BYU Cougars || 14-4, 0-0 || Big 12 Conference
WHAT'S AT STAKE?
With a win, the Cougars would earn their first win over a ranked team under first-year head coach Lee Cummard. BYU would also move to 15-4 on the season, 4-3 in conference play, and 4-0 in bounce-back games this season. With a win, Cummard's 15 wins in his first 19 games as head coach would move him into a tie with Courtney Leishman for the fourth-most wins by a first-year head coach in BYU women’s hoops history.
COUGARS VS. THE POLLS
BYU holds a 22-55 all-time record in ranked matchups and a 1-4 all-time clip against the 19th-ranked team in the AP poll. The lone victory was a 70-40 win over No. 19 Gonzaga on Feb. 9, 2012. The last game against the No. 19 team came on Feb. 2, 2021, a 63-56 defeat to Gonzaga.
MIGHTY IN THE MIDDLE
Lara Rohkohl and Bolanle Yussuf have dominated the paint for the Cougars this season, combining for 14.4 points, 13.2 rebounds, 2.6 blocks and 2.0 steals per game. Rohkohl ranks in the 99th percentile nationally with a field goal percentage of 67.1 percent, while Yussuf sits in the 81st percentile at 53.1 percent on the season. Of the duos’ 13.2 boards, 5.3 per game come on the offensive glass.
LAST YEAR'S BOUT
In last season’s lone matchup between the Cougars and Lady Raiders, Delaney Gibb led the Cougars with 22 points on 8-of-15 shooting to go along with three assists, a steal and a rebound. Kambree Barber and Brinley Cannon combined for 12 points, with seven and five, respectively. Barber also contributed four rebounds and two steals, while Cannon grabbed three boards and recorded a steal. Hattie Ogden knocked down a late three as part of the Cougars’ comeback effort.
YOUNG GUNS, BIG BUCKETS
BYU’s freshmen are making huge contributions to the Cougars’ success early in their careers. Olivia Hamlin, Sydney Benally, Bolanle Yussuf and Braeden Gunlock have combined for 40.4 percent of all points scored by the Cougars so far this season. Adding sophomores Delaney Gibb, Brinley Cannon and Kambree Barber to the mix, the underclassmen account for 66.7 percent of BYU’s scoring this season. In Big 12 play, the underclassmen have combined for 50.7 of BYU’s 66.5 points per game (76.2 percent).
NAVAJO DIME DROPPER
Sydney Benally is one of the top guards in the country at getting her teammates in positions to score as she assists on 30.1 percent of all made baskets when she is on the floor, which ranks in the 96th percentile nationally. Benally leads the Big 12 and is fourth nationally among freshmen in assists per game (4.9). She is also second in the conference and fifth nationally among freshmen with 89 assists. BYU is 13-3 when Benally records at least three assists, and is 10-0 when the freshman dishes five or more.
THIRD-QUARTER TAKEOVER
The third quarter has been especially kind to the Cougars this season as they have outscored opponents in 14 games by an average of 9.9 points. BYU is 12-2 when outscoring its opponent in the third period.
BYU’s offense improves exponentially in the second half. The Cougs average 32.9 first-half points on 38.9 percent shooting. In the second half, those numbers jump to 39.4 points and 43.9 percent shooting. BYU has outscored opponents in the second half in 11 of 17 games, including besting 17-2 Arizona State 43-28 (+15), and 17-8 in the third quarter alone.
LIV'N IN FAST FORWARD
Olivia Hamlin was named the Big 12 Freshman of the Week on Dec. 15, the second weekly award for BYU this season (Sydney Benally, Dec. 1). Hamlin led all Big 12 freshmen in points (42), made field goals (16), 3-point field goals (4), free throws made (6), steals (6) and minutes played (65). Hamlin was an anchor for BYU as the freshman led her team with 21 points per game on 50 percent shooting, 3.0 steals and 2.0 assists per game in wins over Idaho State and UTEP.
Hamlin is one of the top players in the country at playing in transition. The freshman scores 4.7 points per game, and 39.3 percent of her points come from transition buckets, which both rank in the 99th percentile nationally. Hamlin averages 11.9 points per game and the Cougars are 12-1 when Hamlin finishes in double figures.
The Santa Clara, Utah, product also leads all Big 12 freshmen and is 12th nationally with 38 steals. Hamlin is also first in the conference and 11th nationally in steals per game with 2.11 per contest.
TENACIOUS TEAM DEFENSE
Cummard’s squad prides itself on its ability to defend and hold teams under their season averages. The Cougars have held 15 of 18 opponents under the 70-point threshold and are 14-1 in such games, with their only loss to No. 18 Baylor. BYU has kept nine of its foes under 60 points this season, and the Cougars are 23-2 over the past three seasons in such games. In losses to No. 17 Vanderbilt, No. 8 TCU and No. 18 Baylor, BYU held each ranked opponent under their season scoring average: Vanderbilt 3.1 points under and TCU 15.5 points shy of their 87.5 points per game.
In the last two games against the Lady Raiders, BYU surrendered 70 points in its loss in Lubbock last season but held Texas Tech to 48 points in a Cougar victory at the Marriott Center in 2024.
BYU ranks 17th in the country and third in the Big 12 for opponent 3-point percentage, surrendering just 25.7 percent shooting and just 5.3 3-point makes per game. The Cougars also sit 17th nationally and fourth in the Big 12 in opponent field goal percentage, holding opponents to 35.5 percent from the field. Cummard’s squad has seven players who average over a steal per game: Hamlin (2.1), Traore (2.0), Cannon (1.9), Benally (1.7), Gibb (1.6), Hudgins (1.2) and Rohkohl (1.2).
PERPETUAL PERIMETER PRECISION
BYU currently holds the second-longest active and the third-longest all-time streak of games with a made 3-point field goal in NCAA women’s basketball. The Cougars have connected on at least one triple in each of the previous 812 games. The streak began on March 2, 2000, in an 86-69 win over Air Force.
Head Coach – Lee Cummard
- Alma Mater: BYU, 2009
- Division I Career Record: 14-4 || 1st Season
