2020–21 BYU Cougars women's basketball team explained
| Mode: | Women's Basketball |
| Year: | 2020–21 |
| Prev Year: | 2019–20 |
| Next Year: | 2021–22 |
| Team: | BYU Cougars |
| Conference: | West Coast Conference |
| Short Conf: | WCC |
| Record: | 19–6 |
| Conf Record: | 13–3 |
| Hc Year: | 20th |
| Asst Coach1: | Ray Stewart |
| Ac1 Year: | 10th |
| Asst Coach2: | Melanie Day[1] |
| Ac2 Year: | 2nd |
| Asst Coach3: | Lee Cummard |
| Ac3 Year: | 2nd |
| Tourney Result: | second round |
The 2020–21 BYU Cougars women's basketball team represented Brigham Young University during the 2020–21 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. It was head coach Jeff Judkins's twentieth season at BYU. The Cougars, members of the West Coast Conference, played their home games at the Marriott Center.
Before the season
Departures
| Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Year | Hometown | Notes |
|---|
| Brenna Chase Drollinger | 1 | G | 5'8 | Senior | | Graduated |
| Shalae Salmon | 3 | F | 6'3 | Senior | | Graduated |
| Babalu Ugwu | 14 | F | 6'0" | Sophomore | | Transferred to Utah Valley[2] |
| Khaedin Taito | 21 | G | 5'11" | Senior | | Graduated |
| Jasmine Moody | 33 | F | 6'2 | RS Senior | | Graduated |
|
Newcomers
| Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Year | Hometown | Notes |
|---|
| Megan Stevenson | 1 | F | 6'0 | Freshman | | |
| Kate Vorwaller | 3 | G | 5'9 | Freshman | | |
| Tegan Graham | 10 | G | 6'0 | Graduate | | Transferred from Colgate[3] |
| Kayla Belles-Lee | 42 | F | 6'3" | Junior | | Transferred from Michigan State |
|
2020–21 media
BYU Sports Media
See also: 2020 BYU Cougars football team, 2020–21 BYU Cougars men's basketball team, 2020–21 BYU Cougars women's soccer team, 2020–21 BYU Cougars women's volleyball team, 2021 BYU Cougars men's volleyball team, 2021 BYU Cougars softball team and 2021 BYU Cougars baseball team.
All Cougars home games are being shown on BYUtv or the BYUtv App. Conference road games are being shown on WCC Network. All remaining non-conference road games are also being streamed. Streaming partners for those games can be found on the schedule.
Schedule
|-!colspan=8 style=| Non-conference regular season|-!colspan=8 style=| WCC regular season|-!colspan=8 style=| WCC Tournament|-!colspan=8 style=| NCAA tournament
- Conference games at Portland and home vs. San Diego were postponed by COVID-19 protocols and were not able to be rescheduled before the WCC Tournament.
- Non-conference games against Dixie State, Boise State, and Utah Valley were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile UT Martin was replaced by Washington for the second South Point Shootout game.[4] Finally Southern Utah was added to the schedule after both teams had their games against Utah Valley canceled by the pandemic protocols.[5] The addition of Southern Utah allowed BYU to play against former Cougar Liz Graves in her final season. Graves had spent her first two seasons at BYU.[6]
Game summaries
LSU
----Broadcasters: Garrett Walvoord
Series History: First Meeting
Starting Lineups:
- BYU: Shaylee Gonzales, Maria Albiero, Lauren Gustin, Paisley Harding, Sara Hamson
- LSU: Awa Trasi, Jailin Cherry, Khayla Pointer, Karli Seay, Faustine Aifuwa
----
Washington
----Broadcasters: Gary Hill Jr.
