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BYU's Lauren Gustin acknowledges the crowd at the Marriott Center after a game against Texas Tech on Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024. Gustin became the program's all-time leading career rebounder with 1,493.

Courtesy BYU photo

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BYU's Lauren Gustin accepts a basketball from Director of Athletics Tom Holmoe for becoming the program's all-time career rebound record holder with 1,493 on Jan. 20, 2024.

Courtesy BYU Photo

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BYU's Lauren Gustin (center) is swarmed by her teammates while being honored as the program's all-time career leading in rebounding with 1,493 after a Big 12 women's basketball game against Texas Tech at the Marriott Center on Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024.

Courtesy BYU Photo

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BYU's Lauren Gustin handles the ball against Texas Tech in a Big 12 women's basketball game at the Marriott Center on Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024.

Courtesy BYU Photo

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BYU's Lauren Gustin (12) gathers in a rebound during a Big 12 women's basketball game at the Marriott Center against Texas Tech on Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024.

Courtesy BYU Photo

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BYU’s Lauren Gustin wants all the rebounds.

One thousand, four hundred and ninety-three of them.

That’s a record.

She said she doesn’t really remember specific rebounds, other than the ones she let get away.

There aren’t many of them.

Gustin became the all-time career rebound leading in Cougar women’s basketball history in Saturday’s 60-46 victory against Texas Tech at the Marriott Center, passing All-American Tina Gunn Robison (1,482).

“It’s something I’ve been wanting to accomplish for a long time,” Gustin said. “Tina is a legend here so I’m honored to be able to break the record. I couldn’t have done it without my team and my coaches. I’m just feeling lots of gratefulness and very blessed to be surrounded by such great teammates and coaches and a program that lets me do my best.”

Gustin, who leads the nation in rebounding with 15.5 per game, broke the record in less than four seasons in Provo.

“The record came at home, so her family and friends were able to be here to celebrate it with her,” BYU coach Amber Whiting said. “When she went into the portal (last spring), the huge thing for me trying to get her to come back was because if she breaks the record here, she goes into the history books forever. I told her we’d build a statue out front for her. The record stood for 44 years and that’s crazy to me. We still have so much season left so that record is going to be standing for who knows how long.”

Gustin needed four rebounds to pass Robison heading into the game and picked up three quick offensive rebounds (on her own misses) to tie the record. At the 4:26 mark of the first quarter, Gustin nabbed a defensive rebound off a missed Texas Tech 3-pointer to claim the record.

“My role is to rebound,” Gustin said. “And I know that when I step on the court I’m going to try my best to do my role. Rebounding is something that I enjoy. I’m always going to lay it out 100% every single time for my teammates.”

The public address announcer made note of the record at halftime and at the end of the game BYU Director of Athletics Tom Holmoe made a presentation to Gustin at midcourt so Cougar fans could stand and honor her.

Gustin’s mother, Scarlett Overly Gustin, played basketball at BYU as well (1988-89). She said her daughter wasn’t distracted by the pursuit of the record.

“I think it’s a fine balance,” she said. “You have it in the back of your mind that you want to beat the record but at the same time you want to not think about it so that you can concentrate on just winning the game. She always said she was going to try her hardest to go after every rebound. And for the most part, she does.

“I’m always amazed that she can get as many rebounds as she does. She’s tenacious and she just goes after it. She’s always had a really good court sense on where the basketballs are going. We’re just really proud of her.”

BYU bounced back nicely from a poor performance on Wednesday, an 82-50 loss at Oklahoma State where the Cougars turned the ball over 25 times. A good start against Texas Tech was important, and BYU did that, leading 17-11 after one quarter. On offensive rebound by Gustin and a jumper from Kailey Woolston gave BYU a 23-13 lead with 7:58 to play in the half. The Lady Raiders scored the final five points of the first half and trailed 28-24 at the break.

The Cougars took a 36-28 lead on a Woolston 3-pointer midway through the third period. Texas Tech closed to 40-37 but Rose Bubakar banged in a triple and Amari Whiting followed a missed shot for a basket, and BYU took a 45-38 lead into the fourth quarter.

Kaylee Smiler dropped in a 3-pointer to open the period for a 48-38 Cougar advantage and the home team put the game away with a 9-0 run for a 57-42 lead with 3:33 to play. BYU held Texas Tech to 17% shooting (2 for 12) in the fourth quarter.

Gustin finished with 17 points and 14 rebounds (her 18th double-double this season) and Woolston added 15 points.

“I’m super proud of my women tonight,” Whiting said. “To turn it around from what they played like on Wednesday, that’s a major gut check. They came to play tonight. I felt like they played together and they played connected. We cut our turnovers in half against a team that presses the entire game.”

BYU (12-8, 2-5) travels to No. 7 Kansas State next Saturday to face the Wildcats at Bramalage Coliseum.

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