Utah Women's Basketball Squanders 10-Point Halftime Lead in Provo Loss

BYU storms back in the second half to defeat the Utes 77-65 in a key conference matchup.

Jan. 31, 2026 at 5:47pm

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The Utah women's basketball team led by 10 points at halftime, but couldn't hold on as BYU rallied in the second half to defeat the Utes 77-65 in Provo. Utah struggled to take care of the ball, turning it over 16 times, which led to easy transition opportunities for the Cougars. BYU shot 45% from the field and 31% from three-point range to overcome Utah's rebounding advantage.

Why it matters

This loss is a setback for Utah in the conference standings, as they drop to 6-4 in Big 12 play. BYU, on the other hand, improves to 5-5 in conference, keeping them in the hunt. The rivalry between these two programs always brings intensity, and this game was no exception, with the home crowd helping fuel BYU's comeback.

The details

Utah led by 10 points at halftime, but turnovers and BYU's aggressive defense in the second half proved to be their undoing. The Utes shot just 37% from the field and 21% from three-point range, while the Cougars shot 45% overall and 31% from deep. Utah did outrebound BYU 42-31, but the 16 turnovers were too much to overcome.

  • Utah led for just over 75 percent of the game.

The players

Lani White

A Utah player who finished with 20 points on 50% shooting, adding three rebounds, two assists, and two steals.

Maty Wilke

A Utah player who scored 18 points on 7-of-15 shooting, going 3-of-9 from three-point range while grabbing three rebounds.

Reese Ross

A Utah player who pulled down a dominant 13 rebounds in the game.

Brinley Cannon

A BYU player who led the team in scoring with 21 points on 6-of-11 shooting, including 6-of-9 from three-point range, and added four rebounds and two assists.

Delaney Gibb

A BYU player who paced the team with eight rebounds and seven assists, though she struggled to score.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

The takeaway

This game highlighted Utah's struggles to protect the ball and BYU's ability to capitalize on turnovers, especially in the second half. The Utes' rebounding advantage was negated by their poor shooting and ball control, allowing the Cougars to rally back and secure the victory in front of their home crowd.