BYU Cougars || 9-3, 0-1 || Big 12 Conference
WHAT'S AT STAKE || With a win, Coach Whiting would move to 3-0 in her career against the Bearcats and 1-1 in conference play this season. A win would also match the fastest a Whiting-coached team has eclipsed 10 wins, tying last year’s 10 wins in 13 games.
DELANEY'S DREAM START || Just 12 games into her freshman season, Delaney Gibb has been outstanding for Whiting's young squad. Her 17.3 points per game on 49.3 percent shooting and 41.3 percent from deep has warranted three Big 12 Freshman of the Week honors (Nov. 11, Dec. 16, Dec. 23) so far this season. Gibb averages 5.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.6 steals. The freshman has scored over 15 points in 10-of-12 games this season including back-to-back games of 26 and 23 points against Washington State and Arizona.
Over the last two games, the Raymond, Alberta native is averaging 24.5 points on 20-of-31 from the field and 8-for-12 shooting from behind the arc. Gibb has also recorded 7.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game against Washington State and Arizona.
SOMETIMES YOU, SOMETIMES ME, ALWAYS US || The Cougars have had five different leading scorers in the last seven games. Over that stretch Delaney Gibb, Emma Calvert and Lauren Davenport have each set career highs over Washington State (26), UTEP (27) and Utah Valley (20), respectively.
DEFENSE IS THE CALLING CARD || Coach Whiting calls defense the silver bullet to her team’s success. In BYU’s nine wins, the Cougars have held opponents to 58.2 points and 35.4 percent from the field. In losses, opponents have shot 44.4 percent from the floor and averaged 64.0 points. BYU's defense has yet to allow an opponent to score over 70 points this season. The Bearcats score 68.6 points per contest in 11 games this season.
MASTERING THE THIRD || The Cougars have dominated the third quarter so far this season. In the third period alone, BYU is outscoring its opponents 19.6 to 14.0 and outshooting opponents 49.1 percent to 33.8 (+15.3%). In BYU’s win over Washington State, BYU outscored WSU 27-18 while shooting 57.9 percent in the period.
Head Coach – Amber Whiting
- Alma Mater: BYU, 2001
- Division I Career Record: 41-37 || 3rd Season
- Record at BYU: 41-37 || 3rd Season
Cincinnati Bearcats || 8-3, 0-1 || Big 12 Conference
HAYES' DOMINANCE IN THE PAINT || Jillian Hayes is a staple for the Cincinnati offense and she works exclusively in the post. The 6-foot-1 forward leads the Bearcats in scoring at 16.4 points per game on 43.6 percent shooting from the field. She also leads UC in rebounds at 9.8 per game, 2.7 more rebounds per game than the next Bearcat. Hayes is also a competent free throw shooter at 73.4 percent on the season.
In the last meeting between BYU and UC, Hayes led the Bearcats with 16 points on 5-of-12 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds. She also recorded, two assists, two steals and a block in the 69-57 loss to the Cougars at Fifth Third Arena.
HYLTON MAGIC || Tineya Hylton is the Bearcats' second-leading scorer at 13.5 points per game and leads the team in assists (3.6) and steals (1.9). The Texas A&M transfer has started in all 11 games since transferring to Cincinnati.
RETURNING PRODUCTION || The Bearcats have six players who played in the game against BYU on Feb. 10, 2024, (Jillian Hayes, Reagan Jackson, A'riel Jackson, Brianna Byars, Abby Holtman, Delaney Snyder) while BYU has just three players who played in the game, Amari Whiting, Lauren Davenport and Emma Calvert.
The returners for UC combined for 43 of 57 points, nine rebounds, five assists, three steals and two blocks. BYU's returners combined for just 19 points, 13 boards, three assists and three blocks in the February win over the Bearcats.
Head Coach – Katrina Merriweather
- Alma Mater: Cincinnati, 2001
- Career Record: 173-91 || 9th Season
- Record at Cincinnati: 22-21 || 2nd Season
