BYU Cougars
Overall: 0-0 ⋅ Big 12: 0-0 ⋅ Last 5: 0-0
THE OPENING TIP
After a 26-12 record under first-year head coach Lee Cummard that ended in the WBIT championship game, the Cougars set their sights on a return to the NCAA Tournament for the 2026–27 season.
The Cougars and Mountaineers meet for the second time in series history. BYU and Western Colorado squared off last season in an exhibition, with the Cougars earning an 86-50 victory. BYU placed eight players with seven or more points in the bout, led by Sydney Benally (15), Delaney Gibb (13) and Olivia Hamlin (12) in double figures.
YOUNG, BUT WISE
Despite having no seniors or fifth-year players on its roster, BYU has a wealth of experience returning this season. The Cougars have four players who are among the top-6 in all-time minutes played in a freshman season: Sydney Benally checks in at No. 2 (1,108), Olivia Hamlin at No. 3 (1,097), Kailey Woolston at No. 4 (1,067) and Delaney Gibb at No. 6 (1,013).
Of those, three rank in the top 5 in all-time freshman scoring: Delaney Gibb at No. 2 (522 points), who also ranks first in points per game. Olivia Hamlin sits at No. 3 with 490 points and Kailey Woolston is No. 5 with 425 points. Woolston was also the second-ranked three-point shooter in the NCAA during her freshman season (2023-24) at 46.6 percent.
CARRIED BY UNDERCLASSMEN
Last season, BYU’s freshmen and sophomores made major contributions to the offense. Olivia Hamlin, Sydney Benally and Bolanle Yussuf combined for 36.7 percent of the Cougars’ total points. With the addition of sophomores Delaney Gibb, Brinley Cannon and Kambree Taylor, underclassmen accounted for 72.2 percent of BYU’s scoring.
ALL-BIG 12 BACKCOURT
Delaney Gibb and Olivia Hamlin each received conference recognition last season for their stellar backcourt play. Gibb was named to the First Team, while Hamlin was named Honorable Mention All-Big and to the All-Freshman Team.
Against Kansas in the WBIT Semifinal, the duo combined for 35 of BYU’s 70 points. During the totality of the WBIT, Gibb and Hamlin average 37.6 points, 10.6 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 4.4 steals and 1.2 blocks per game for the Cougars.
COUNTING ON CANNON
Brinley Cannon was an unsung hero for the Cougars in 2025–26, averaging 7.5 points per game while shooting 42.9 percent from the field and 35.9 percent from 3-point land. The junior pulled down 4.7 rebounds, dished 1.6 assists and recorded 1.4 steals per contest. BYU went 10-2 when Cannon scored in double figures, 6-2 when she tallied three or more assists and 13-4 when she grabbed five or more rebounds.
70...THE COUGS' MAGIC NUMBER
The Cougars posted a 21-3 record when eclipsing 70 points on offense in 2025–26. Their only losses came against No. 17 Vanderbilt (without Delaney Gibb), Arizona and No. 22 West Virginia.
Defense remains a cornerstone of Cummard’s program. His team held 27 of 38 opponents under 70 points and went 24-3 in those contests, with their only losses coming against No. 10 TCU, No. 18 Baylor and Oklahoma State. The Cougars held 11 foes under 60 points in 2025–26 and went 25-2 over the past three seasons when doing so.