Series History: Washington leads series 7–5
Starting Lineups:
- Washington: Quay Miller, Tameiya Sadler, Jayda Noble, Haley Van Dyke, Khayla Rooks
- BYU: Shaylee Gonzales, Maria Albiero, Lauren Gustin, Paisley Harding, Sara Hamson
----
Utah State
----Broadcasters: Jaden Johnson
Series History: BYU leads series 37–4
Starting Lineups:
- BYU: Shaylee Gonzales, Maria Albiero, Lauren Gustin, Paisley Harding, Sara Hamson
- Utah State: Faith Brantley, Kama Kamakawiwo'ole, Meagan Mendazona, Jessica Chatman, Emmie Harris
----
Montana State
----Broadcasters: Spencer Linton, Kristen Kozlowski & Kiki Solano
Series History: BYU leads series 13–4
Starting Lineups:
- Montana State: Darian White, Tori Martell, Kola Bad Bear, Katelynn Limardo, Madison Jackson
- BYU: Shaylee Gonzales, Maria Albiero, Lauren Gustin, Paisley Harding, Sara Hamson
----
Southern Utah
----Broadcasters: Kylee Young & Joshua Price
Series History: BYU leads series 18–4
Starting Lineups:
- BYU: Shaylee Gonzales, Maria Albiero, Lauren Gustin, Paisley Harding, Sara Hamson
- Southern Utah: Margarita Satini, Liz Graves, Cherita Daugherty, Madelyn Eaton, Darri Frandsen
----
San Francisco
----Broadcasters: Spencer Linton & Kristen Kozlowski
Series History: BYU leads series 20–6
Starting Lineups:
- San Francisco: Amalie Langer, Lucie Hoskova, Joanna Krimili, Lucija Kostic, Abby Rathbun
- BYU: Shaylee Gonzales, Maria Albiero, Lauren Gustin, Paisley Harding, Sara Hamson
----
Santa Clara
----Broadcasters: Spencer Linton, Kristen Kozlowski & Jason Shepherd
Series History: BYU leads series 19–2
Starting Lineups:
- Santa Clara: Lexie Pritchard, Ashlee Maldonado, Ashlyn Herlihy, Lindsey VanAllen, Danja Stafford
- BYU: Shaylee Gonzales, Maria Albiero, Lauren Gustin, Paisley Harding, Sara Hamson
----
San Diego
----Broadcasters: Seth Smith
Series History: BYU leads series 13–7
Starting Lineups:
- BYU: Shaylee Gonzales, Maria Albiero, Lauren Gustin, Paisley Harding, Sara Hamson
- San Diego: Steph Gorman, Myah Pace, Jordyn Edwards, Kendall Bird, Sydney Hunter
----
Loyola Marymount
----Broadcasters: Brendan Craig & Gary Craig
Series History: BYU leads series 17–2
Starting Lineups:
- BYU: Shaylee Gonzales, Maria Albiero, Lauren Gustin, Paisley Harding, Sara Hamson
- Loyola Marymount: Ciera Ellington, Chelsey Gipson, Ariel Johnson, Khari Clark, Meghan Mandel
----
Saint Mary's
----Broadcasters: Spencer Linton, Kristen Kozlowski, & Kiki Solano
Series History: BYU leads series 11–10
Starting Lineups:
- Saint Mary's: Taycee Wedin, Madeline Holland, Tayla Dalton, Jade Kirisome, Brianna Simonich
- BYU: Shaylee Gonzales, Maria Albiero, Lauren Gustin, Paisley Harding, Sara Hamson
----
Pacific
----Broadcasters: Spencer Linton, Kristen Kozlowski & Jason Shepherd
Series History: BYU leads series 15–4
Starting Lineups:
- Pacific: Brooklyn McDavid, Erica Adams, Valerie Higgins, Lianna Tillman, Sam Ashby
- BYU: Shaylee Gonzales, Maria Albiero, Lauren Gustin, Paisley Harding, Sara Hamson
----
Gonzaga
----Broadcasters: Rob Jesselson, Stephanie Hawk-Freeman, & Joe McHale
Series History: Gonzaga leads series 17–12
Starting Lineups:
- BYU: Shaylee Gonzales, Maria Albiero, Lauren Gustin, Paisley Harding, Sara Hamson
- Gonzaga: Jenn Wirth, LeeAnne Wirth, Kayleigh Truong, Cierra Walker, Jill Townsend
----
