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On a January night in Provo that could shape the trajectory of an entire season, the Brigham Young University women’s basketball team delivered one of the biggest upsets of the 2025–26 campaign. In front of 1,788 fans at the Marriott Center on January 21, 2026, BYU controlled nearly every phase of the game in a 73–61 win over No. 19 Texas Tech, handing the Lady Raiders just their second loss after a 19–0 start that had been the best opening to a season in program history.
The victory was more than just a single Big 12 result. It was BYU’s first win over a ranked opponent since February 2025, and the first ranked win under new head coach Lee Cummard. For a Brigham Young University program working to establish itself in a deep Big 12, the performance felt like a statement that the Cougars are ready to contend.
Coming into the matchup, BYU sat at 15–4 overall and 4–3 in Big 12 play, already exceeding many expectations in Cummard’s first year in charge. Historically, ranked opponents had been a stumbling block: the Cougars carried a 23–55 all-time record in such games and had managed just one ranked win since early 2025.
Texas Tech, meanwhile, traveled to Provo with a sparkling 19–2 record, fueled by a 19–0 start that vaulted the Lady Raiders into the national top 20. Their hot start and resurgence under head coach Krista Gerlich had drawn national attention, including detailed coverage of how Texas Tech was authoring the best opening run in program history.[1]
To beat that kind of opponent, and to do it convincingly, is the sort of result that stands out to NCAA Tournament committees and recruits alike. The win moved BYU to 15–4 and solidified its place in the middle of a brutal Big 12 pack, where every high-quality win adds weight to a postseason résumé. According to national coverage of the game recap, the Cougars did not just sneak by; they dictated tempo and led essentially wire-to-wire.[2]
Texas Tech opened the scoring with a three-pointer, briefly looking like the confident top-20 team it has been all season. But that early basket would be one of the Lady Raiders’ few comfortable moments. BYU immediately responded with a 7–0 run sparked by senior forward Lara Rohkohl and freshman guard Olivia Hamlin, signaling that the Cougars were ready to attack.
Cummard’s game plan leaned heavily on pressure defense, and it paid off from the opening minutes. BYU’s guards extended their defense, jumped passing lanes, and turned live-ball turnovers into instant offense. Texas Tech committed six turnovers in the first quarter alone, and BYU converted those mistakes into 12 points.
Hamlin, a freshman guard from southern Utah, closed the period with back-to-back steals and breakaway layups that ignited the Marriott Center crowd. By the end of the first quarter, Brigham Young University led 25–16 and had firmly seized the game’s momentum.
Texas Tech’s pedigree showed in the second quarter. The Lady Raiders tightened their defense, applied more ball pressure of their own, and slowly trimmed the margin. A quick 7–0 spurt pulled Texas Tech closer and hinted at the possibility of the ranked favorite reasserting control.
Each time the visitors made a push, though, a BYU shooter stepped up. Freshman guard Sydney Benally entered off the bench and changed the feel of the game, burying three three-pointers in the period. Her shot-making repeatedly forced Texas Tech to call timeouts as the Cougar lead drifted back into double figures.
Even when the Lady Raiders managed another 7–0 run late in the half to draw within four, BYU answered. Rohkohl scored a late basket before the buzzer to send the Cougars into the locker room ahead 40–34, preserving a two-possession cushion and, just as importantly, a sense of control.
Out of halftime, the stage was set for either a full Texas Tech comeback or a BYU affirmation that this upset was for real. The first two BYU possessions resulted in turnovers, but the Cougars’ defense tightened again, holding Texas Tech to just two free throws during that brief stretch.
Sophomore guard Delaney Gibb responded with one of the game’s most important shots, stepping into a timely three that halted the Lady Raiders’ momentum. Fellow guard Marya Hudgins added a spinning layup in the lane to keep the margin at seven as both teams traded baskets.
Later in the quarter, Hamlin drilled a corner three, then connected with Rohkohl on a pick-and-roll for a score at the rim. Hudgins capped the period with an and-one finish that pushed BYU’s lead to 56–48 after three quarters.
By that point, the Cougars had already led for the vast majority of the contest. Ultimately, they would hold the advantage on the scoreboard for 38 minutes and 58 seconds, never allowing Texas Tech to draw even after the opening minute.
The decisive sequence came early in the fourth quarter. Sensing an opportunity to put the game away, BYU opened the final period with a 9–0 run that effectively broke Texas Tech’s resistance.
Hamlin set the tone again with a driving layup through traffic. Gibb followed by threading a pick-and-roll pass to Rohkohl, who finished in traffic. Reserve guard Brinley Cannon attacked the rim aggressively and converted a three-point play, while Benally added another assertive drive to the basket as the lead swelled.
By the time the run ended, Texas Tech had been held scoreless for nearly five minutes and trailed 65–50 with just under five minutes remaining. The Lady Raiders never seriously threatened after that. BYU briefly led by as many as 18 before closing out the 73–61 victory.
The box score backed up what the eye test showed: this was a thoroughly convincing performance by BYU against a top-20 opponent.
These numbers mirrored trends highlighted throughout the season: when BYU plays fast, forces turnovers, and finds rhythm from three, the Cougars can overwhelm even elite opponents. The defensive effort against one of the more dynamic backcourts in the country underscored how much BYU’s identity has shifted under Cummard.
Hamlin was at the center of almost everything BYU did well. Coming off the bench, the freshman guard from southern Utah delivered the best game of her young college career: 20 points on 9-of-15 shooting, plus four rebounds and two steals.
