3 takeaways from BYU’s wild second-round win over Utah at Big 12 tournament – Deseret News
Talk about a turnaround.
BYU outscored Utah 43-16 in the second half, and the Cougars beat their rivals 70-52 in a second-round matchup during the Big 12 women’s basketball tournament at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City on Thursday afternoon.
In what was essentially an elimination game for NCAA Tournament contention, BYU weathered a big second-quarter run from Utah, only to respond with one of its own in the third.
Here are three takeaways as No. 9 seed BYU turned the tables on No. 8 seed Utah and earned its third victory over the Utes this season.
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BYU guard Olivia Hamlin (7) celebrates with teammates as the Cougars play Utah in a second-round game at the Big 12 women’s basketball tournament at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City on Thursday, March 5, 2026. | Ryan Weaver/Big 12 Conference
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BYU guard Delaney Gibb, right, shoots over the defense of Utah guard Lani White in a second-round game at the Big 12 women’s basketball tournament at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City on Thursday, March 5, 2026. | Ryan Weaver/Big 12 Conference
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BYU guard Delaney Gibb prepares to high-five someone as the Cougars play Utah in a second-round game at the Big 12 women’s basketball tournament at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City on Thursday, March 5, 2026. | Ryan Weaver/Big 12 Conference
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Utah guard Maty Wilke, center, shoots amid a trio of BYU defenders in a second-round game at the Big 12 women’s basketball tournament at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City on Thursday, March 5, 2026. | Ryan Weaver/Big 12 Conference
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BYU guard Delaney Gibb, left, dribbles the ball as Utah guard Lani White defends in a second-round game at the Big 12 women’s basketball tournament at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City on Thursday, March 5, 2026. | Ryan Weaver/Big 12 Conference
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BYU guard Delaney Gibb, left, dives for the ball as Utah guard Maty Wilke looks on in a second-round game at the Big 12 women’s basketball tournament at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City on Thursday, March 5, 2026. | Ryan Weaver/Big 12 Conference
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BYU’s Delaney Gibb, right, guards Utah’s Maty Wilke during a second-round game at the Big 12 women’s basketball tournament at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City on Thursday, March 5, 2026. | Denny Medley/Big 12 Conference
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Utah guard Maty Wilke puts up a shot over the BYU defense during a second-round game at the Big 12 women’s basketball tournament at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City on Thursday, March 5, 2026. | Denny Medley/Big 12 Conference
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Utah guard Lani White (0) shoots over BYU’s Delaney Gibb during a second-round game at the Big 12 women’s basketball tournament at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City on Thursday, March 5, 2026. | Denny Medley/Big 12 Conference
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BYU guard Delaney Gibb, right, shoots over Utah forward Samantha Crispe during a second-round game at the Big 12 women’s basketball tournament at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City on Thursday, March 5, 2026. | Denny Medley/Big 12 Conference
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Utah guard Lani White points upcourt during the Utes’ game against BYU in the second round of the Big 12 women’s basketball tournament at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City on Thursday, March 5, 2026. | Denny Medley/Big 12 Conference
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Utah guard Lani White shoots over BYU’s Sydney Benally during a second-round game at the Big 12 women’s basketball tournament at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City on Thursday, March 5, 2026. | Denny Medley\Big 12 Conference
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Utah guard Maty Wilke, left, tries to drive on BYU’s Sydney Benally during a second-round game at the Big 12 women’s basketball tournament at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City on Thursday, March 5, 2026. | Denny Medley/Big 12 Conference
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Utah guard Lani White, right, holds the ball as BYU’s Sydney Benally defends during a second-round game at the Big 12 women’s basketball tournament at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City on Thursday, March 5, 2026. | Denny Medley/Big 12 Conference
