Every team wants to make NCAA Tournament, but BYU women have goals WBIT can accomplish, too

PROVO — There was plenty of disappointment, frustration and even a bit of anger when the BYU women's basketball team was selected to the NCAA tournament Sunday night.

The Cougars (22-11, 9-9 Big 12) were a rare .500-or-better team in the Big 12 left out of the Big Dance in Lee Cummard's first season as head coach, and a week of campaigning, rallying and attempting to sway the selection committee after the Big 12 women's basketball tournament did little to convince the ultimate decision makers.

BYU was close. So close, in fact, that when the selection committee revealed the first four teams left out of the field of 68, the familiar oval stretch-Y was the first logo on the table.

So close, but so far away. Arizona State — which lost twice to the Cougars but finished with a higher NET ranking — was among the last teams in the field, and will play Virginia for a No. 10 seed in the First Four this coming Thursday.

The Sun Devils were fighting with the Cougars to be the eighth team from the Big 12, tying a league record for the most since 2008 after the Big 12 tournament.

"I'm glad the Big 12 got eight teams in. I was hoping for nine, truthfully," Cummard said. "But if it wasn't going to be us, I'm glad that it's Arizona State. They've done a great job, and I think it's good to reward those players. They've had a good year, and earned the right to play in that tournament.

"I thought that we did as well," he added. "But credit to them; they did more to the committee than we did. It goes back to, if you're going to leave it to chance then there's a chance you could walk away disappointed."

BYU won't be disappointed with its season. The Cougars turned around a 13-win team from last year to win 22 games in Cummard's first season at the end of the bench with a roster featuring eight of their top-nine scorers juniors or younger. That incudes five freshmen or sophomores, a list lead by leading scorer Delaney Gibb and fellow double-digit freshman scorer Olivia Hamlin (12.3 points per game).

The Cougars are also the No. 1 overall seed in the WBIT, guaranteed a home game with wins through the tournament semifinals March 30 at Charles Koch Arena at Wichita State.

If the Cougars advance past Thursday's game against Alabama A&M (7 p.m. MDT, ESPN+), they'll host the second-round tilt Monday due to the school's policy of not playing games on Sunday.

"Last year, we didn't have this opportunity, anyone that was here," said Gibb, who built on last year's Big 12 freshman of the year campaign to average 17.8 points per game en route to All-Big 12 honors. "It's really exciting, and to be able to play at home as well. We've had a lot of fans reach out with how excited they are to be able to watch us at home again."

For the Cougars' three seniors of Lara Rohkohl, Hattie Ogden and Heather Hamson, it's also one last chance to play at home — as many as three more times. Rohkohl wasn't sure she'd get that chance after the 75-62 win over Colorado in the regular-season finale Feb. 28.

But she's happy to take it.

"I love playing in the Marriott Center," said Rohkohl, who leads the team with 6.5 rebounds per game. "The fans are amazing, and that's who I play for. I play for little kids I can inspire to play basketball and to play in the same gym. Getting to do that again excites me, but especially with this team.

"I love our team," she added, "and how we play together … and it's good for the younger players to learn and grow from each game. Next year, they'll be sophomores and juniors and I think getting more experience will only help them."

They'll have their hands full with first-round opponent Alabama A&M (22-10). The SWAC regular-season champions cruised through league play at 17-1 before a 2-point loss to Southern in the conference tournament semifinals.

The Bulldogs are led by senior guard Kalia Walker, a graduate transfer from Arkansas-Pine Bluff who averaged 14.3 points on 40.9% shooting including 33.1% from 3-point range. The 5-foot-5 guard erupted for 19.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steals per game in two games at the SWAC Tournament, earning All-Tournament team honors.

"They are a very good team that is used to winning," Cummard said of the Bulldogs. "It doesn't matter if they're here or in their gym; they compete at a high level. They do some things that are effective against teams that have bothered us a little bit.

"It's a team that is hungry to continue to play."

Related topics