BYU Cougars (10-7, 0-4 Big 12)
PLAYING FROM BEHIND: The Cougars are 2-6 when trailing after the opening quarter this season. In its first four Big 12 games, BYU has trailed after the first 10 minutes in each contest. In 160 total minutes of Big 12 play, the Cougars have led for just 17:02 of game time. BYU never led at TCU or against Oklahoma at home. The Cougars led for 16:01 in the loss to Iowa State and just 1:01 in the road loss to Houston.
CLOSING IN ON HISTORY: Through 17 games, Gustin leads the nation in total rebounds (269), rebounding average (15.8), defensive rebounds per game (10.7) and double-doubles (15) and is 4th in offensive rebounds per contest (5.1). The senior sits at 1,459 career rebounds and is 24 rebounds away from breaking the all-time BYU rebounding record held by Gunn (1,482). She also leads the Cougars in scoring at 16.1 points per contest on 53.3 percent shooting from the field.
TURNOVER TROUBLE: Coach Whiting has made it clear that ball security is key to the Cougars’ success, however, her squad averages 17.8 turnovers per game so far this season. BYU has turned the ball over more than its opponent in all but one game this season and holds a 21-22 record when posting a negative turnover margin. Against Houston on Wednesday, BYU coughed it up 25 times leading to 17 points off turnovers in a 10-point loss to the Houston Cougars.
SHARING THE ROCK: The Cougars have assisted on 274 of 433 (.633) made field goals this season and have had at least three or more players score in double figures in 14 of the first 17 contests.
Head Coach – Amber Whiting
- Alma Mater: BYU, 2001
- Division I Career Record: 26-24 (2nd Season)
- Record at BYU: 26-24 (2nd Season)
Cincinnati Bearcats (9-6, 0-4 Big 12 Conference)
FIRST Big 12 WIN FOR THE BEARCATS: A’riel Jackson made a game-winning putback with five-tenths of a second remaining to knock off the UCF Knights and earn Cincinnati’s first win as a member of the Big 12 Conference. This season, the Bearcats are 2-0 in games decided by five points or fewer.
BATTLE OF THE BOARDS: Cincinnati is one of six teams to come into the matchup with the Cougars averaging more rebounds. When BYU has won the rebounding battle, the Cougars are 10-3 on the season and 25-12 during Whiting’s tenure. Cincinnati is 8-3 when outrebounding the opponent and sits as the 21st-best offensive-rebounding team in the country at 15.3 offensive boards per game. The Bearcats have won the rebounding battle in each of their first four Big 12 games.
THE 3-POINT SHOOTOUT: The Cougars shoot the three at a 38.4 percent clip which is the 10th-best mark in the country and first in the Big 12. On the flip side, the Bearcats are the 12-best team in the country at defending the three, holding opponents to just 24.5 percent from behind the loop.
JILLIAN HAYES: Hayes is the leading scorer and rebounder for Cincinnati as she nearly averages a double-double. The senior averages 12.7 points on 49.6 percent shooting, going 81.2 percent from the charity stripe and grabbing 8.5 rebounds per contest. The Cincinnati native is sixth in the Big 12 and 78th nationally in rebounds (8.5) and has recorded five double-doubles in 2023-24, the most recent coming on the road against the then-ranked No. 24 West Virginia (18 points, 11 rebounds). Hayes’ five double-doubles are good for fifth-most in the Big 12.
MALEA WILLIAMS: Williams is the second leading scorer for the Bearcats, but she also cleans up the glass and protects the rim. The senior from Georgetown, Kentucky is a 9.5 points per game scorer who grabs 6.9 rebounds and has sent away 19 shots on the season, 1.3 per game. The 15-game starter shoots an efficient 43.4 percent from the field, 34.8 from behind the loop, 68.2 from the line and is the second leading assister with 1.4 dimes per game. Her 19 blocked shots are good for fifth in the Big 12 while her 6.9 boards rank 13th in the conference.
Head Coach – Katrina Merriweather
- Alma Mater: Cincinnati, 2001
- Division I Career Record: 160-76 (8th Season)
- Record at Cincinnati: 9-6 (1st Season)
