BYU rallies past Utah in second half for rivalry win

Cougars overcome halftime deficit to defeat Utes 77-65 in Big 12 matchup

Jan. 31, 2026 at 8:15pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

BYU overcame a 10-point halftime deficit to rally past rival Utah 77-65 in a Big 12 women's basketball matchup on Saturday. Sophomore Brinley Cannon scored a team-high 21 points, including six 3-pointers, to lead the Cougars' second-half surge. Utah led 35-25 at the break, but BYU outscored the Utes 52-30 in the final two quarters to secure the victory in front of a raucous home crowd at the Marriott Center.

Why it matters

The win snaps a two-game losing streak for BYU and keeps the Cougars in the hunt for a decent seed in the upcoming Big 12 tournament, which is just over a month away. For Utah, the loss is a setback in its quest to move up the conference standings and secure a favorable postseason position.

The details

BYU trailed 35-25 at halftime but opened the third quarter on a 10-2 run to quickly cut the deficit in half. The Cougars finally took the lead for good with 8:45 left in the game on a 3-pointer by Cannon, who tied her career-high with six made 3s. BYU then closed the game on a 9-0 run over the final 1:02 to seal the victory.

  • BYU and Utah will meet again on February 21, 2026 at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City.
  • The Big 12 women's basketball tournament is just over four weeks away.

The players

Brinley Cannon

A sophomore guard for BYU who scored a team-high 21 points, including six 3-pointers, to lead the Cougars' second-half comeback.

Lani White

A senior guard for Utah who scored a game-high 20 points in the losing effort.

Maty Wilke

A junior guard for Utah who scored 18 points but was unable to connect on consecutive shots as the Utes struggled from 3-point range.

Lee Cummard

The head coach of the BYU women's basketball team, who praised his team's effort and execution in the rivalry win.

Gavin Petersen

The head coach of the Utah women's basketball team, who said his squad must focus on one game at a time and try to find a solution to its recent second-half struggles.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Every game is different, every day is different. I'm just trying to stay consistent. I'm grateful to be at a place that has a lot of confidence in me, even when shots aren't going in.”

— Brinley Cannon, BYU Sophomore Guard

“You've got to stay hungry and want to get better. You can only hang your hat on your last performance. This game was fun; it was a great atmosphere. I'm sure this game will sting for a while, but we'll get back at them.”

— Gavin Petersen, Utah Head Coach

What’s next

The Utes will host the Cougars in a rematch on February 21, 2026 at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City.

The takeaway

This rivalry game showcased the competitiveness and passion of both teams, with BYU's second-half surge highlighting the Cougars' resilience and ability to make key adjustments. For Utah, the loss underscores the need to maintain focus and execution throughout the entire game as the Utes look to secure a favorable seed in the upcoming Big 12 tournament.