BYU women’s basketball loses a heartbreaker to Colorado
-
- BYU freshman Delaney Gibb goes up for a layup during the Big 12 game against Colorado at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.
-
- BYU sophomore Amari Whiting shoots a 3-pointer during the Big 12 game against Colorado at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.
-
- BYU senior Kemery Congdon goes up for a layup during the Big 12 game against Colorado at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.
-
- BYU senior Kendra Gillespie goes up for a layup during the Big 12 game against Colorado at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.
It had been a terrible stretch for the BYU women’s basketball team in Wednesday night’s Big 12 battle against Colorado at the Marriott Center.
Nothing had worked late in the second quarter as the Buffaloes had turned a 23-23 tie into a 36-25 lead with a 13-2 run.
The final dagger had come on a jumper by Colorado freshman Grace Oliver with under 10 seconds left in the first half.
The Buffaloes appeared to be in position to go into the break with all the momentum — but there was still time on the clock.
BYU rushed the ball down the court as the final seconds ticked away as the Colorado defenders swarmed to the ball, looking to make the final shot tough.
But in the heat of the moment, Cougar senior forward Emma Calvert found herself alone under the basket. BYU sophomore guard Amari Whiting spotted her and made the pass, giving Calvert just enough time to lay the ball in as the buzzer sounded.
It may have just been two points but it was a big two points.
The Cougars built on that spark of momentum in the third quarter with a big run of their own, rallying to take the lead and setting up an exciting finish down the stretch.
Both teams had their chances to get the victory, but in the end it was Colorado who came up with the key plays to secure the heart-stopping 67-66 win.
BYU had a bunch of solid 3-point looks to take the lead in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t until senior Kemery Martin went to the step-back that the home team got one to drop.
That gave the Cougars a 66-64 edge with under 90 seconds to go, but it wouldn’t last long. The Buffaloes answered with a clutch triple of their own from freshman forward Tabitha Betson to retake the lead.
BYU then worked the ball patiently around before getting it to Whiting in the corner for a wide-open look, but the shot was short. The Cougar sophomore went aggressively after the rebound, forcing a jump ball with the possession arrow pointing BYU’s way.
The Cougars got another great look when Calvert popped free inside, but her shot also came off the rim and this time Colorado got the rebound.
After a BYU foul, the visitors used a timeout to advance the ball. The Buffaloes got it inbounds, but BYU managed to knock it away and off a Colorado player to get the ball back with 6.2 seconds left on the clock.
The Cougars went to freshman Delany Gibb, who led the Cougars again with 19 points. She drove hard and tried to draw a foul on the shot, but the officials didn’t blow the whistle and the ball end out off the Buffaloes.
BYU had one last chance with 1.4 seconds to go but Colorado stole the inbounds pass and the visitors held on for the win.
It was a wild finish that was fitting for a game that had been back and forth throughout.
The home team started well, forcing four turnovers in the first five Buffalo possessions and the Cougars hit their first two 3-point attempts to build a quick 8-2 lead.
But as has happened so often in 2024-25, BYU couldn’t keep things rolling. The Cougars went through a dry spell to allow Colorado to quickly erase the deficit with a 9-2 run.
The two sides exchanged buckets until midway through the second frame. BYU had tied things up at 23-23 on a layup by sophomore Amari Whiting but it was the Buffaloes’ turn to make their run.
The Buffalos started the third with a pair of foul shots but then it was time for the Cougars to find the range from distance. BYU got treys from Gibb, Calvert and Congdon in quick succession to come charging back.
The Cougars went in front at 43-42 and 45-44 before fouling Colorado graduate Frida Fromann on a 3-point attempt and going down by two going into the fourth quarter after she hit her freebies.
That set the stage for the dramatic conclusion which once again didn’t go BYU’s way, resulting in the Cougars losing their fifth straight and dropping to 1-8 in Big 12 play.
In addition to Gibb’s 19 points, BYU also got 13 points apiece from Congdon and Calvert. Colorado was led by 22 points from Diew, who has averaged just 6.8 points this season.
The Cougars (10-10) will look to end their slide when they play at Arizona State on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. MT.
