post grabbed a rebound off Rydalch's miss, then threw it down for a bucket to pull BYU within one 51-50.

"She battled tonight defensively. She was outmatched, and she did a great job," Judkins said of Wayment. "I've got to get her more involved scoring. But she's a solid kid who does whatever the team needs her to do. That basket was big."

The Bulldogs scored just three points over the final five minutes, with two of them coming on Cheslek's free throws with less than one second on the clock and trailing by six.

Purcell led all players in rebounding and had all six of her team's boards at halftime. Judkins challenged the players to fight the glass, and Jasmine Moody, Maeda and Wayment each pulled down two boards in the second half.

Lauren Stockton scored a game-high seven points in the first half to help the Zags to a 28-20 lead at the break. But the freshman daughter of John Stockton, whose son David also played at Gonzaga, was held scoreless the rest of the way.

Still, BYU never led until Purcell's shot with 1:25 remaining, a step-back jumper from just off the baseline to go up 52-51.

"That baseline jumper is a motion thing for me; it just happens," Purcell said. "Out of habit, I turned and shot it. I couldn't help it. I was really excited."

Gonzaga opened the game on an 8-3 run capped by Stockton's jumper with 5:37 left in the first quarter.

But the only lead the Cougars needed was the one when the clock read 0:00.

"This league is tough, and people don't realize it," Judkins said. "You've got to have your A-game, and we didn't always have it.

"But this team stuck together tonight."

BYU hosts Portland at 2 p.m. MST Saturday at the Marriott Center.

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