Gibb helps lead BYU to season-opening win as the Cougars fend off late comeback from Idaho

In its season-opener, the BYU women's basketball team survived a close contest with Idaho despite a second-half surge from the Vandals.

The Cougars move to 1-0 on the season after winning 67-62 at the Marriott Center on Wednesday.

"There were some positives tonight, not a lot, but the most important thing was that the team stayed together,” said coach Amber Whiting. “They didn’t turn on each other, they stayed the course. In the final two minutes when they really locked in I felt like they were really connected and ready to go.”

BYU jumped out to an early lead that nearly disappeared as the Cougars led by as many as 16. But the game was tied with just two minutes left in the fourth quarter. BYU gained the lead back and won with a couple of late baskets and stops — despite going scoreless for five-and-a-half minutes in the fourth quarter.

Delaney Gibb, who finished with a team-high 17 points, ended the run with a fast break layup. Throughout the last two minutes, the Cougars fought hard on both sides of the ball to gain the lead back and made some big plays, none bigger than Kemery Congdon’s 3-pointer to give them the five-point lead with 31 seconds to play.

“She’s (Congdon) always my calm within the storm, she stays even keel and that’s a huge thing for us,” said Whiting.

The Cougars were led in scoring by Gibb, who was 8 of 10 from the line in her first official game as a Cougar. Gibb was also tied with Amari Whiting for the team lead in assists with five. Marya Hudgins led the team with nine rebounds just one shy of double digits.

Hudgins got the first Cougar basket of the fourth quarter in response to a layup from the Vandals. Idaho then scored eight straight to cut the BYU lead to just two. Gibb got a big-time block to stop the tying basket then Brinley Cannon got a steal after a Vandal rebound. BYU was not able to convert on the next possession and the Vandals tied the game. Gibb then hit a fastbreak layup to give the Cougars their first points in over five minutes.

As the teams were tied at 59, BYU got a basket off an assist by Hudgins into a layup from Heather Hamson to get the lead back. After a big Cougar stop as the shot clock was winding down, Whiting found Congdon outside for a huge three to give BYU the five-point lead with 31 seconds left.

The Vandals responded with a three of their own bringing the lead to just two and 20 seconds on the clock. Whiting was fouled and made one of two free throws. Gibb then got a huge steal for the Cougars and was fouled immediately to stop the clock. Gibb made both giving the Cougars a five-point lead with 12 seconds to go. This was too much for Idaho as BYU was able to finish the game with a five-point lead as Gibb ended the game with a block.

This was the first game of Gibb’s BYU career having just played in an exhibition against Westminster.

“Definitely some jitters but I think our team has worked hard,” said Gibb. “I know my coaches and teammates had my back so I was just out there doing what I know how to do.”

Gibb was instrumental in the Cougars’ win as she got a bucket, steal and block in the last two minutes of the game to help seal it.

BYU now looks forward to its second game of the season on Saturday against Wyoming. The Cougars will look to stay undefeated in their early-season play.