SALT LAKE CITY — Delaney Gibb’s hot hand powered BYU past Utah on Saturday, as the sophomore guard poured in a career‑high 37 points in an intense rivalry win at the Huntsman Center.
“My high school colors were red, and I just love the color red. We were joking that when I see the stands and it’s all red, I love it. But it’s just a high‑energy game, and I think I fed off that,” Gibb said.
In the second rivalry matchup of the season, the Cougars and Utes opened with a high‑energy, physical first quarter, trading baskets before BYU took a one‑point lead at the break. Lara Rohkohl anchored the Cougars’ early offense, repeatedly finding success in the pick‑and‑roll.
The back‑and‑forth continued until midway through the second quarter, when Sydney Benally buried a momentum‑shifting 3‑pointer that sparked a stretch in which BYU drew multiple offensive fouls. That sequence, paired with strong energy off the bench, helped the Cougars build a small cushion.
Starting guard Marya Hudgins never saw the floor due to injury, opening the door for deeper rotation minutes and prompting the decision to start Kambree Barber. In a surprise to some, BYU did not start freshman guard Olivia Hamlin, the team’s second‑leading scorer at 12.5 points per game.
Coach Lee Cummard had addressed that decision earlier in the season. After Hamlin’s career‑high performance against Iowa State on Feb. 10, he said, “You could argue she should start. But I just love her being able to come in and change the whole dynamic of a game with her scoring.”
That depth continued to define BYU’s afternoon. Seven players scored in the first half, nine saw the floor, and several delivered meaningful minutes.
Even with BYU’s balanced rotation, no one overshadowed Gibb. The sophomore guard caught fire in the third quarter, powering a run that pushed the Cougars into double digits.
“Ultimately I just wanted to win,” Gibb said.
Her shot‑making steadied BYU through foul trouble and kept the offense afloat whenever Utah threatened to close the gap.
“When she gets the ball going, the basket gets enormous,” Cummard said.
Foul issues mounted quickly. Rohkohl picked up her fourth, two players reached three fouls by the end of the third quarter, and two more had two. The trouble continued in the fourth, when Bolanle Yussuf fouled out, followed shortly by starter Brinley Cannon. By midway through the final period, Utah had scored 20 points off BYU fouls.
Even with the whistles piling up, the Cougars’ offense kept humming. Four players reached double figures, and three more added points, underscoring the depth that has carried BYU all season.
No one shined brighter than Gibb. She finished with 37 points — a new career high — marking the second straight year she has set a personal best inside the Huntsman Center. She scored 27 of those points in the second half, repeatedly answering Utah runs and controlling the game’s tempo.
“I don’t know what it is when she sees red, but she was pretty good the last two times we’ve played up here,” Cummard said.
“Delaney Gibb is one of the best players in this league,” Utah head coach Gavin Petersen said.
BYU closed out the rivalry win 86–74. Benally added 13 points, while Rohkohl and Hamlin each finished with 11.
“Fortunate to be on the winning side today,” Cummard said.