December 10, 2023
Kaylee Smiler filled the stats line with 7 points (2/3 3PG), 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and a block as Brigham Young University (BYU) improved to 7-2 with a 72-66 home win against Utah State.
In her fifth year with BYU the Waikato native is renowned for her defensive prowess more than her scoring capability. However, this season and approaching 500 career points, Smiler is shooting the ball at a better clip than at any time in her career.
A 75% free-throw shooter, her field goal percentage is at an all-time high of 47% while her 3-point success is at a heady 52% having made 11 from 21 from beyond the arc. Leading the team in assists (3.8apg) and steals (1.6spg) Smiler has become a key contributor at both ends of the floor for the Cougars.
Also filling the stats line was Leah Mafua as Central Arkansas dominated Central Baptist to win 69-32. Mafua finished with 8 points (passing 100 points for the season in the process), 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and a block.
Three players, including Dani Bayes, scored 15 points (4/9 3PG) as Boise State comfortably beat a Grace Hunter less California State Bakersfield 87-66.
Lilly Taulelei shot a perfect 6 from 6 on her way to scoring 12 points – her third consecutive game with ten points or more.
Emme Shearer is ranked first in the West Coast Conference for steals per game (2.6) and she snared another three, as well as 12 points, despite Portland falling 76-71 at Stephen F. Austin.
Lilly Parke claimed 7 rebounds to go with 10 points as Fairleigh Dickinson coped fairly easily with Bloomfield winning 86-38.
Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones passed the 100 points mark for the season as UC San Diego eased past Occidental with a 98-67 win. AT-J made 8 points on a perfect 4 from 4 shooting and also added 8 rebounds and 4 assists. That was followed with 11 points in a narrow 68-62 loss at Pepperdine.
Ben Gold was a perfect 3 from 3 from the field in making 8 points as #7 Marquette gained a big 86-65 win against #12 Texas.
In his 50th game for Fordham University, Zach Riley scored 3 points as the Rams clinched a tight one against North Texas 60-59.
LACEY LOWDOWN 