Cougars fall to Cowgirls 67-51 in Stillwater

STILLWATER, Okla. — BYU fell to Oklahoma State on the road, 67-51, at Gallagher-Iba Arena on Wednesday night. 

"We got off to a great start, at least offensively speaking," head coach Lee Cummard said. "I didn't think we were very good defensively in the first quarter. Their first seven points were complete game plan execution mistakes. They are a really good, high-powered team. This really came down to the second quarter, where we got lost a little bit and gave up several threes. We weren't our normal, aggressive selves; imposing and dictating, defensively.

After leading 25-19 after the opening 10 minutes, the Cougars were outscored 48-26 over the final three quarters as they went 8-of-42 from the field in that time. BYU shot a season-low 29 percent from the field, 22.6 percent from 3-point land and 61.5 percent from the charity stripe in the loss.

Kambree Barber led the Cougars in scoring with a season-high 13 points on 4-of-7 shooting and knocking down three of BYU’s seven triples on the evening. Barber also recorded her first double-double of the season, second of her career, with 11 rebounds, an assist and a block.

Delaney Gibb and Olivia Hamlin were the other two Cougars to finish in double figures as both turned in 11 points. Gibb went 4-for-18 from the field and 1-of-7 from downtown while grabbing five boards, four assists, four steals and a block, while Hamlin was 5-of-12 and 1-for-4 from deep. The freshman also recorded two boards, an assist and a steal.

Braeden Gunlock gave the Cougars good minutes as the freshman recorded two blocks, two steals and two points in 11 minutes of play.

First Quarter

The Cowgirls hit a three on their first possession that was matched on BYU’s second possession by Brinley Cannon. With a driving layup from Gibb and a second-chance layup from Lara Rohkohl to counter five OSU points, the game was knotted at seven heading to the first media timeout.

Out of the break, Marya Hudgins drove and kicked to Hamlin for three to give BYU a brief lead before OSU answered with a three of its own. A 9-2 run from the Cougars opened a 19-12 lead with 2:10 remaining in the opening quarter, courtesy of a second-chance layup from Hamlin, a Barber right-wing triple, Bolanle Yussuf score off the window and a transition score from Gibb, forcing a Cowgirl timeout.

Following the timeout, OSU scored to trim the lead to 19-14 before Barber knocked down back-to-back triples to push the lead to 25-17. Two free throws for OSU trimmed BYU’s lead to six at the end of the first, 25-19.

Second Quarter

Oklahoma State opened the second quarter with a 14-2 run, hitting four 3-point field goals in the process, to take a 33-27 lead over BYU. The Cougars were held to just a single field goal in the quarter, a score off the glass by Hamlin at the 8:22 mark. Oklahoma State outscored BYU 20-3 in the second frame to take a 39-28 lead into halftime.

Third Quarter

The Cowgirls quickly pushed the lead to 18 with seven consecutive points to open the third quarter before Cannon knocked down a triple for BYU. After a pair of OSU freebies, Gibb knocked down a right-wing three to pull the Cougars within 14 before the Cowgirls immediately answered with a triple to again lead by 17 at 51-34.

Barber found Yussuf for a layup with 5:12 remaining to trim the lead to 15 before the media timeout. An OSU triple and jumper pushed the deficit to 19, but BYU finished the third on a 6-2 mini-run with a pair of free throws from Gunlock, an offensive rebound and putback by Barber and a score off the window from Hamlin. The Cougars trailed by 14, 57-43, entering the final 10 minutes.

Fourth Quarter

BYU cut the OSU lead to 12 on a driving score by Gibb with 8:38 to go before a 10-0 run by the Cowgirls to open a 22-point advantage with 4:46 remaining. Out of the media timeout, Gunlock got a steal and kicked to Hamlin in transition for two.  

A pair of perfect trips to the line for Gibb and Barber trimmed the Cowgirl lead to 16, but the Cougars couldn't capitalize on turnovers down the stretch, missing their final three shots from the floor. BYU was 2-of-13 from the field in the final quarter, scoring just two points off six Cowgirl fourth-quarter turnovers in the 67-51 loss. 

Up Next

The Cougars look to snap their two-game skid as they host the Utah Utes for a midday rivalry matinee on Saturday at the Marriott Center. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. MT with the game streamed on ESPN+ and broadcast live on BYU Radio 107.9, byuradio.org and the BYU Radio App with Jason Shepherd on the call.