In a high‑energy atmosphere inside the Marriott Center, BYU jumped ahead early and never looked back, defeating Alabama A&M 72–47 in the first round of the Women’s Basketball Invitational on Thursday night.
The victory marked BYU’s first postseason win since 2021 — and the first for every player currently in the program wearing a BYU uniform.
For a team that spent the week processing the sting of narrowly missing the NCAA Tournament, Thursday’s win carried a weight far beyond the scoreboard.
“There’s disappointment in life, but it’s more about what you do with it,” BYU coach Lee Cummard said. “When we are at our best, what does that look like? That needs to come through this tournament.”
It did — and it started with freshman guard Sydney Benally, who continued her strong debut season by tying her career-high with 18 points, hitting four threes and breaking BYU’s freshman assist record with 135 assists, surpassing the mark previously held by Shaylee Gonzales. She also set the program record for most games started by a freshman.
“It feels great, but it’s a stat I wouldn’t be able to achieve without my teammates,” Benally said.
“This speaks to who she is and how she takes care of her body,” Cummard added.
The Cougars entered the WBIT as a No. 1 seed but also as a group searching for validation after being among the first teams left out of the NCAA tournament. Players and coaches admitted the disappointment lingered — but were choosing to let it fuel them.
“We are super excited,” sophomore guard Delaney Gibb said earlier in the week. “Last year we didn’t have this opportunity. We should have handled things earlier on so there wasn’t a decision.”
For senior forward Lara Rohkohl, the postseason stage means even more.
“It’s my last chance to play in college,” she said. “I love playing in the Marriott Center. That’s who I play for — the little kids who want to play basketball.”
Rohkohl delivered a veteran performance with 13 points and five rebounds in the first half, helping BYU control the paint and set the tone early.
From the opening minutes, BYU played with a pace and confidence that reflected a team eager to prove something. After Alabama A&M opened the scoring and briefly controlled the boards, BYU responded with a burst: Gibb at the line, Brinley Cannon sparking a run with a three, and Rohkohl establishing herself inside.
Alabama A&M head coach Dawn Thornton praised the Cougars’ intensity.
“BYU is a phenomenal team,” she said. “We didn’t come up here to get a participation trophy. We came out here to compete.”
Benally answered a Bulldogs 3 with one of her own, and the physical tone escalated — including a technical foul on Alabama A&M — as BYU closed the first quarter up 20–13.
The Cougars extended the lead in the second quarter behind Benally’s scoring surge and transition baskets from Ari Mackey‑Williams and Rohkohl. BYU’s tempo, spacing and defensive pressure kept Alabama A&M off balance as the Cougars built a 39–23 halftime lead.
“Playing fast and playing our game,” Rohkohl said of the team’s approach.
Alabama A&M made several pushes in the second half, including a stretch of hot shooting from beyond the arc, but BYU’s depth repeatedly answered. Gibb hit a three, Hamlin scored in transition, and Benally drilled another deep shot to steady the Cougars.
“You have to approach every game the same way. You can never underestimate an opponent,” Rohkohl said.
Cummard praised the full rotation.
“Everybody who came in had a good game,” he said.
The fourth quarter brought BYU’s only offensive lull, but the defense held firm even as Gibb picked up her fourth foul. Braeden Gunlock broke the drought with a layup, and senior Hattie Ogden delivered two timely threes to seal the momentum.
BYU shot 47% from the field and 50% from three — numbers that reflected the offensive identity the Cougars believe can carry them deeper into the tournament.
“Glad that we are still playing,” Cummard said. “We have a group that wants to keep playing, which sometimes isn’t the case at this point in the year.”
For a roster that has never experienced a postseason win in BYU blue, Thursday’s victory felt like a reset — a moment that signaled both growth and possibility.
“It’s been a while since we won a postseason game,” Cummard said earlier in the week. “It’s a growing opportunity for us and our staff. Credit to the players for what they have accomplished so far.”
As the Cougars walked off the floor to cheers from the Marriott Center crowd, the significance wasn’t lost on anyone.
“I hope Cougar Nation shows out on Monday night,” Cummard said.
BYU will host Missouri in the second round of the WBIT on Monday at 7 p.m. at the Marriott Center. The game will stream on ESPN+.