Surging BYU women’s basketball opens Big 12 Tournament against Houston
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- BYU’s Kambree Barber (right) defends Oklahoma State’s Stailee Heard in a Big 12 women’s basketball game in Stillwater, Okla., on Wednesday, January 28, 2026.
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- BYU’s Bola Yussuf (left) drives to the basket against Houston in the Big 12 women’s basketball game in Houston, Texas, on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026.
With his team clearly on the NCAA Tournament bubble, BYU women’s basketball coach Lee Cummard has something to say to the selection committee.
“The pitch I would give the committee is that of the teams that we’ve played that are ahead of us on the bubble, at least according to Charlie Cream, we have a 7-1 record against those teams,” Cummard said. “At least according to him, Kansas is behind us as is Kansas State, so our loss is to Colorado in that group. I think that’s important. I think that’s one of their metrics. But everything else, they’ll have to decide.”
BYU is 20-10 overall, the school’s first 20-win season since 2022. The Cougars NET ranking is currently No. 57, ninth among Big 12 teams. It would appear BYU would need to win multiple games in the Big 12 Tournament in order to catch the attention of the committee.
It’s a tall task, because the Cougars are 0-2 in the tournament since joining the Big 12, losing to Kansas 77-53 in 2024 and UCF 81-69 in 2025.
BYU does come into Kansas City’s T-Mobile Center on a three-game winning streak, having beaten Utah (86-74), Arizona State (66-61) and Colorado (75-62). Those three teams are No. 54, No. 52 and No. 46, respectively, in the NET rankings.
“Against Utah, we had a special day from a special player,” Cummard said, referring to the career-high 37-point performance by sophomore Delaney Gibb. “I thought we were pretty good defensively but in the other two games, our defense has kind of fueled our offense and has led to some good opportunities, offensively speaking. It wasn’t the whole game on Saturday, our third quarter was brutal. We gave up 91% from the field, but it was the complete opposite in the fourth quarter and our defense kind of won that game for us. So defensively is what’s getting it done.”
Gibb missed eight games due to injury but has stepped up down the stretch, averaging 26.8 points in the Cougars’ past four games. She’s been consistently getting to the foul line where she’s made 37 of 44 (85%) during that span.
“I think she’s taking and getting some of the same shots,” Cummard said. “I think her rhythm is improving. Her game shape from the injury, just the timing of everything, kind of the rhythm of how we play now that everybody’s back. Cambree (Barber) is back, Delaney is back, and we’re missing Mariah (Hudgins) still, but everybody that’s playing is kind of used to each other and there’s some chemistry building with those groups. Delaney’s been tremendous. And if I could add one pitch about the bubble teams to the committee, I think the way that she’s playing right now, there’s a great storyline there, and a young team that’s going to be, in years to come, in that dance.”
Scouting Report
As the No. 9 seed, BYU will open the Big 12 Tournament against the team with worst record in the league, No. 16 Houston.
The red Cougars (7-22 overall, 1-17 Big 12) have lost eight consecutive games after picking up their only league win against Cincinnati on Feb. 2 (72-70). Houston is last in the Big 12 in offense (61.0 points per game), defense (73.1), field goal percentage (.370) and field goal percentage defense (.446). No one on the Houston roster averages double digits, with Texas A&M transfer Kyndall Hunter at 9.5 and SMU transfer TK Pitts at 9.3.
Gibb leads BYU at 17.9 points per game and freshman Oliva Hamlin produces 12.6 points off the bench.
In the only meeting this season, BYU traveled to Fertitta Center and scored a 28-point first quarter en route to a 79-62 victory against the red Cougars, Gibb leading five players in double figures with 19 points.
A win on Wednesday would send BYU into the next round against rival Utah, who the Cougars have beaten twice already this season. Beyond that, top seed TCU looms.
“The group is in a good place right now,” Cummard said. “I think they actually fully are believing in some of the things that the coaching staff is preaching. They’re saying things about what they’ve actually seen that impacts winning and how it translates on the court. I think they’re in a great space. There’s a lot more talking, a lot more high fives and congratulatory stuff and positive talk on the court. So we’re a good frame of mind. I like where we’re at, and we’re really excited to have the chance to win a game, which we haven’t done yet, in the league tournament.”
Big 12 Women’s Basketball Tournament
First Round
No. 9 BYU (20-10) vs. No. 16 Houston (7-22)
Wednesday, 12:30 p.m. MT
T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo.
TV/Streaming: ESPN+
Radio: BYU Radio
Live stats: bucougars.com
The Word: The overall series between BYU and Houston is tied at 3-3. … The blue Cougars won the only meeting this season 79-62 at Fertitta Center on Jan. 10. … BYU is 0-2 in the Big Conference since joining the league in the 2022-23 season. … The winner of Wednesday’s game will move on to play No. 8 seed Utah on Thursday.
