BYU Cougars (15-14, 5-11 Big 12 Conference)
SENIOR NIGHT FOR TWO PROGRAM GREATS: Seniors Lauren Gustin and Kaylee Smiler will be honored at the Marriott Center following tonight's game. Gustin and Smiler have played a combined 247 games, starting 172 of them in their respective BYU careers. Each had an opportunity to move on from the program following the 2022-23 season, but decided to return to solidify the roster in its first Big 12 campaign. Smiler and Gustin are the captains of the team as voted upon by the players.
Gustin's career accolades are well documented with her being the program's all-time leading rebounder and fifth-highest mark for career rebounds in the NCAA with 1,634 rebounds and counting. Coach Whiting has said that Smiler is the "unsung hero" of this team. The New Zealand native has led the Cougars in three-point percentage over the past two seasons and holds the second-highest career three-point percentage in BYU women's basketball history.
THE STARTING GUARD LINE IS CRUCIAL: BYU’s starting guard line is the silver bullet for the team’s success. As the guard line goes, the Cougars go. In BYU’s 15 wins this season, the starting guard line of Amari Whiting, Kailey Woolston and Kaylee Smiler combine for 34.6 points, 12.8 rebounds, 10.6 assists, 3.3 steals and 1.8 blocks.
In the 12 losses, the Cougar guard line’s stat line decreases in every category as the three combine for just 27.7 points (-6.9), 8.5 rebounds (-4.3), 9.7 assists (-0.9), 3.1 steals (-0.2), 1.5 blocks (-0.3).
MAGIC NUMBER...66 POINTS OR LESS: Coach Whiting prides her team on their ability to defend. Her defense has held opponents to 65.8 points per game this season and 15 of its 29 opponents to 66 or fewer points. When holding teams under the 66-point threshold, BYU is 14-1.
TURNOVER TROUBLE: Ball security is key to the Cougars’ success, however, BYU averages 17.0 turnovers per game this season. The Cougs have turned the ball over more than their opponent in all but five games this season and hold a 25-25 record when posting a negative turnover margin under Whiting. In Big 12 play, the Cougars turnover the rock 15.5 times per game and have given up 17.5 points off turnovers.
Head Coach – Amber Whiting
- Alma Mater: BYU, 2001
- Division I Career Record: 31-31 (2nd Season)
- Record at BYU: 31-31 (2nd Season)
Houston Cougars (13-14, 4-12 Big 12 Conference)
“YOU BLITZ ALL NIGHT”: The Cougars are one of the few teams in college basketball that use a full-court press for all 40 minutes. Due to their high-octane pressure, Houston has 10 players that have appeared in 25 games or more, nine of which average more than 11 minutes per game. As a team, the Cougars force their opponents into 21.7 turnovers per game, the 8th-highest mark in Division I college basketball and 2nd in the Big 12.
BATTLE OF THE BENCHES: Houston’s bench ranks first in the Big 12 and 14th nationally, averaging 27.1 points per game. BYU’s bench scores an average of 13.1 points per game which ranks 11th in the conference and 293rd nationally.
REBOUNDING BY COMMITTEE: The Houston Cougars don’t have a prolific rebounder with their leading rebounder only grabbing 4.1 boards per game. However, Houston has six players that average at least 3.3 rebounds per game and 10 that record at least two per contest.
THE 3-POINT BATTLE: The BYU Cougars are the 27th-best three-point shooting team in the country and third in the Big 12 at 36.1 percent. Houston has held their opponents to 30 percent from behind the loop on the season. BYU has five players who shoot over 32.6 percent from deep and two that are over 44 percent from downtown.
Head Coach – Ronald Hughey
- Alma Mater: Limestone, 2006
- Division I Career Record: 134-168 (10th Season)
- Record at Houston: 134-168 (10th Season)
