Anderson departs in typical fashion

DENVER — In her final game in a BYU uniform, Ambrosia Anderson put up her typical numbers, scoring 16 points and adding eight rebounds.

But it wasn't enough against Oklahoma Monday night at the Pepsi Center as the Sooners downed the Cougars, 86-70, in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

That aside, Anderson is pleased with the way her senior year went.

"I'll reflect on the games that we did play well in and keep the memories," she said. "You really can't ask for a better ending, to make it to the NCAA tournament. Although it does bite going down, you just have to go with it and look at the bright side."

The way coach Jeff Judkins sees it, Anderson helped elevate the program.

"I'm very proud of my team. I don't think anybody thought we'd be where we are right now," he said. "I think my seniors, like Ambrosia, have set a great example of where we want our program to go — to have the opportunity to go to the NCAA tournament every year. Hopefully, we'll get better and move up."

Anderson averaged a team-high 18 points and seven rebounds per game, and she tallied double-figures in 30 games this season. The Colorado Springs, Colo., native finished with 1,285 career points, making her one of only 18 players in BYU history to surpass the 1,000-point milestone.

"She's really laid the ground for us to be a great program and be in the top 25 every year," said Cougar guard Jennie Keele.

Monday also marked the final game for Cougar seniors Nancy Seljaas and Laura Stratton.

BRIGHT FUTURE: Judkins is already thinking about next year. He'll have four starters back from a team that went 26-6 this season.

Forward Mary Martha Abell, who missed the season due to a knee injury, will be back. And San Diego State transfer Ashley Cheesman, who sat out this year, will be eligible next year.

"I'm very excited about where this team is going," Judkins said. "We're going to be good in the future. I know I have a lot of things to do to make our team better."

Keele is looking forward to next season, too.

"I'm really excited," she said. "We lose Ambrosia and a couple of players off the bench, but we have a lot of good young players back. We'll do well."

Keele added that the Cougars' experience in the NCAAs this season will serve her team well in the future.

"I think a couple of us were here when we came to the NCAAs before and lost in the first round (in 2003), and that helped me," she said. "I'm sure, with so many players coming back next year, we have a good shot at getting to the NCAAs next year. This experience will help us."

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E-mail: jeffc@desnews.com