Gustin sets all-time rebounding mark as BYU conquers Texas Tech 60-46

PROVO, Utah - Lauren Gustin broke Tina Gunn’s 44-year-old BYU rebounding record as the Cougars led for 37 minutes and weathered multiple Texas Tech runs in a 60-46 win over the Lady Raiders at the Marriott Center on Saturday afternoon.

Gustin racked up 17 points and 14 rebounds after needing just four to surpass Gunn's record of 1,482 rebounds and become the top Cougar rebounder to ever don the white and blue. Kailey Woolston also finished in double figures, tallying 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting, four rebounds, an assist and a steal.

After the Lady Raiders cut the Cougars' 10-point first-half lead to two early in the third quarter, BYU expanded the lead with strong ball movement. A 9-0 fourth-quarter explosion gave the Cougars their largest lead of the night at 15, securing the 14-point win.

Kaylee Smiler and Amari Whiting provided solid guard play, scoring nine and seven points respectively. Smiler went 2-of-3 from beyond the arc as both she and Whiting registered two steals apiece to lead the team.

BYU shot 41.8 percent from the field while holding Texas Tech to just 26.9 percent on the afternoon. The Cougars outrebounded the Lady Raiders 39-35 and totaled 28 points in the paint as compared to 18 for the visitors. For the second time this season, BYU won the turnover battle, forcing 14 Lady Raider turnovers and scoring 11 points off of the giveaways.

1st Quarter

The Lady Raiders got on the board first with a triple from the top of the key. BYU responded with a 7-0 run with a driving floater from Whiting, a corner 3-pointer from Woolston off the extra pass and two converted freebies from Woolston. A Texas Tech layup was followed by a media timeout.

With 4:26 remaining in the opening quarter, Gustin became BYU’s all-time leading rebounder, surpassing 1980 National Player of the Year Tina Gunn’s mark that stood for the past 44 years.

The Cougars put together a 9-2 run late in the quarter, doubling up the Lady Raiders at 16-8. The run came in the span of 2:08, fueled by strong rebounding and post-play, with a combined six points from Calvert and Gustin. Lauren Davenport added a triple from the left wing off an assist from Smiler.

Headed to the second quarter, BYU led 17-11.

2nd Quarter

Texas Tech outscored the Cougars in a tight second-quarter battle 13-11. BYU’s defense and sound rotations held firm to force late shot clock scenarios, but the Lady Raiders were often able to convert or draw fouls in closing seconds.

Gustin gathered a rebound for an immediate putback to make it 21-13. The Cougars then evaded a Texas Tech trap as Woolston pulled up for a mid-range jumper in transition to claim BYU’s first double-digit lead of the game with 8:01 to go.

Rose Bubakar gathered a loose ball which led to a turnaround jumper by Gustin. With 3:21 remaining in the quarter, the senior extended the lead to 28-19 with a second-chance layup off her own rebound. Texas Tech went on a 5-0 run in the last three minutes to enter the locker room trailing 28-24.

3rd Quarter

Just 1:18 into the third, Texas Tech guard Kilah Freelon drew a foul near the paint to set up two points at the charity stripe and get within two at 28-26. Smiler responded with a 3-point make followed by a Cougar stop and fastbreak layup by Gustin off Bubakar’s assist to extend the lead to 33-26 with 7:24 left. Later, Woolston cashed in on a stepback trey to push the lead to eight.

Texas Tech kept it close, once again burning significant time off the shot clock before dropping in a turnaround mid-range shot, slicing the lead in half at 36-32. Woolston countered with a jumper of her own to make it 38-32 with 5:38 remaining. Texas Tech then capitalized on a backdoor cut to make it 38-34.

Keeping with the game’s back-and-forth pattern, BYU extended the lead to 45-37 with 1:30 to go in the quarter. Gustin showcased range with a deep right-corner shot, along with a 3-pointer from Bubakar and a putback by Whiting. The Cougars held the Lady Raiders to four straight misses as the quarter ended with BYU up 45-38.

4th Quarter

The Cougars forced a turnover on the opening play, wasting no time as Smiler poured in a transition 3-pointer to retake a 10-point lead.

The Lady Raiders scored four straight to make it 48-42 before the Cougars set out on a 9-0 run in what would end up sealing the contest. Whiting and Smiler each made a free throw on trips to the free throw line, putting BYU up 50-42 with 7:03 to go. Smiler scored again after the Cougars forced another turnover to make it 53-42.

After a steal by Gustin, Whiting dished it back to Gustin for an easy layup. Woolston then hit a corner jumper with 3:39 to go as the shot clock expired, capping the 9-0 run with BYU leading by a game-high 15. BYU stayed on top to notch its second Big 12 victory, 60-46.

The Cougars take the floor next at Kansas State on Saturday, Jan. 27, facing the Wildcats at Bramalage Coliseum at 4 p.m. CST. The game will be broadcast on Big 12 Now on ESPN+. Jason Shepherd will have live play-by-play on BYU Radio 107.9, BYURadio.org and the BYU Radio App.