BYU Cougars (11-8, 1-5 Big 12 Conference)
CLOSING IN ON HISTORY: Through 19 games, Gustin leads the nation in total rebounds (289), rebounding average (15.5), defensive rebounds per game (10.3) and double-doubles (17) and is 5th in offensive rebounds per contest (4.9). The senior sits at 1,479 career rebounds and is 4 rebounds away from breaking the all-time BYU rebounding record held by Gunn (1,482). She also leads the Cougars in scoring at 15.5 points per contest with 18 straight games in double-figures on 52.9 percent shooting from the field.
BEHIND THE 1ST QUARTER 8-BALL: The Cougars are 2-7 when trailing after the opening quarter this season. In its first six Big 12 games, BYU has trailed after the first 10 minutes in five of six contests. In 240 total minutes of Big 12 play, the Cougars have only led for 48:52 (.204) of game time. BYU never led in games at TCU, at Oklahoma State or at home against Oklahoma. The Cougars led for 16:01 in a loss to Iowa State, and just 1:01 in a road loss to Houston before leading for 31:50 in the win over Cincinnati.
FAITH OVER FEAR: Coach Whiting spoke on the mantra of Faith over Fear saying, “That’s me. I wear it every day, faith over fear, it’s how I live my life. I feel like if you’re prepared, and not just in basketball, but specifically in basketball when you go into a game you can’t go into it fearful. You have to go into it fearless. The only way to get there is to make sure you’ve prepared and done everything up to that point.”
TURNOVER TROUBLE: Coach Whiting has made it clear that ball security is key to the Cougars’ success, however, her squad averages 18.0 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 22-23 record when posting a negative turnover margin under Whiting. The Cougars average 16.3 turnovers per game in conference play, but against Houston and Oklahoma State combined for 50 turnovers with 65 points off turnovers for the opposition.
Head Coach – Amber Whiting
- Alma Mater: BYU, 2001
- Division I Career Record: 27-25 (2nd Season)
- Record at BYU: 27-25 (2nd Season)
Texas Tech (14-5, 3-3 Big 12 Conference)
LAUNCHING FROM DEEP: The Lady Raiders lit it up from behind the arc in their win over No. 24 Iowa State on Wednesday, making 13 3-pointers. Texas Tech hadn’t made that many three-point attempts in a single game since Feb. 1, 2020, in which they made 20 triples, the most in a game in program history. The 13 threes against the Cyclones was the fourth time this season that the Lady Raiders have knocked down 10 or more in a game.
NEUTRALIZING THE LONG BALL: Texas Tech’s 46th-ranked three-point defense will be challenged on Saturday as the Cougars come in as the 20th-best three-point shooting team in the country at 37.3 percent. The Lady Raiders hold their opponents to 27.2 percent on the season.
RAIDERS OF THE LOST BASKETBALL: It will be imperative for the Cougars to protect the basketball as Texas Tech forces 20.3 turnovers per game on the year, good for 33rd in the country and 4th in the Big 12. BYU has turned the ball over 18.0 times per contest this season and has struggled in its last three games. In games against Houston, Cincinnati and Oklahoma State, the Cougars have coughed it up 65 (21.7/game) times resulting in 79 (26.3/game) points off turnovers for the opposition.
Head Coach – Krista Gerlich
- Alma Mater: Texas Tech, 1993
- Division I Career Record: 344-201 (18th Season)
- Record at Oklahoma State: 55-54 (4th Season)
