BYU pulls away in 70-52 win over Utah to advance in Big 12 Tournament

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The No. 9-seeded BYU Cougars defeated the No. 8-seeded Utah Utes 70-52 on Thursday afternoon at the T-Mobile Center to advance to the quarterfinals of the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Tournament.

“I thought we started pretty well. We were engaged on both sides of the ball,” said head coach Lee Cummard. “It was tangibly different in the second half. I’m really grateful for this group and how connected they are. They want to do it for each other and for the name on the front of the jersey.”

After trailing at halftime, BYU turned the game in the second half, outscoring Utah 43-16 over the final two quarters. The Cougars held the Utes to just seven third-quarter points before allowing only nine in the fourth to pull away.

Delaney Gibb led the Cougars with 19 points and eight assists, while Brinley Cannon added 12 points on four made 3-pointers. Lara Rohkohl finished with 12 points and eight rebounds as BYU secured its fifth-consecutive victory.

Cannon’s four 3-pointers marked her fifth game this season with three or more made triples, in which games BYU is 4-1. The Cougars knocked down 11 shots from beyond the arc as a team while forcing 19 Ute turnovers and converting them into 18 points.

The defensive effort marked the 10th time this season that BYU has held an opponent under 60 points. Over the past three seasons, the Cougars are now 24-2 when limiting opponents to fewer than 60 points.

First Quarter

Utah opened the game with a 3-pointer after a turnover-heavy start. BYU responded as Gibb found Kambree Barber for a corner three before Barber added two free throws to give the Cougars a 5-3 lead.

Gibb then connected with Cannon for a triple and later knocked down one of her own off a Benally assist to push BYU ahead 11-6. Cannon added two more 3-pointers late in the first, marking her fifth game this season with three or more made triples, as BYU closed the quarter ahead 22-17.

Second Quarter

The Utes opened the quarter with a jumper, but BYU responded as Gibb split a pair of free throws and Sydney Benally found Bolanle Yussuf for a layup to give the Cougars a 25-19 advantage. BYU assisted on seven of its first eight made field goals.

Utah answered with a floater and a 3-pointer before taking the lead at the free-throw line following the media timeout. The Utes used a 13-0 run to build separation before Benally halted the stretch with a driving layup.

Utah added a fast-break score late to send BYU into halftime trailing 36-27 after being outscored 19-5 in the quarter. In the first meeting between the teams this season, BYU erased a 10-point halftime deficit, outscoring the Utes 52-30 in the second half to win 77-65.

Third Quarter

The Utes opened the half with a basket in the paint, extending its run to 19-2 dating back to the second quarter to push the lead to 38-27, its largest of the game.

Rohkohl stopped the stretch with two free throws and a pick-and-roll finish from Gibb. After the Utes pushed the lead to 41-33 at the media timeout, BYU answered.

Cannon knocked down a three before Gibb sparked the rally with a layup and two forced turnovers. Arielle Mackey-Williams hit a triple, and Rohkohl tied the game at the line before the Cougars took the lead.

Hamlin banked in a three at the buzzer to cap a 15-0 BYU run to close the frame, sending the Cougars into the fourth quarter ahead 51-43. 

BYU has now outscored opponents in the third quarter in five of its last six games, including a 20-12 edge against Utah in the most recent meeting in Salt Lake City.

Fourth Quarter

The Utes opened the final frame with an and-one basket, but Gibb answered with an elbow jumper. Moments later, she found Yussuf for a three-point play to give BYU its then-largest lead of the game at 56-47.

Gibb then knocked down a step-back three to extend the lead to 59-47, forcing a Utah timeout with 6:35 remaining.

Rohkohl added a free throw and later finished inside off a pass from Mackey-Williams as BYU stayed in control. Gibb beat the shot clock with a three, and Mackey-Williams sealed the win at the line as BYU secured the 70-52 victory to advance to the quarterfinal tomorrow.

Up Next

BYU moves on to face No. 1-seed TCU Horned Frogs in the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Tournament on Friday with tipoff set for 12:30 p.m. MT. Fans can watch the game live on ESPN+ or listen to play-by-play with Jason Shepherd on BYU Radio.