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Utah guard Lani White, center, and BYU’s Olivia Hamlin react to a play during a second-round game at the Big 12 women’s basketball tournament at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City on Thursday, March 5, 2026. | Denny Medley\Big 12 Conference
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BYU guard Olivia Hamlin, left, shoots the ball as Utah forward Chyra Evans defends during a second-round game at the Big 12 women’s basketball tournament at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City on Thursday, March 5, 2026. | Denny Medley/Big 12 Conference
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BYU guard Delaney Gibb, left, shoots over Utah forward Reese Ross during a second-round game at the Big 12 women’s basketball tournament at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City on Thursday, March 5, 2026. | Denny Medley/Big 12 Conference
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Utah forward Reese Ross (20) grabs a rebound in front of BYU’s Bolanle Yussuf during a second-round game at the Big 12 women’s basketball tournament at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City on Thursday, March 5, 2026. | Denny Medley/Big 12 Conference
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BYU guard Olivia Hamlin, right, drives with the ball as Utah’s LA Sneed defends during a second-round game at the Big 12 women’s basketball tournament at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City on Thursday, March 5, 2026. | Denny Medley/Big 12 Conference
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BYU guard Olivia Hamlin, right, drives with the ball as Utah’s LA Sneed defends during a second-round game at the Big 12 women’s basketball tournament at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City on Thursday, March 5, 2026. | Denny Medley/Big 12 Conference
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BYU forward Brinley Cannon, center, dives on the floor for a loose ball against Utah during a second-round game at the Big 12 women’s basketball tournament at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City on Thursday, March 5, 2026. | Denny Medley/Big 12 Conference
Delaney Gibb takes control in the second half
The Cougars found themselves down 11 early in the third quarter, after Utah ended the first half on a 17-2 run and quickly pushed its lead to double-digits in the second half’s opening seconds.
The Utes even held a seven-point lead when Brooke Walker scored to make it 43-36 with 3:25 left in the period.
Over those final three minutes of the quarter, though, Delaney Gibb and the Cougars fought back.
BYU frustrated Utah offensively with a full-court press, forcing six turnovers over three minutes, and the Cougars went on a 15-0 run to end the quarter, giving them a 51-43 lead going into the fourth.
Gibb overcame some shooting and turnover issues over the first two and a half quarters, as she had 12 points, five assists and four steals in the second half to lead the Cougars.
Gibb, a first-team All-Big 12 honoree, contributed across the board, finishing with 19 points, eight assists, five rebounds and four steals to counter six turnovers. She also hit four of BYU’s 11 3-pointers.
Laura Rohkohl (12 points) and Brinley Cannon (12) also scored in double figures for the Cougars, who shot 52% in the second half after going a frigid 28.1% in the first.
Wild runs in the second and third quarters define the game
This game was defined by runs.
After BYU took the early lead by hitting six 3-pointers in the first quarter, Utah fought back by ending the second quarter on a 17-2 run and outscoring the Cougars 19-5 in the second.
Lani White had 11 of her game-high 20 points in the period.
The 15-0 run by BYU in the third quarter, though, turned the tide again, and the Cougars finished the game with a 17-5 run after Utah clawed within six early in the fourth.
Utah’s 19 turnovers played a critical role, as BYU scored 18 points off those takeaways.
What it means for the NCAA Tournament chase
ESPN’s Charlie Creme had Utah (19-12, 10-8) as the first team out of the NCAA field in his latest bracketology, updated Thursday before the game.
BYU (22-10, 9-9), meanwhile, was listed first among the next four out designation.
Thursday’s result, though, gives the Cougars another important win, their fifth in a row.
That might not be enough to get BYU into the NCAA Tournament yet — the Cougars don’t have a Quad 1 win this year (0-4) — but the opportunity to face TCU Friday provides another chance to make the right impression.
For the Utes, though, this likely ends their hope at a fifth straight NCAA Tournament appearance. Utah is 2-2 in Quad 1 games, but has been slumping over the past five weeks, since that first BYU matchup in Provo.
The NCAA Tournament field will be unveiled March 15.
