BYU takes on UCF in Big 12 Championship First Round

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — BYU is set for a matchup with the UCF Knights in the opening round of the 2025 Phillips 66 Big 12 Women's Basketball Championship at the T-Mobile Center. Tip-off is set for 11 a.m. CT with the game streamed on ESPN+ and broadcast live with Jason Shepherd on BYU Radio, byuradio.org and the BYU Radio App. 

Matchup Breakdown
The Cougars and Knights have met just twice in series history with both matchups coming as Big 12 opponents. The first meeting came in Orlando on Feb. 13, 2024, as BYU took home a 64-60 win over UCF. Amari Whiting scored 11 points to go along with five rebounds and an assist in the road win. 

The most recent meeting came on Feb. 5, 2025, at the Marriott Center as BYU took down the Knights 73-66. Delaney Gibb led BYU with 19 points, five assists, four rebounds and a block. Brinley Cannon scored a career-high 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting in the win.

All-Time: 2-0

Neutral Site: Never Played

Whiting vs. UCF: 2-0

BYU Cougars  ||  13-16, 4-14  ||  Big 12 Conference

WHAT'S AT STAKE  ||  With a win, BYU would advance to the second round of the Big 12 Championship for the first time since joining the conference. The Cougars fell to Kansas 77-53 in last year’s first-round game. BYU would also maintain an undefeated record against the Knights.

WAS THERE ANY DOUBT?  ||  Delaney Gibb earned 10 Big 12 Freshman of the Week awards en route to becoming the 6th BYU freshman to earn Freshman or Newcomer of the Year honors in their respective conferences and the first since Shaylee Gonzales in 2019. Gibb has led BYU in scoring in 19 games this season while scoring 14 or more points in 24-of-29 games this year including 10 games of 20 or more and a 36-point outing against Utah last week.

Gibb averages 17.5 points per game on 46 percent shooting and 40.1 percent from deep. The Canada native averages 5.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.6 steals and 2.6 3-pointers per game. The freshman tallied 19 points, five assists and four rebounds against UCF on Feb. 5. 

VALUING THE ROCK  ||  Ball security is crucial for BYU. In Big 12 play, the Cougars have committed 18.4 turnovers and surrendered 18.7 points off giveaways per game. In wins this season, BYU only coughs it up 14.8 times and gives up 12.8 points off turnovers. In losses, BYU averages 18.8 giveaways and 18.5 points off of turnovers given up to opponents.

In the first matchup with UCF, the Cougars turned it over 19 times, bu only surrendered 12 points off turnovers. 

SLOW OUT OF THE BLOCKS  ||  BYU has been prone to slow starts this season in conference play. The Cougars have trailed after the opening frame in each of their last nine contests in which they have posted a 3-6 record. This season when trailing after the first, the Cougars are 5-10 overall.

COUGAR ASSIST CLUB  ||  BYU has assisted on 445-of-735 (.605) field goals this year and has had three or more players finish in double-figures in 17 games. In Big 12 wins, the Cougars have assisted on 70.8 percent of made field goals in contrast to 58.5 percent in losses.

BYU assisted on 17-of-26 made field goals in the win over the Knights for a 65.4 percent assist rate. 

FINISHING POSSESSIONS  ||  Crashing the defensive glass has been a point of emphasis for Whiting’s squad. BYU has given up 11 offensive boards and 11.5 second-chance points in Big 12 games. In their four conference wins over Houston, ASU, UCF and Oklahoma State, BYU only surrendered 10.0 O-boards and 9.3 second-chance points.

The Cougs surrendered 12 offensive boards that led to 12 second-chance points in the win over UCF in Provo.

Head Coach – Amber Whiting

• Alma Mater: BYU, 2001
• Division I Career Record: 45-50  ||  3rd Season
• Record at BYU: 45-50  ||  3rd Season