KANSAS CITY, Mo. — BYU women’s basketball weathered a determined effort from Houston, securing a 76-66 victory in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament on Wednesday. The win marked the program’s first tournament victory since joining the conference three years ago, a milestone achieved after a game where Houston refused to concede despite facing a double-digit deficit.
The ninth-seeded Cougars (21-10, 9-9 Big 12) found themselves in a tight contest against the 16th-seeded Houston Cougars (7-23, 1-17 Big 12), needing a late surge fueled by a key 3-pointer from Sydney Benally to finally pull away. Benally finished with 14 points, six assists, and two rebounds, proving pivotal in stabilizing BYU’s offense when Houston threatened to erase a 12-point lead.
The game wasn’t without its challenges for BYU. A staggering 22 turnovers plagued the team throughout the contest, and a fourth foul on leading scorer Delaney Gibb early in the fourth quarter added to the pressure. However, BYU managed to outshoot Houston 47% to 31% from the field, ultimately proving to be the difference.
Overcoming Early Struggles and Houston’s Aggression
Houston came out aggressively, forcing 10 first-quarter turnovers from BYU and tying the game at 29-29 by halftime. Shun’teria Anumele and TK Pitts combined for eight straight points early in the fourth quarter, narrowing a 12-point BYU lead to just three. Anumele led Houston with 17 points and four rebounds, while Pitts contributed 14 points and 10 rebounds in her final game of the season.
“We realized that the pressure we brought upon them, it kind of scared them a little bit,” Anumele said, reflecting on the team’s approach. “So just going into this game… We knew that keeping that same mindset, that same energy in this game with more players, it was going to happen on the front team again.”
BYU head coach Lee Cummard acknowledged Houston’s disruptive play. “Houston’s attack limited much of what BYU wanted to do with its game plan in the first half,” he said, “but the team settled itself after the halftime break and did better at dictating its own game plan and not letting Houston dictate it.” Cutting down on turnovers – halving them in the final two quarters – was a key adjustment.
Benally’s 3-Pointer Shifts Momentum
With the game hanging in the balance, Benally’s 3-pointer with 6:19 remaining proved to be a turning point. The shot settled BYU after a Houston run and helped regain control of the momentum.
“That was a big momentum switch,” BYU guard Brinley Cannon said. “We were kind of in a little rut. They kind of went on a run and it was kind of going down to wire. And so when she hit that, it just settled us. She just played super composed, and that three kind of just settled us to finish the rest of the game.”
Cummard echoed Cannon’s sentiment, noting the confidence the shot instilled in his players. “You can tell the confidence in the players’ eyes at that moment, that three was huge for them,” he said.
Balanced Scoring Propels BYU
Olivia Hamlin led BYU in scoring with 16 points and five rebounds off the bench. Delaney Gibb and Lara Rohkohl each added 15 points, with Rohkohl nearly recording a double-double with eight rebounds and three assists. Gibb contributed 11 points in the first half, providing an early offensive spark. BYU’s balanced attack proved too much for Houston to handle.
Over the final six minutes, BYU maintained a comfortable lead, even as Houston employed a full-court press. BYU’s ability to break the press and capitalize on opportunities sealed the victory.
Looking Ahead to a Rivalry Matchup with Utah
BYU will now face eighth-seeded Utah in the second round of the Big 12 Tournament on Thursday at 12:30 p.m. MST, with the game broadcast on ESPN+. The Cougars won both regular-season matchups against the Utes, but Cummard emphasized the importance of staying focused on the present.
“When we started the week, we saw that in the brackets,” Cummard said. “I didn’t want our group to be looking past Houston at all, especially because it was Utah. Everybody wants to talk about having a matchup with Utah. We wanted to stay in the moment with Houston, and I experience they did a great job of that, knowing if we can be successful, we get a wild one in the Big 12 Tournament.”
The matchup against Utah carries added weight, potentially serving as an elimination game for both teams on the NCAA Tournament bubble. BYU will look to continue its momentum and secure a crucial win against its rival.
The BYU women’s basketball team will continue its pursuit of a Big 12 Tournament championship with the second-round matchup against Utah. Fans can find updates and further information on the Big 12 Tournament website.
