LAS VEGAS – Despite its top two scorers for the game on the bench with foul trouble, BYU outlasted any comeback attempts and beat San Francisco 66-56 on Saturday afternoon to advance to the semifinals of the West Coast Conference Tournament.
Sophomore forward Emma Calvert scored 17 points to lead all scorers and Nani Falatea had 15, but both fouled out of the game with four minutes to play. The Cougars had a 10-point lead and outscored USF 27-13 in the fourth quarter to fight through the final minutes to win, earning an opportunity to play No. 1 seed Gonzaga on Monday.
Calvert hit five 3-pointers for a career high to fuel a 12 of 23 day behind the arc for BYU. The Cougars shot 52.2 percent from distance and 40.7 percent from the field while holding the Dons to just 6 of 23 from downtown.
Forward Lauren Gustin also hit a historic milestone, pulling down a career-high 27 rebounds, setting the WCC single-game and tournament record while also going over 500 rebounds this season (523). Her 27 boards were one shy of the most in Division I this season for a single game.
Gustin also scored nine points, crossing the 500-point threshold this year (503), becoming the first player in BYU history and just the 10th different player in Division I women’s basketball history to score 500 points and have 500 rebounds in the same season.
Arielle Mackey-Williams scored 14, making 4 of 5 treys in the game, including her last which came late in the shot clock with 3:26 to go and kept BYU’s 10-point lead to help finish off the victory.
Kaylee Smiler scored six points but was most effective on the defensive end, drawing several offensive fouls with hustle and effort while picking up two steals and a block. Smiler was the primary defender on San Francisco's Ioanna Krimili, who averages 17.3 points per game, but was held to 2 of 11 from the field and only five points on the afternoon.
First quarter
After a block by Calvert on the defensive end, BYU used the momentum to a transition 3-pointer for an early 6-2 lead in the opening minutes. The Cougars stayed on the offensive attack, leading 9-4 with 4:13 left in the first quarter.
Rose Bubakar drove the baseline and laid in two more for an 18-12 lead as the first quarter ended. BYU went 4 for 8 from distance in the quarter to build its advantage.
Second quarter
Calvert hit a trey from the top of the arc for a 23-15 edge three minutes into the second quarter. San Francisco made a run over the next three minutes to close the gap to 24-22 with 4:39 until halftime.
The Dons went back in front with a triple inside of two minutes for a 27-24 lead. Gustin put in two free throws on the next possession and BYU trailed 27-26 at halftime. Gustin had 16 rebounds at the break but the Cougars suffered from 11 first-half turnovers, turning into 12 points for San Francisco.
Third quarter
BYU and San Francisco traded baskets through the first five minutes of the third quarter. San Francisco maintained its one-point edge at 34-33.
After a timeout, Smiler put BYU back in front with another triple. The Dons answered with a 3-pointer two minutes later to retake the lead. A three-point play later on pushed the USF lead to 40-36 with 1:05 to go in the third. Both teams traded threes and San Francisco led 43-39 heading into the fourth.
Fourth quarter
Falatea got BYU back in front with a 3-pointer and another midrange jumper before another Calvert three, her fourth of the game made it 47-43 with 7:39 to go.
Calvert drilled her fifth of the game with 5:59 to go for a 52-43 lead but Calvert fouled out on the next possession and then Falatea fouled out at the four minute mark.
Mackey-Williams hit a step-back triple with the shot clock expiring to make it 57-47 with 3:26 left in the game.
Despite a frantic pace over the next three minutes, the Cougars stayed in front and finished off the game at the free throw line to win by 10.
No. 5 seed BYU will play No. 1 seed Gonzaga on Monday at 12 p.m. PT at the Orleans Arena. The game will broadcast on BYUtv and the WCC Network.