Slow Start Proves Costly

Laie, HI—The Brigham Young University Hawaii women’s basketball team suffered through a slow start today in each half of the game and paid the price with a 73-57 loss to 16th-ranked West Texas A&M.  The Seasiders were out-scored 11-0 to open the game and 5-0 to open the second half and the 16-point margin proved to be the final margin of the game.

BYU–Hawaii scored its first points of the game four minutes and 28 seconds into the opening period and didn’t score for the first four minutes and 47 seconds of the second half.  For the rest of the contest the Seasiders played the taller Lady Buffs to a dead heat despite being out-rebounded 41-20 for the game.

Junior Richelle Fenenbock came off the bench to score 17 points and drain four three-pointers to lead the Seasiders.  Fenenbock hit three of her three-pointers late in the second half to cut the deficit to just 12 points, but the BYU–Hawaii rally fell short.  Mahina Gago tallied 15 points and Dara Tompkison 11 for the Seasiders.  Madison Kite pulled down six rebounds for BYU–Hawaii and Fenenbock came up with three steals as the Seasiders fell to 4-6 for the season.

Joni Unruh scored 16 points, grabbed ten rebounds, and added five assists to lead the Lady Buffs, now 12-1 for the year.  Ceciley Johnson scored 14 points and had nine rebounds and Maddy Brown added 12 points for West Texas A&M.

BYU–Hawaii will open the Pacific West Conference season on the road against Dixie State in St. George, Utah on January 7th at 5:30 pm MST.

Box Score