PROVO, Utah – The USF women's basketball team fell into an early hole and the Dons were unable to dig out in a 73-61 loss to BYU on Saturday afternoon at the Marriott Center.
 
Senior Rachel Howard paced a Dons offense that shot 42 percent on the day by scoring 18 points and adding a team-best five assists. Fellow senior Hashima Carothers added season-high 12 points before fouling out in the fourth quarter.
 
USF (13-12, 7-7 WCC) went just 4-for-14 in the first quarter, allowing BYU to open up a 22-11 lead after the opening frame.
 
The Cougars (16-9, 10-4 WCC) were able to take advantage of USF's 21 miscues by holding a 22-13 advantage in points off turnovers. BYU also maintained a decisive edge down low, outscoring USF 36-18 in the paint.
 
The Dons managed to outscore BYU 17-8 as they made a final push in the fourth quarter to rally back from the Cougar's game-high 22-point lead late in the third period.
 
USF also enjoyed second quarter spurt by making 4-of-5 midway through the period, while shooting 60 percent from the field in the quarter. Carothers' three cut into the BYU lead and brought the Dons within five with just under five minutes to go in the half. But BYU quickly regained the momentum as Makenzi Pulsipher's pull-up three in transition gave the Cougars a 42-29 advantage just before halftime.
 
BYU shot a blistering 63 percent from the field in the first half.    
 
BYU came out in control in the second half, opening up a 50-34 lead on Kalani Purcell's layup, while the Dons went over two minutes without a score until Alicia Roufosse's layup with just under four minutes left in the third quarter.
 
The Dons return to War Memorial at the Sobrato Center for a pair of home games next week when they host Gonzaga on Thursday at 7 p.m., followed by a 2 p.m. tilt against Portland on Saturday.   
 
Individual game tickets for all USF home games this season are available online at USFDons.com or by calling (415) 422-2USF. General admission tickets are available for as low as $10. All USFCA faculty, staff and students with a valid ID, and youth 12 and under enter free. Parking for USF home games is typically available free of charge two hours prior to tip-off until one hour after the conclusion of the game in any campus lot, with the exception of designated green parking spots and the top of Hayes-Healy garage.