BYU lost to Columbia 81-64 in the Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT) Championship at Charles Koch Arena in Wichita, Kan., on April 1. The defeat marked the end of a notable postseason run for the Cougars.
The matchup was significant as it determined the winner of the WBIT, with BYU entering as a top seed and Columbia as a fourth seed. Both teams competed for their first title in this tournament.
Delaney Gibb led BYU with 24 points, eight rebounds, and five assists. Olivia Hamlin contributed 17 points, while Lara Rohkohl secured 13 rebounds. The Cougars finished with a total of 46 rebounds and scored 20 second-chance points. Despite trailing by double digits at halftime and after three quarters, BYU continued to push offensively through transition play and offensive rebounding. The team scored 44 points in the paint and added another 20 on fast breaks.
Columbia established early leads in both halves, using scoring runs in the first and third quarters to create separation from BYU. Although BYU managed to reduce its deficit several times—including trimming Columbia’s lead to nine points late in the fourth quarter—the Lions responded each time by converting free throws or scoring inside.
Throughout each quarter, both teams exchanged baskets before Columbia pulled away during key stretches. The Lions opened strong with an early run after tying at six apiece but ended the first quarter ahead by nine points. By halftime, Columbia led by eighteen after answering every attempt by BYU to close the gap.
In closing out their season, BYU showed determination but could not overcome Columbia’s balanced attack down the stretch.
