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Gustin named to All-WCC Preseason team, BYU picked third in coaches poll

By Darnell Dickson - | Oct 5, 2022

University Photographer

BYU sophomore forward Lauren Gustin looks to pass during the exhibition game against Westminster at the Marriott Center in Provo on Thursday, Nov. 4, 2021. (Courtesy BYU Photo)

When 6-foot-1 junior forward Lauren Gustin was being recruited out of Salem Hills High School, she said she was often told she was too short to compete inside against major college opponents.

So much for expert opinions.

Gustin is entering her third year as a starter at BYU and is one of the elite rebounders in the country. She has pulled down 637 rebounds in her career as a Cougar (an average of 12 per game). Last year against Big 12 opponent Oklahoma in Norman, Gustin grabbed 21 boards. In two seasons, she has 28 double-doubles to her credit.

New BYU coach Amber Whiting calls Gustin her “cheat code.”

That may be true, but Gustin has earned every bit of the accolades that have come her way, including a nod one of the top 10 players in the West Coast Conference entering the 2022-23 season.

Gustin was the lone Cougar named to the All-WCC preseason team on Wednesday.

“We lost lot of good players from last year,” Gustin said at WCC Media Days in Las Vegas. “They were seniors and leaders. But that provides opportunities for others to step up. It’s going to be different but it’s also going to be exciting. We’ve gelled together. We have a strong foundation and the new coaches have been super welcoming. We’re excited for the season to see where it takes us.”

Gustin comes from an athletic family. Her father, John played football at Wyoming. Her mother, Scarlett, was a college basketball player at BYU and Wyoming. Her brother, Porter, played linebacker in the NFL.

“Porter always worked super hard,” Lauren Gustin said. “He always kept pushing me and taught me a lot. He had so much discipline when he was working out, eating properly and balancing his social life. He’s one of the most humble people I know. Whenever I need advice I turn to him.”

BYU was picked third in the preseason WCC coaches poll behind Gonzaga and Portland.

“”I think it definitely gives us some motivation heading into this year,” Whiting said. “I think we will surprise a lot of people with the team we have and I am looking forward to getting started.”

Last year, BYU won the regular-season championship with a 15-1 mark in WCC play and a 26-4 overall record, playing in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Cougars were picked to win the league in 2021-22 in the preseason poll.

BYU is replacing four of five starters from last year’s tournament team, with Gustin as the lone returning starter for this season.

“I think this summer we’ve improved a ton defensively,” Whiting said. “We’re all on the same page. We’ve also done a ton of skill work and getting to know each other was a huge box I had to check. I think we have a really good core. We lost 86 percent of our offense but these girls are hungry to get out there. They want those shots.”

While Gustin is the only starter returning, there is experience back for BYU with Kaylee Smiler, a veteran with 63 games under her belt, including 22 games last year. Nani Falatea returns as a sophomore after shooting 50 percent from behind the arc last season (21 of 42) in 28 games. Emma Calvert, the 2021 Gatorade Player of the Year is also back after playing in 22 games as a true freshman.

BYU plays an exhibition contest against Westminster on Oct. 27 at the Marriott Center before opening the regular season on the road at Colorado State on Nov. 8.

After winning the 2022 University Credit Union WCC Basketball Tournament, Gonzaga stands atop the WCC Preseason Coaches Poll in the annual poll of the WCC’s 10 head coaches. The Bulldogs collected all nine first-place votes possible along with 81 points.

Gonzaga head coach Lisa Fortier brings back multiple key returners from last year’s conference tournament champion squad, including the Truong sisters, Kayleigh and Kaylynne, both preseason team honorees, as well as fellow preseason team honoree and the 2022 WCC Sixth Woman of the Year Award winner Yvonne Ejim. Last season, the Bulldogs advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament before falling to eventual Final Four participant Louisville.

WCC Women’s Basketball All-Preseason Team

Haylee Andrews, Sr. G, Portland

Ali Bamberger, Jr. F, Saint Mary’s

Yvonne Ejim, Jr. F, Gonzaga

Alex Fowler, Jr. F, Portland

Lauren Gustin, Jr. F, BYU

Ariel Johnson, Sr. G, Loyola Marymount

Ioanna Krimili, Jr. G, San Francisco

Myah Pace, Sr. G, San Diego

Kayleigh Truong, Sr. G, Gonzaga

Kaylynne Truong, Sr. G, Gonzaga

WCC Women’s Basketball 2022-23 Preseason Coaches Poll

1. Gonzaga (9) 81

2. Portland (1) 71

3. BYU 55

4. San Francisco 54

5. Saint Mary’s 47

6. San Diego 46

7. LMU 39

8. Santa Clara 29

9. Pacific 17

10. Pepperdine 11

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