BYU
VOLLEYBALL: BYU middle blocker Nina Puikkonen and rightside hitter Sunny Tonga were named to the NCAA Division I West All-Region Team Wednesday by the American Volleyball Coaches Association.
The Cougar stars were two of12 players selected to the West team.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: The BYU women"s basketball team overcame a 12-point halftime deficit to beat Northern Iowa 69-68 in overtime, Thursday, at the Marriott Center.
Good free-throw shooting and tough defense down the stretch proved to be the winning combination for the Cougars. A driving lay-up by junior guard Stacy Jensen tied the game at 61-61 with 16 seconds remaining in regulation. BYU then played stellar defense, not allowing the Panthers to get a shot off and forcing overtime.
In overtime, Jensen hit two free-throws, Caroline Beus made a basket and sophomore All-American Erin Thorn hit four free-throws to put the Cougars up by one as time expired.
The Cougars play Montana, Saturday, at 7 p.m., in the Marriott Center.
SWIMMING AND DIVING: BYU swimmer Arunas Savickas, and divers Aaron Russell and Kelli Einfeldt were honored as the Mountain West Conference swimmer and divers of the week Wednesday.
SUU
CROSS COUNTRY: Southern Utah head cross country and track and field coach Eric Houle announced the signing of four athletes to National Letters of Intent to compete for the Thunderbirds next season.
In cross country, Houle signed a pair of local runners to help bolster his three-time Mid-Continent Conference championship roster in Alisha Bezanson and Magan Schumtz from Cedar City High School. Bezanson won the Utah State 3A girl's cross country individual title, while Schmutz finished second, to lead CCHS to the state championship. The Thunderbirds also landed Heather Houle, niece of Coach Houle, from Orem, Utah's Mountain View High School. Heather was the state 5A champion in the 100 and 200-meters and is the state record-holder in the 200 with a time of 24.62.
SUU also signed Ashley Whiting from Heber City's Wasatch High School.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Southern Utah's women's basketball team could not overcome a late San Jose State run as the Spartans handed the Thunderbirds a 75-60 defeat Thursday night in San Jose, Calif.
Sophomore guard Erin Kelly came off the bench to score an SUU career-high 15 points, including three treys. Kelly had scored 24 points on two previous occasions at New Orleans as a freshman. Senior Sarah Mortensen was the only other T-Bird in double figures also with 15 points.
UVSC
BASEBALL: Utah Valley State College baseball coach Steve Gardner will host his annual MVP Baseball Hitting Camp December 26-29 at the David O. McKay Events Center in Orem. Participants in grades 10-12 will attend the camp December 26 and 27, while those in grades 5-9 will attend December 28-29. Thea