Pepperdine
----Broadcasters: Spencer Linton, Kristen Kozlowski & Kiki Solano
Series History: BYU leads series 22–3
Starting Lineups:
- Pepperdine: Malia Bambrick, Jayda Ruffus-Milner, Cheyenne Givens, Monique Andriuolo, Jayla Ruffus-Milner
- BYU: Shaylee Gonzales, Maria Albiero, Lauren Gustin, Paisley Harding, Sara Hamson
----
Loyola Marymount
----Broadcasters: Dave McCann, Kristen Kozlowski, & Jason Shepherd
Series History: BYU leads series 18–2
Starting Lineups:
- Loyola Marymount: Chelsey Gipson, Nicole Rodriguez, Ariel Johnson, Khari Clark, Meghan Mandel
- BYU: Shaylee Gonzales, Maria Albiero, Lauren Gustin, Paisley Harding, Sara Hamson
----
Pepperdine
----Broadcasters: Darren Preston
Series History: BYU leads series 23–3
Starting Lineups:
- BYU: Shaylee Gonzales, Maria Albiero, Lauren Gustin, Paisley Harding, Sara Hamson
- Pepperdine: Malia Bambrick, Jayda Ruffus-Milner, Cheyenne Givens, Monique Andriuolo, Jayla Ruffus-Milner
----
Pacific
----Broadcasters: Don Gubbins
Series History: BYU leads series 16–4
Starting Lineups:
- BYU: Shaylee Gonzales, Maria Albiero, Lauren Gustin, Paisley Harding, Sara Hamson
- Pacific: Brooklyn McDavid, Erica Adams, Valerie Higgins, Lianna Tillman, Sam Ashby
----
Saint Mary's
----Broadcasters: Ben Ross
Series History: BYU leads series 12–10
Starting Lineups:
- BYU: Shaylee Gonzales, Maria Albiero, Lauren Gustin, Paisley Harding, Sara Hamson
- Saint Mary's: Taycee Wedin, Madeline Holland, Tayla Dalton, Jade Kirisome, Brianna Simonich
----
Gonzaga
----Broadcasters: Spencer Linton, Kristen Kozlowski, & Kiki Solano
Series History: Gonzaga leads series 18–12
Starting Lineups:
- Gonzaga: Jenn Wirth, LeeAnne Wirth, Kayleigh Truong, Cierra Walker, Jill Townsend
- BYU: Shaylee Gonzales, Maria Albiero, Lauren Gustin, Paisley Harding, Sara Hamson
----
Portland
----Broadcasters: Spencer Linton, Kristen Kozlowski, & Kiki Solano
Series History: BYU leads series 25–5
Starting Lineups:
- Portland: Keeley Frawley, Emme Shearer, Haylee Andrews, Alex Fowler, Maddie Muhlheim
- BYU: Shaylee Gonzales, Maria Albiero, Lauren Gustin, Paisley Harding, Sara Hamson
----
Santa Clara
----Broadcasters: Joe Ritzo
Series History: BYU leads series 20–2
Starting Lineups:
- BYU: Shaylee Gonzales, Maria Albiero, Lauren Gustin, Paisley Harding, Sara Hamson
- Santa Clara: Lexie Pritchard, Merle Wiehl, Ashlee Maldonado, Ashlyn Herlihy, Lindsey VanAllen
----
San Francisco
----Broadcasters: George Devine
Series History: BYU leads series 21–6
Starting Lineups:
- BYU: Shaylee Gonzales, Maria Albiero, Lauren Gustin, Paisley Harding, Sara Hamson
- San Francisco: Amalie Langer, Lucie Hoskova, Ioanna Krimili, Lucija Kostic, Abby Rathbun
----
WCC Semifinal: San Francisco
----Broadcasters: Spencer Linton & Kristen Kozlowski
Series History: BYU leads series 21–7
Starting Lineups:
- San Francisco: Amalie Langer, Lucie Hoskova, Ioanna Krimili, Lucija Kostic, Abby Rathbun
- BYU: Shaylee Gonzales, Maria Albiero, Lauren Gustin, Paisley Harding, Sara Hamson
----
WCC Championship: Gonzaga
----Broadcasters: Paul Sunderland & Andraya Carter (ESPNU)
Greg Wrubell & Kristen Kozlowski (BYU Radio 107.9 FM)
Series History: Gonzaga leads series 18–13
Starting Lineups:
- BYU: Shaylee Gonzales, Maria Albiero, Lauren Gustin, Paisley Harding, Sara Hamson
