Benally sets freshman assist record in 72-47 win over Alabama A&M in WBIT first round

PROVO, Utah — The No. 1-seeded BYU Cougars clinched their first postseason win since the 2021-22 season with a 72–47 victory over the Alabama A&M Bulldogs in the opening round of the WBIT on Thursday night at the Marriott Center.

“I’m really pleased with how we showed up tonight for being right on the fringe of getting into the NCAA Tournament,” head coach Lee Cummard said. “Not making it in was a hard thing, and it has felt a little bit different the last few days. I thought our team was locked in from the jump and kept it going. That is a really good Alabama A&M team that plays a style that’s been challenging for us at times, but as for some of the keys we wanted to execute, we did a really good job.”

After allowing the opening basket of the game, the Cougars led for the remainder of the night, holding Alabama A&M to just 47 points — the fewest BYU has allowed since limiting UTEP to 46 on Dec. 13.

BYU was led in scoring by Sydney Benally, who finished with 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the field and 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. Benally also led the team with five assists, pushing her season total to 139 and breaking the all-time freshman assist record previously held by Shaylee Gonzales with 134.

The Cougars finished with four players in double figures for the seventh time this season. Lara Rohkohl scored all 13 of her points in the opening half, going 6-of-8 from the floor while also recording five rebounds, two blocks and a steal.

Delaney Gibb turned in an 11-point, eight-rebound performance to go along with three assists, a block and a steal. Olivia Hamlin also joined the group with 10 points, nearly all coming on transition buckets. The freshman also added a career-high eight rebounds, three assists and two steals in the win.

First Quarter

Alabama A&M notched the first points of the game with a layup off the opening tipoff, but BYU responded with an early 12–2 run, highlighted by a pair of field goals from Brinley Cannon, including a three-pointer. The run was eventually capped with a layup from Lara Rohkohl.

Up 12–4, the Bulldogs found their offense with a 9–4 run to get within three. BYU answered with a run of its own, courtesy of Benally, to lead 20-13 after the opening frame. 

Second Quarter

Benally connected again to open the second quarter, this time converting off a turnover with a jump shot to extend the lead to 22–13. This started a stretch where both teams traded field goals, with neither side scoring twice in a row, bringing the score to 32–21.

BYU eventually broke that pattern as Benally knocked down her third shot from beyond the arc, accounting for three of the Cougars’ four made three-pointers in the half. Rohkohl followed with a layup out of the media timeout to extend the lead to 16. Both teams traded layups late, making the score 39-23 going into the half.

Third Quarter

Alabama A&M opened the half with a pair of made field goals, prompting an early BYU timeout. The break proved effective, as Delaney Gibb connected on a three-pointer out of the huddle, followed by a layup from Olivia Hamlin.

After the Bulldogs snapped a scoring drought of over three minutes with a deep three, both teams went on a short scoring drought until Hamlin converted on a jump shot to make it 47-30.

Out of substitutions, an assist from Kambree Barber led to Benally connecting on her fourth three-pointer, matching her career high. BYU closed the quarter with three field goals courtesy of Hamlin, Gibb, and Benally — the last coming off another opponent turnover — to extend the lead to 56-33.

Fourth Quarter

Both offenses started the quarter slowly, with just one made field goal in the first three minutes. The Bulldogs followed with a trio of made free throws to cut into the deficit.

After the free throws, both teams traded jump shots. Hattie Ogden recorded her first points of the game with a pair of made triples. The Cougars closed out the opening round of the WBIT with a 72–47 victory.

Up Next

BYU advances to the second round of the WBIT and will face the Missouri Tigers on Monday at 7 p.m. at the Marriott Center.