3 takeaways from BYU’s wild second-round win over Utah at Big 12 tournament

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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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.