BYU snapped Utah’s four‑game rivalry streak Saturday afternoon, riding a blistering surge from Brinley Cannon, who scored a career-high 21 points, to a 77–65 win inside a roaring Marriott Center.
A couple of thousand fans packed the arena on Saturday afternoon as BYU renewed its rivalry with Utah in a highly anticipated matchup.
“It feels different. It’s more competitive,” Cannon said of the rivalry.
The game opened with both teams trading baskets, but Utah quickly built a small yet steady lead. Late in the first quarter, Cannon knocked down two critical 3‑pointers, giving the Cougars their first lead of the game.
Utah’s defense and rebounding presence, however, shifted momentum back in the Utes’ favor. They outrebounded BYU 11–7 in the opening quarter, converting several second‑chance opportunities the Cougars couldn’t answer.
“We came out flat. The first half was not very great, not very connected,” BYU coach Lee Cummard said.
Utah continued to control the game in the second quarter. BYU’s defensive intensity never faded, but the Cougars couldn’t slow the Utes’ momentum or their 45% shooting from the field. Utah took a 35–25 lead into halftime. Maty Wilke led the Utes with 13 points, while Lani White added 11.
“White and Wilke are unbelievable. Anytime we made a mistake, they made us pay,” Cummard said. “They had a great game plan, and they attacked us in ways teams haven’t yet.”
Utah’s defense also delivered a major statement by holding BYU’s Delany Gibb scoreless in the first half. Gibb, who averages 17.9 points per game, has been BYU’s primary scoring threat all season. In the rivals’ previous meeting, she torched Utah for 36 points and 10 rebounds on 13‑of‑18 shooting, including 5‑for‑7 from deep.
With Gibb neutralized, freshman Olivia Hamlin stepped up to lead BYU in the first half with eight first‑half points, followed by six from Cannon and five from Marya Hudgins.
BYU opened the second half with a momentum‑building 3‑pointer from Cannon, followed by a burst of defensive energy that included a key block from Lara Rohkohl.
“Credit to our opponent, they came out firing,” Utah coach Gavin Peterson said.
“Coming out at halftime, we had more intensity defensively, which led to turnovers that fueled our offense,” Cannon said.
Utah kept Gibb scoreless until near the six‑minute mark of the third quarter, when she finally broke through with four points.
“The ball’s in her hands a lot, right? But she did have seven assists,” Peterson said. “We limited her from the scoring perspective, but she’s an impact player. You have to pick and choose, and tonight we chose wrong because it gave some other people wide‑open looks.”
“I think she’s just a special player,” Peterson added. “She doesn’t have to score in the 20s to make an impact. She’s probably one of the best five players in our league.”
Hudgins, Hamlin and Cannon each reached double figures as they continued to anchor BYU’s offense, but the Cougars still couldn’t break through Utah’s control. The Utes maintained their lead and entered the fourth quarter up by four.
BYU came out swinging to start the fourth. Cannon ignited the crowd by drilling multiple critical threes, giving the Cougars the lead and sending the Marriott Center into a roar.
“Brin stepped up and shot the ball with confidence,” Cummard said.
Utah refused to fold, with White and Wilke delivering key plays to keep the Utes close. But Utah struggled offensively, shooting just 8‑for‑30 in the second half.
“Great first half, but as we all know, it’s a four‑quarter game,” Peterson said.
Though held to limited scoring, Gibb still finished with seven assists and eight rebounds, continuing to create opportunities for her teammates.
“She really made the right play on almost every possession she was in,” Cummard said. “She trusted Brin.”
Utah struggled to defend the perimeter, allowing Cannon to stay hot as she knocked down four 3‑pointers in the second half.
“Cannon had a really, really good night from 3,” Peterson said. “Credit to her—she’s knocking them down, and we didn’t do a good job making adjustments in that third and fourth quarter.”
“I’m just grateful to be at a place that has a lot of confidence in me, even when shots aren’t going in,” Cannon said. “I’m grateful for my coaches and teammates for trusting me.”
The battle tightened in the final minutes, with key plays from Cannon and Hudgins helping BYU cling to a narrow lead. Four Cougars reached double figures as the game entered its final stretch.
Rohkohl fouled out late a moment that could have opened the paint for Utah, but freshman Braden Gunlock stepped in and immediately delivered a critical offensive putback.
“I love to compete, and that’s my way of showing that I’m competitive,” Gunlock said.
BYU’s defense held strong down the stretch, keeping Utah at arm’s length and setting up the Cougars’ final push.
The Cougars won 77–65 behind Cannon’s standout performance of 21 points on 6‑of‑9 shooting from beyond the arc, along with four rebounds. Hamlin added 16 points and four rebounds, while Hudgins contributed 14.
“When you win in the rivalry, it just tastes sweeter than most wins,” Cummard said.
The victory moved Cummard into a tie with Amber Whiting for the third‑most wins by a first‑year head coach in BYU history (16). It also positions the Cougars (16-6, 5-5) for their winningest season since going 26–4 and reaching the NCAA Tournament in 2021–22.
Saturday’s win marked BYU’s first over Utah under Cummard and its first since the Jeff Judkins era.