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Woolston, Gustin power Cougars to win over Boise State

By Daily Herald - | Dec 9, 2023
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BYU's Kailey Woolston dribbles the ball against Boise State during a women's college basketball game at the Marriott Center on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023.
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BYU's Lauren Gustin (12) defends a shot against Boise State during a women's college basketball game at the Marriott Center on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023.

Kailey Woolston scored 18 points and Lauren Gustin had 16 points and 18 rebounds, leading BYU women’s basketball (8-2, 0-0 Big 12) to a 65-50 victory over Boise State (7-3, 0-0 MWC) at the Marriott Center on Saturday afternoon.

“We shared the ball well tonight,” said head coach Amber Whiting. “We had 19 assists on 24 made shots. Emma Calvert had a career night as far as rebounds go so I was proud and happy for her to step in and do that.”

After an off-night by Woolston’s standards against the Aggies on Tuesday, the freshman went 7-for-11 from the floor, including a perfect 4-of-4 from beyond the arc. She also finished with three assists, a steal and a rebound.

Gustin contributed her eighth double-double of the season and 64th of her career. Lauren Davenport scored eight points off the bench with four rebounds. Kaylee Smiler didn’t miss from behind the 3-point line, going 2-for-2 for eight points and five assists.

In her first start of the season, Calvert scored six points and notched a career-high 14 rebounds, along with three assists and three blocks.

BYU shot 42 percent from the field while holding Boise State to 30 percent and 50 points, the Broncos’ second-lowest scoring output of the season. The Cougars dominated the boards, outrebounding Boise State 52-39 with Gustin and Calvert combining for 32 alone.

With the win, the Cougars moved to 8-2 on the season marking the third time in the last 10 seasons that a BYU team has started the year by winning eight of the first 10 games.

The Cougars led 7-6 early in the game with a driving layup from Woolston, giving BYU the advantage with just under 5:30 remaining in the quarter.

Later in the quarter, a triple from Boise State tied the score at 11 before a turn-around floating layup from Davenport gave the Cougars a 15-13 lead at the quarter’s end.

A 3-pointer from Smiler and a bucket from Gustin helped BYU to a 20-13 lead to open the quarter.

The Cougars forced Boise State’s fourth turnover with a throwaway out of bounds, leading 22-14 and prompting the Broncos to call a timeout.

Boise State cut the lead to 32-26 before a corner triple from Smiler and a driving layup at the buzzer from Woolston extended BYU’s lead to 37-26 to close out the half.

Gustin and Woolston led BYU at the half with 12 and 10 points, respectively. The Cougars outrebounded Boise State 24-17 and outshot the Broncos in the half, 47 percent to 33 percent.

BYU’s 50 percent shooting from beyond the arc helped secure an 11-point advantage heading into the locker room.

Boise State trimmed its deficit to 40-33 early in the quarter before an offensive rebound and layup from Calvert put BYU back up nine, 42-33.

Back-to-back blocks from the Cougars led to another Woolston triple, extending BYU’s lead to 46-33 with 4:36 remaining in the period.

The Cougars closed out the quarter with a corner three from Davenport, extending BYU’s lead to 53-37.

Woolston made her fourth 3-pointer of the afternoon from the right corner to extend the Cougars’ lead to 56-39 early in the final period.

BYU maintained its 63-45 lead following a jumper from Woolston with 3:39 remaining in the game. The Cougars held on to defeat the Broncos 65-50 moving to 8-2 on the season.

BYU will conclude its homestand against Idaho State at the Marriott Center on Saturday, Dec. 16 at 2 p.m. MST. Watch live on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ or listen to live play-by-play of BYU and the Broncos on BYU Radio 107.9 FM or BYU Radio.org/BYU Radio app.

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