BYU Cougars || 13-3, 0-0 || Big 12 Conference
WHAT'S AT STAKE?
A win on Saturday would ensure that BYU keeps its streak intact of not losing back-to-back games under first-year head coach Lee Cummard. The new head man has emphasized to his team that losses are to be learned from and that they can't turn one loss into two if they want to accomplish their goals this season. The Cougars from Provo would also push their win streak over Houston to three games with a win on Saturday.
BACK LIKE SHE NEVER LEFT
With the coaching change in April, Delaney Gibb had the opportunity to enter the transfer portal; however, Gibb felt there was more for her to accomplish and chose to stay at BYU to play for new head coach Lee Cummard.
Gibb said, “I’m really excited to take on a leadership role on our team. We’ve got a lot of new faces, and so it’s fun to be someone who was here last year and has a feel for this league and for college basketball. It is super exciting to be able to build off a great year last year.”
After missing eight non-conference games due to injury, Gibb has continued to show why she was the unanimous Big 12 Freshman of the year a season ago. The sophomore is averaging 16.3 points on 40-percent shooting, 4.5 assists, 3.3 rebounds and a steal per game over her last four. Gibb has increased her scoring and efficiency in each game since her return, including a 7-of-13 outing against Arizona that included knocking down 3-of-6 triple tries for 21 points. She also recorded a season-high eight assists, three rebounds and a steal.
Gibb ranks in the 99th percentile as she assists on 38.1 percent of all Cougar makes while she is on the floor this season. She also ranks in the 98th percentile with 5.3 assists per game. The Cougars’ NET ranking jumps from the 64th to the 89th percentile and BYU’s offensive rating increases from the 39th percentile to the 67th percentile with Gibb on the floor.
SECOND-CHANCE SPECIALIST
Since returning from injury, Kambree Barber has been a menace on the offensive glass for the Cougars. The sophomore ranks in the 100th percentile for offensive rebounding percentage as she grabs 15.3 percent of all available offensive rebounds. Barber has recorded 23 offensive boards in seven games for an average of 3.4 per game. Barber is one of four players in the Big 12 to average over 3.0 offensive rebounds per game.
BLOCK. STEAL. REPEAT.
BYU is averaging 11.25 steals and 4.56 blocks per game this season. The last Big 12 team to finish a campaign with such marks was Baylor in 2002-03 (12.43, 5.83).
OWNING THE GLASS
BYU is crashing the glass, averaging 43.9 rebounds per game, which ranks 21st in the country and second in the Big 12. The Cougars have grabbed 40 offensive rebounds in the past two games alone and are averaging 15.2 offensive boards per game this season, the top mark in the Big 12 and 33rd-highest mark in the country. BYU grabbed 26 offensive boards in its win over Arizona State, the fifth-most offensive rebounds in a game in program history and scored 20 second-chance points.
The Cougars have five players averaging 5.3 rebounds or more per game, with four recording 6.2 or more. Kambree Barber leads the way with 6.9. The others: Lara Rohkohl (6.8), Bola Yussuf (6.2), Brinley Cannon (5.9), and Marya Hudgins (5.3). BYU is 11-2 when outrebounding opponents this season.
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 40.6 percent of all points scored by the Cougars so far this season. If we add sophomores Delaney Gibb, Brinley Cannon and Kambree Barber, that number jumps to 65.2 percent of all points scored coming from underclassmen.
Over the past six games, the underclassmen have combined for 51.3 of BYU's 68.5 (74.9 percent) points per game.
PRESSURE, PATIENCE AND PRIDE
Cummard’s squad prides itself on its ability to defend and hold teams under their season averages. The Cougars have held 13 of 16 opponents under the 70-point threshold and are 13-0 in such games. BYU has kept eight 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 and No. 8 TCU, BYU held both ranked opponents under their season scoring average: Vanderbilt 3.1 points under and TCU 15.5 points shy of their 87.5 points per game.
BYU ranks 13th in the country, third in the Big 12, for opponent 3-point percentage, surrendering just 24.7 percent shooting and just 5.1 3-point makes per game. The Cougars also sit 20th nationally and fourth in the Big 12 in opponent field goal percentage, holding opponents to 35 percent from the field. Cummard’s squad also has seven players who average over a steal per game: Hamlin (2.1), Traore (2.0), Benally (1.9), Cannon (1.9), Gibb (1.5), Hudgins (1.3) and Rohkohl (1.2).
BATTLE OF FIRST-YEAR HEAD COACHES
Saturday’s game between head coach Lee Cummard and Houston’s Matthew Mitchell marks Cummard’s third-straight matchup against a fellow Big 12 first-year head coach. Arizona’s Becky Burke and Arizona State’s Molly Miller are also in their first season at their respective schools. Cummard in 1-1 with a win over ASU and a loss to Arizona.
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 810 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: 13-3 || 1st Season