- Gonzaga: Jenn Wirth, LeeAnne Wirth, Kayleigh Truong, Cierra Walker, Jill Townsend
----
NCAA 1st Round: Rutgers
----Broadcasters: Kevin Fitzgerald & Christy Thomaskutty (ESPNU)
Jason Shepherd & Kristen Kozlowski (BYU Radio 107.9 FM)
Series History: First Meeting
Starting Lineups:
- BYU: Shaylee Gonzales, Maria Albiero, Lauren Gustin, Paisley Harding, Sara Hamson
- Rutgers: Diamond Johnson, Arella Guirantes, Mael Gilles, Tyia Singleton, Kate Martin
----
NCAA 2nd Round: Arizona
----Broadcasters: Tiffany Greene & Steffi Sorensen
Jason Shepherd & Kristen Kozlowski (BYU Radio 107.9 FM)
Series History: BYU leads 8–5
Starting Lineups:
- BYU: Shaylee Gonzales, Maria Albiero, Lauren Gustin, Paisley Harding, Sara Hamson
- Arizona:
----
Conference Honors
- Shaylee Gonzales, Sara Hamson, and Paisley Johnson Harding were selected to the 2020–21 All-WCC Preseason Women's Basketball Team.[7]
- On November 30 Shaylee Gonzales was awarded the WCC Player of the Week.[8]
- On January 18 Lauren Gustin was awarded the WCC Player of the Week.[9]
Rankings
2020–21 NCAA Division I women's basketball rankings
| + Regular Season Polls[10] | Poll | Pre-
Season | Week
2 | Week
3 | Week
4 | Week
5 | Week
6 | Week
7 | Week
8 | Week
9 | Week
10 | Week
11 | Week
12 | Week
13 | Week
14 | Week
15 | Week
16 | Final |
|---|
| AP | (NR) | (NR) | (NR) | (NR) | (NR) | (NR) | (NR) | (NR) | (NR) | (NR) | (NR) | (NR) | (NR) | (RV) | (NR) | (NR) | |
|---|
| Coaches | (RV) | No Poll Released | (NR) | (NR) | (NR) | (NR) | (NR) | (NR) | (NR) | (NR) | (NR) | (NR) | (NR) | (NR) | (NR) | (NR) | | |
|---|
style="background:#D8FFEB; width:20px;" | | Increase in ranking |
| | Decrease in ranking |
| | No Change |
| (RV) | | Received Votes |
| (NR) | | Not Ranked | |
Notes and References
- Web site: Day, Cummard hired as women’s basketball assistant coaches. The Daily Universe. 2019-07-12.
- Web site: UVU lands BYU transfer Babalu Ugwu. UVU athletics. 2020-12-21.
- Web site: BYU women’s basketball: Cougars add 2 transfers to the roster. Deseret News. 2020-04-15.
- Web site: BYU Women’s Basketball Releases Non-Conference Schedule; Open Against LSU. KSL. 2020-11-03.
- Web site: Women’s Basketball Set to Host BYU Friday After COVID Complications at UVU. Southern Utah athletics. 2020-12-17.
- Web site: SUU women's basketball: T-Birds add Cedar High standout, former BYU, Weber State player. The Spectrum. 2020-06-24.
- Web site: BYU women picked second in West Coast Conference preseason poll. Daily Herald. 2020-10-27. 2020-10-29. https://web.archive.org/web/20201029090645/https://www.heraldextra.com/sports/college/byu/basketball/men/byu-women-picked-second-in-west-coast-conference-preseason-poll/article_499ebba6-408b-525b-9e7b-0a9dc44b93b9.html. dead.
- Web site: BYU’s Gonzales & Saint Mary’s Tonga Earn Debut UCU WCC Weekly Honors. WCC Sports. 2020-11-30.
- Web site: BYU women's basketball's Lauren Gustin honored as WCC Player of the Week. Daily Herald. 2021-01-18. 2021-01-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20210118215221/https://www.heraldextra.com/sports/college/byu/basketball/women/byu-womens-basketballs-lauren-gustin-honored-as-wcc-player-of-the-week/article_e06cbcac-186f-5baf-847d-d85a18b5959a.html. dead.
- Web site: NCAA WBB Top 25 Rankings. ESPN. 2020-11-19.
