BYU women’s basketball secured a 74-64 victory over Portland, turning a halftime deficit into a win fueled by a third-quarter surge at the Marriott Center.
The Cougars overcame a sluggish opening half where they shot just 31.3 percent from the field and 11 percent from beyond the arc. Trailing 34-28 at the break, BYU completely shifted the momentum out of the locker room by orchestrating a devastating 13-0 run over the final three minutes of the third quarter to build a commanding 17-point lead heading into the final frame.
Third-Quarter Surge Flips the Game
Kailey Woolston sparked the second-half turnaround by knocking down her first 3-pointer of the game. On the ensuing defensive possession, sophomore guard Olivia Hamlin swiped a steal and converted an uncontested layup to restore a 35-34 lead for the Cougars (BYU Athletics Box Score).
Freshman Prasayus Notoa contributed heavily during the critical stretch, executing a layup off a pick-and-roll before Brinley Cannon drained a 3-pointer to push the lead to 40-35 and force a Portland timeout. Notoa added another steal and layup moments later, and back-to-back triples from Cannon and Sydney Benally stretched the advantage to 56-44 (BYU Athletics Game Recap).
“The Cougars gained their first double-digit lead of the night, 56-44, on the heels of back-to-back 3-pointers from Cannon and Benally,” notes the official BYU game report (Cougars 74-64 Portland).
Holding Off the Pilots in the Fourth
Benally picked up right where the team left off in the third, converting a four-point play by draining a 3-pointer while being fouled to push the lead to 64-44. Portland attempted a late push with a 10-4 run, cutting the deficit to 12 with 2:48 remaining in regulation (BYU Athletics Stats).
Kambree Taylor stopped the Pilots’ momentum by sinking two free throws. When Portland deployed full-court pressure in the final minute, Delaney Gibb handled the ball efficiently and found a driving Cannon for a basket off the glass, stretching the lead back to 11. Two late free throws by Benally sealed the 74-64 final score (BYU vs. Portland Box Score).
Saturday Matchup Against Montana
The Cougars return to the hardwood on Saturday to host Montana at 2 p.m. MST at the Marriott Center (BYU Women’s Basketball Schedule). The contest will be streamed live on ESPN+ with live play-by-play available on BYU Radio (Broadcast Details).