Her blend of speed, fearlessness, and defensive instincts fueled BYU’s pressure. From those first-quarter steals and layups to her fourth-quarter drives, Hamlin consistently put Texas Tech on its heels. For recruits and high school guards watching, her performance was a reminder that freshmen can earn real roles and responsibility in Provo if they defend, run, and play with confidence.
Gibb, another underclassman, complemented Hamlin with 18 points and a team-high six assists. She knocked down all three of her attempts from beyond the arc, each one coming at moment when BYU needed a steadying bucket.
Beyond the stats, Gibb’s composure against a top-20 defense stood out. She handled traps, controlled tempo, and consistently got the Cougars into their sets, which is critical against a team known for its disruptive pressure.
Inside, Rohkohl provided exactly what BYU needed against a physical Texas Tech front line. The senior finished with 15 points and eight rebounds on 6-of-9 shooting, giving the Cougars a reliable target on rolls to the rim and post touches.
Her scoring balance with the backcourt allowed BYU to keep the floor spaced and prevented Texas Tech from simply overloading to the perimeter. She also contributed on the glass, helping limit the Lady Raiders to one-shot possessions in key stretches.
Benally’s nine points and three steals off the bench were critical in the second quarter, when Texas Tech could have flipped the game. Hudgins added six points, four assists, and several timely defensive plays that never show fully in a box score but help preserve leads.
Players like Cannon, who attacked strongly during the fourth-quarter run, showcased BYU’s depth. For a roster built around multiple young guards and a key frontcourt transfer, the performance illustrated how many different Cougars can hurt an opponent on a given night.
Cummard, a former BYU standout guard himself, took over a program that had struggled in its early seasons in the Big 12. His vision: a faster tempo, a more disruptive defense, and an offense that empowers guards to attack and make plays in space.
Against Texas Tech, that identity was fully on display. The Cougars:
For a program with a growing legacy in women’s basketball, including multiple NCAA Tournament appearances in the last decade,[3] this win showed that the next chapter could be built on high-tempo, guard-driven basketball that appeals to modern recruits.
For high school players and club coaches paying attention to Big 12 women’s basketball, this game offered several valuable lessons about development, opportunity, and fit at BYU and peer programs.
Hamlin and Benally are both freshmen, and they were central to the upset. Their minutes, shot volume, and defensive responsibilities send a clear message: in the right system, underclassmen can earn trust quickly.
Recruits who are looking for a program where they can compete for early playing time, particularly in the backcourt, should consider how BYU’s staff has integrated its younger players into major roles and high-leverage situations.
BYU’s attack against Texas Tech relied on guards who could dribble, shoot, and defend multiple positions. Hamlin and Gibb both created their own shots, hit threes, and fueled transition chances. Hudgins and Benally added defensive intensity and secondary playmaking.
For guards and wings, that means the Cougar system rewards players who:
Performances like this highlight why the Big 12 is one of the nation’s deepest women’s basketball conferences. Every week features matchups with ranked or near-ranked competition, and upsets can reshape postseason projections quickly.
For athletes exploring college options, games like BYU vs. Texas Tech are a reminder that choosing a Big 12 program means facing high-level talent regularly. It also means that a single signature win can elevate both a team’s reputation and individual player profiles nationally.
If you want help exploring where a program like BYU fits into your own recruiting picture, tools like the Pathley College Directory and the College Fit Snapshot can give you a clear view of academic, athletic, and campus match factors in minutes.
Significant wins over ranked opponents often carry extra weight when the NCAA Selection Committee evaluates at-large résumés. A home victory against a top-20 Texas Tech squad with a 19–2 record is the sort of result that stands out on a team sheet, especially when paired with strong efficiency metrics and a solid overall record.
Assuming BYU continues to hold its own in Big 12 play, this upset could function as a cornerstone result in March conversations. It also gives the Cougars confidence that they can compete with and beat the conference’s best, something that can help in preparation for both league play and potential postseason tournaments.
If this game has you curious about what it might be like to play at a Big 12 school such as BYU, you do not have to guess. With Pathley, you can:
All of these tools are designed to help athletes, parents, and coaches make more informed decisions about where a player might thrive both on the court and in the classroom.
For Cummard and his staff, the key challenge now is turning a statement win into sustained momentum. The Big 12 schedule offers little time to celebrate, and every opponent will study how BYU slowed a previously red-hot Texas Tech offense.
The Cougars will look to build on the formulas that worked in this upset:
For recruits and fans watching, this win offers a window into what the next era of BYU women’s basketball could look like: fast, fearless, and unafraid of ranked opponents.
Games like BYU’s 73–61 win over No. 19 Texas Tech can be incredibly motivating. They show what is possible when a program believes in its young core and commits to an identity. If you are an athlete or parent inspired by this kind of performance, the next step is to turn that inspiration into a concrete plan.
With Pathley, you can start that process in a structured way:
Whether your dream is to play in the Big 12 or at another competitive level, using data and expert context can help you narrow your list, communicate more effectively with coaches, and find a program where you can grow the way BYU’s young guards did in their upset of Texas Tech.
For now, the story in Provo is simple: on January 21, 2026, BYU women’s basketball showed it can beat one of the nation’s hottest teams, and in doing so, sent a message to the rest of the Big 12 that the Cougars under Lee Cummard are ahead of schedule.
