PROVO, Utah -- A 12-game winning streak has put the BYU women’s basketball team on top of the West Coast Conference standings, and a big reason for the Cougars success has been the play of senior guard Lexi Eaton Rydalch.
“Of all the players I’ve coached over my years, I’ve never seen a lady that had the drive that she has,” BYU head coach Jeff Judkins said.
It’s a drive that started long before her days at BYU. She led Springville to two state championships while scoring 1,697 points during her career with the Red Devils.
She has taken her game to a higher level at BYU. She became the all-time scoring leader in the WCC, and she’s second on BYU’s all-time scoring list.
“I’ve definitely tried to take it to the next level every single year,” Eaton Rydalch said. “I’ve done that by watching lots of game film, watching other great players.”
Judkins said that effort has paid off.
“This year she’s really tried to be consistent," he said. "Not just scoring, but with her mood, with leadership, with defense."
It’s improvement that may come from getting married last summer. She married Trevor Rydalch, one of the team’s practice players.
“We trained all summer long, playing one-on-one games that were tough,” said Eaton Rydalch. “I wasn’t happy after all of them, per say, because I hate losing.”
Trevor is the son of former Utah basketball player Mark Rydalch. Lexi says they tolerate her affiliation.
“You can spot them in the stands,” said Eaton Rydalch. “They’re wearing blue, they can't wear the Y yet. But they support the blue.”
Once the season is complete, Eaton Rydalch will most likely be the fourth BYU player to be selected in the WNBA draft.
