BYU Falls Short in WBIT Championship Game

Cougars rally late but can't overcome early deficit against Columbia

Apr. 2, 2026 at 1:50am

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BYU's women's basketball team fell 81-64 to Columbia in the WBIT championship game in Wichita, Kansas. The Cougars trailed by as many as 27 points before making a late surge, but ultimately came up short in their bid for the tournament title.

Why it matters

BYU's deep WBIT run was the furthest the program has advanced in a major postseason tournament, offering an encouraging glimpse of the team's future potential under first-year head coach Lee Cummard.

The details

The Cougars struggled offensively, shooting just 34.2% from the field and 17.4% from 3-point range. They also missed 16 layups and committed 18 turnovers. However, BYU's defense forced 22 Columbia turnovers and held the Lions to 37% shooting. The Cougars made a 24-6 run late to cut the deficit to 9 points, but couldn't complete the comeback.

  • BYU trailed by 9 points at the end of the first quarter.
  • The Cougars entered halftime down 18 points.
  • BYU found itself down by 27 points early in the fourth quarter.
  • The Cougars made a 24-6 run to cut the deficit to 9 points with 52 seconds remaining.

The players

Lee Cummard

BYU's first-year head coach who led the Cougars to their deepest postseason run in program history.

Delaney Gibb

BYU guard who emerged as a key contributor this season as a freshman or sophomore, accounting for over 70% of the team's scoring.

Olivia Hamlin

BYU player who established herself as a future program pillar with her contributions this season as a freshman or sophomore.

Sydney Benally

BYU player who emerged as a key contributor this season as a freshman or sophomore.

Kailey Woolston

BYU's 13-point scorer and 46% 3-point shooter who will return from her mission this fall to bolster the team's core.

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What they’re saying

“Year 1 of the Cummard era was nothing short of a slam dunk — and the road ahead should be even more exciting.”

— Jackson Payne, Author

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

BYU's deep WBIT tournament run, despite the championship game loss, demonstrated the program's promising future under first-year head coach Lee Cummard. With a young core of contributors and the return of a key shooter, the Cougars appear poised to build on this season's success and potentially make an NCAA Tournament appearance in the coming years.