Turnovers and offensive boards plague BYU in 83-71 loss at Baylor

WACO, Texas – Turnovers and offensive rebounds proved costly as BYU fell 83-71 to the Baylor Bears at Foster Pavillion on Saturday night.

Baylor asserted themselves on the glass, out-rebounding the Cougars 42 to 33 and grabbed 18 offensive boards, leading to 18 second-chance points. The home team also forced 26 BYU turnovers that resulted in 18 points off turnovers for the Bears. Baylor's bench also contributed 33 points to BYU's 14.

The Cougars out-shot the Bears 53.8 to 41.9 percent from the field and 50.0 to 27.3 percent from behind the arc. BYU had three players finish with three or more assists and assisted on 15-of-28 made field goals in the game.

Delaney Gibb led the Cougars in five categories with 21 points, six rebounds, five assists, four steals and a block. Her 21-point outburst marks her 8th career game with 20 or more points and 14th game with 17 or more. Gibb also set a career high with four steals. Additionally, with six makes from the field, Gibb moved into sixth for made field goals (138) by a BYU freshman in program history.

Emma Calvert contributed 17 points to the cause, going 7-for-10 from the floor and knocking down her only offering from behind the arc. The Farr West, Utah native also pulled down six rebounds, dished three assists and recorded a block and a steal in the loss. 

First Quarter

The Bears opened the game with hot shooting, taking a quick 8-4 lead over BYU. With 6:24 left, Kemery Congdon hit a triple to trim Baylor’s advantage. On the next possession for the Bears, Congdon forced a turnover and found Emma Calvert for a top-of-the-key three just 22 seconds later putting the Cougars up 10-8.

Turnovers and steals from each team left the next two and a half minutes scoreless before the Bears knotted the score at 10. Congdon scored her seventh point of the quarter to regain the lead for the Cougars with 3:25 remaining. After a 12-1 run from the Bears, the quarter closed at 22-13.

Second Quarter

BYU responded with a 6-2 Bear run after Gibb hit from deep and Amari Whiting made an off-the-glass layup. One minute later, Kambree Barber hit a jumper assisted by Calvert, putting the Cougars within six at 28-22. 

Baylor went on a 10-2 run to extend their advantage before Gibb made two free throws and Hattie Ogden hit a triple with 2:07 remaining to claim the last Cougar points of the half.

Seven-consecutive Baylor points in the final two minutes of the quarter put the Bears up 18 over BYU going into the break.

Third Quarter

Gibb came out of the locker room strong, scoring six-straight points, highlighted by a triple off a Congdon assist. Baylor countered quickly, going on a 10-0 run, extending their lead to 57-35.

With 7:12 on the clock, Gibb made a jumper and on Baylor’s next possession, Barber recorded a block and found Whiting for a breakaway layup. Calvert and Gibb collectively scored six Cougar points in under two minutes, pulling the Cougars within 14.

Kendra Gillespie put up the final Cougar points of the quarter with 1:34 left in the third. After another quarter-closing Baylor run, the Bears led 68-49.

Fourth Quarter

Calvert’s jumper from inside the paint opened the final quarter. Brinley Cannon followed with a basket of her own, putting the score at 68-53 Baylor.

With 4:01 remaining, Gibb knocked down a deep top-of-the-key triple, her third three of the evening. Calvert made another jumper and Ogden connected from deep to narrow the Baylor lead to 12 points with 2:43 to play.

Despite late efforts from Cannon, Calvert and Gillespie, Baylor knocked off the Cougars 83-71.

Up Next

BYU will travel to Fort Worth to take on the TCU Horned Frogs on Tuesday, Feb. 11 at Schollmaier Arena. Tip is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. MST. Watch on ESPN+ or listen to live play-by-play with Jason Shepherd on BYU Radio.