PROVO — It's a BYU basketball doubleheader tonight at the Marriott Center, featuring the men's annual Cougar Tipoff at 6 p.m. and the women's season-opener and Preseason WNIT first-round game at 7:30 p.m. against Idaho State.
With the preseason tournament being played on home courts, the winner of the BYU-ISU contest would travel to California for a Monday night game to take on the winner of the Stanford-Loyola Marymount opener. Should BYU win its first two rounds, the Cougars' next game would be played in the Marriott Center.
Ranked No. 24 nationally, the BYU women are coming off a stellar season in which they compiled a 26-6 overall record, a 13-1 road record and a No. 7 NCAA tournament seed — all program-bests for the Cougars, who won the Mountain West Conference regular-season championship with a 13-3 record.
Head coach Jeff Judkins brings back four starters — senior center and preseason all-MWC selection Dani Kubik Wright and upperclass perimeter players Melinda Johnsen, Jennie Keele and Mallary Gillespie. The Cougars were picked No. 2 in the preseason conference poll.
With four starters back as well, Idaho State finished 17-13 last season, placing first in the Big Sky Conference.
BYU leads the overall series against the Bengals 10-3, including a 6-1 mark at the Marriott Center. The most recent meeting was a 56-54 Cougar home victory in December 2003.
Also picked No. 2 in the Mountain West preseason poll, the BYU men's team returns four starters and nine lettermen. The Cougars will participate in a 40-minute intrasquad scrimmage prior to the women's game and then will autograph team posters following their early evening session.
The Cougar Tipoff is free to season-ticket holders; anyone with both a BYU All-Sport Card and college I.D.; and to organized, sponsored youth groups, such as scout or church groups. Family passes are $20, with individual tickets at $5 and youth, faculty and seniors charged $4.
Those attending the Cougar Tipoff can remain at the Marriott Center and watch the women's 7:30 p.m. game free of charge.
E-mail: taylor@desnews.com