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3 stars and takeaways from BYU women's basketball exhibition win over Westminster

Posted on by Kennedy
3 stars and takeaways from BYU women's basketball exhibition win over Westminster




BYU Athletics / BYU women's soccer and BYU photo.

PROVO, Utah –

BYU women's basketball opened the 2024-25 season with a 105-37 victory over Division II Westminster in the Cougars' opener Wednesday night at the Marriott Center.

https://twitter.com/byuwbb/status/1851456742707863801

The Cougars have won 12 straight exhibition games and have not lost in ten seasons (the most recent friendly loss came in the only loss to Westminster, 54-59, on Saturday November 1, 2014).

Amari Whiting scored 22 points on 10 of 13 from the field, along with six rebounds and one assist. Delaney Gibb (18) and Kemery Cogdon (16) also scored in double figures with a combined 13 of 22 from the field.

Teuila Nawahine led the Griffins with 18 points and Maia Rhay added nine points and two rebounds.

Here are my three stars from the BYU women's basketball win.

Amari Whiting

Amari Whiting, a 5-foot-11 combo guard from Burley, Idaho, came to BYU as one of the most versatile players in the country.

Ranked No. 33 overall in ESPN's Top 100 for the 2023 recruiting class, Whiting brought impressive defensive pressure and on-ball adaptability as a freshman last season.

The true sophomore (Whiting) showed why she was a four-star recruit on Wednesday night against Westminster.

Even though one game doesn't count, the young star showed her improvement compared to last year. Players moving forward in college and athletics say, “The game is starting to slow down,” and it looked like the Whitings didn’t even attempt a three-pointer.

All 20 of her 22 points were scored in the paint.

Delaney Gibb

The Candian from Raymond, Alberta was simply spectacular.

Gibb added five assists and three rebounds to go along with her 18 points. With Kaylee Smiler graduating, someone needs to fill that role, and from the looks of Wednesday night's game, it looks like Gibb will get the nod going forward.

Kemery Congdon

Congdon is a redshirt senior from Sandy, Utah, who comes to BYU after stints at Utah from 2019-22 and California from 2022-24.

The Utah native shot out of the gate, making her first five shots. Their game on the pitch was calm, cool and collective. Every team needs an experienced and experienced leader, and Kemery Congdon looks as poised as ever.

Here are the lessons we learned.

Potential depth this season

Depth was an issue for Amber Whiting's rotation last season.

It doesn't look like that will be the case this season. All 12 players who took part in Wednesday's exhibition all scored goals and received significant minutes.

Whiting returns five players, but only those who will be active this season. Redshirt junior Ari Mackey-Williams will miss the 2024-25 season again due to a torn ACL he suffered during fall practice.

Five freshmen from the class of 2024 were added to the roster: Delaney Gibb, Kambree Barber, Brinley Cannon, Sarah Bartholomew and walk-on Naia Tanuavasa.

The potential for these freshmen is high even though they have not yet played on a Division I basketball team. You will be good.

Three transfers were added: Kendra Gillispie, Hattie Ogden and Marya Hudgins.

Hudgins has experience playing against the Cougars dating back to the West Coast Conference Days.

The junior from Aurora, Colo., scored 7.6 points per game while shooting 39% from the field and 33.3% from three-point range in two seasons with the Broncos.

Gillispe has previous experience in the Big 12 with a stop at Baylor, which beat BYU 78-66 last season on Feb. 7 at the Marriott Center.

Starter for the 2024-25 season

Amari Whiting, Delaney Gibb, Kemery Martin, Marya Hudgins and Emma Calvert started for the Cougars on Wednesday night.

Amber Whiting did not comment on whether this would be the starting line for the 2024-25 season. However, if this is indeed the case, then the ceiling for this team is high. The size of Amari Whiting, Delaney Gibb and Kemery Congdon will ensure further Big 12 placements.

In Big 12 play last season, the guards will be crucial throughout the season and the upcoming tournament as this trio pulls things together over the course of the season. These could be mini-Big Three. The potential for all three players on the court is high, with three guards scoring a combined 55 points.

Marya Hudgins and Emma Calvert also played their part, combining for 16 points on 6 of 13 shooting.

The starters combined for 70 points on 63% shooting. Last year, the team averaged 65.4 points per game on 43.4% shooting, not to mention the bench's performance, which put up 35 points.

It's safe to say that any time you lose 100 points, even in a friendly match, is a good night for your team. There is a lot for this BYU team to build on going forward.

Scrimmage against San Francisco and “calling card”

BYU women's basketball had a secret matchup against San Francisco. “We didn’t play very well against San Francisco and the defense was lacking,” coach Amber Whiting said. “The last week we really thought about what we wanted and what we needed. I feel like we call the shots. This is our business card. We have to bring that physicality and toughness every night.”

Amber Whiting has documented how important the team's defense is and how their programs on offense depend on how well they play on defense.

The Griffins forced 26 turnovers, which led to 34 points for the Cougars.

Freshman Maia RhayAmari had a rough night in her first friendly as she was guarded by none other than Amari Whiting. Whiting had five steals on the night and grabbed three of them from Rhay. Whiting converted two of those steals into layups, and the last time she was fouled for a trip to the free throw line.

Kendra Gillispie Health

Kendra Gillispie's health will be a factor going forward.

The 6-foot-10 senior from Oklahoma City did not play in Wednesday's show about the Griffins.

No comment was made in the post-match press following the exhibition game.



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