The BYU men’s basketball team could have used Sydney Benally in its NCAA Tournament first-round matchup against Texas Thursday night.
Lee Cummard’s squad was happy she was in Provo and not Portland, though.
Benally tied her career high with 18 points, including four 3-pointers, and set the BYU freshman record for assists in a season in leading the Cougars to a 72-47 win over Alabama A&M at the Marriott Center in the first round of the Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament.
“I think we came in as a team, just we wanted to prove that we deserve to continue playing in this postseason,” Benally said in a postgame interview on BYU Radio.
“We just have that mentality to just keep playing hard and keep playing for each other.”
With the win, the Cougars (23-11) will host a second-round WBIT game against Missouri next Monday (7 p.m. MDT, ESPN+). The Tigers beat Seton Hall Thursday to advance.
BYU, which was the first team on the outside of the NCAA Tournament bubble, didn’t let the disappointment of missing the NCAAs impact how it started its WBIT opener.
Even though the Cougars hadn’t played for two weeks since a Big 12 tournament quarterfinal loss to TCU, they got out to a 12-4 lead against Alabama A&M and were up 20-13 after one period.
Cummard, BYU’s first-year coach, said he was worried about the psychological aspect of it, having just missed the NCAAs, but his team “was focused” from the jump.
“We just wanted to really come out strong, and I think that now that we’re in this thing, the juices are flowing and we’re ready to go,” Cummard said on BYU Radio.
“They showed that tonight and just the overall effort, (we) did some really good things to start and just kind of kept it going the whole game.”
That start set the tone, as the Cougars outscored the Bulldogs in every quarter, including a combined 36-20 in the second and third quarters as they pulled away.
While it wasn’t a perfect night — for instance, BYU turned the ball over 17 times — the Cougars had the advantage in a majority of categories.
BYU outrebounded the Bulldogs 49-32, shot 46.9% from the field while holding Alabama A&M to 29.6% and doubled up the visitors 8-4 on 3-pointers made.
The Cougars also dominated in fast break points, 16-2.
Benally’s efforts led the way on a night BYU had four players in double-figures. She added five assists, three rebounds and two steals.
“She got us started right from the get-go. She’s always a really decisive passer and makes great passes and did that again tonight,” Cummard said of Benally.
“But the confidence and the assertiveness that she was shooting the 3 ball with tonight really got us going, got her going and just got us off to a great start and (we) rode her for a little bit and then everybody got on board.”
When Benally assisted a Brinley Cannon 3 just 3:24 into the game, she set the freshman assists record, passing Shaylee Gonzales’ former record of 134.
“It’s thanks to my teammates. They get open and they knock down the shot and (it) shows that I’m an unselfish basketball player,” Benally said.
“... I just want anything for the win. I look to see my teammates first.”
With her five assists Thursday, Benally stands at 139 on the year and is primed to add to that total as long as BYU’s postseason run lasts.
The guard also set another freshman record with her 34th start of the season.
“Availability (is) such a huge thing and she’s just been great,” Cummard said, while adding Benally has been playing through injury for most of the season.
“She’s great for the group and I’m glad that she’s done that and she played fantastic tonight.”
In addition to Benally’s record-setting night, senior forward Lara Rohkohl added 13 points, five rebounds, two blocks, an assist and a steal.
Also, guards Delaney Gibb (11 points, eight rebounds, three assists, one block, one steal) and Olivia Hamlin (10 points, eight rebounds, three assists, two steals) made contributions across the board.
Having an extra home game lent itself to a special moment for senior Hattie Ogden as well. After she didn’t score on Senior Night in BYU’s home finale at the end of February, Ogden hit two fourth-quarter 3-pointers, which was met with adulation from the crowd.
Alabama A&M (22-11) was led by Kalia Walker, an HBCU first team All-American. She had 20 points, two rebounds and a steal in the loss.
Now, the focus for BYU turns to Missouri and a rare opportunity to host an SEC team.
“I think just again, (we’re) blessed to continue playing on our home floor, just having the home advantage and having our community come support us,” Benally said.
“Again, we’re just excited to keep on moving in this tournament.”