BYU Stands Alone as Last Top Seed in Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament

BYU finds itself in an exclusive position as the Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament enters its second round—they are the lone surviving No. 1 seed after a weekend of stunning upsets that eliminated three fellow top seeds in dramatic fashion.

The Cougars (23-11) will host Missouri on Monday night at the Marriott Center, carrying the weight of expectation as the tournament's highest remaining seed. Their path to this moment has been far from guaranteed, as fellow No. 1 seeds Utah, Texas A&M, and North Dakota State all suffered double-digit losses that sent shockwaves through the bracket.

BYU earned their top seeding through exceptional late-season form, winning six of their last seven games while playing arguably their best basketball of the campaign. That momentum helped secure a convincing 72-47 victory over Alabama A&M in the opening round, setting up Monday's intriguing matchup with the SEC's Missouri Tigers.

Freshman sensation Sydney Benally continues to rewrite the record books, establishing new program marks for freshman assists (139) and games started (34) during her debut campaign. Her 18-point performance against Alabama A&M, highlighted by four three-pointers, exemplified the dynamic play that has made her the cornerstone of BYU's future.

"Just continue trusting in our coaches and our teammates and have confidence in ourselves—just drive to keep playing in the postseason," Benally said when asked about the key to facing Missouri during her ESPN+ postgame interview.

The Tigers (17-16) present a formidable challenge despite their recent struggles. Missouri endured a difficult regular season, posting a 4-12 conference record and entering the tournament on a seven-game losing streak. However, their 67-57 victory over Seton Hall demonstrated the danger they pose when playing with house money.

Much of Missouri's threat emanates from their junior guard tandem of Grace Slaughter and Shannon Dowell. Slaughter leads the Tigers in scoring (18.7 points per game) and rebounding (6.8) while shooting an efficient 45.5% from the field, earning All-SEC second team recognition for her efforts.

Dowell provides the perfect complement, contributing 15.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. Together, they form one of the more dangerous backcourts remaining in the field.

"Not too often we get an SEC team to come here on our court, so really looking forward to it," BYU coach Lee Cummard said on BYU Radio following the Alabama A&M victory. "They're very talented, move the ball, share it, shoot the three better than we do. It's going to be a good match for us."

Cummard acknowledged the challenge Missouri presents, noting their ability to execute offensive sets while maintaining defensive integrity. "They really execute what they want to do offensively and are sound defensively," he added.

The matchup carries added significance for BYU as their no-Sunday policy forced the game to Monday night, one day after most second-round action concluded. This scheduling quirk provides extra preparation time but also means increased pressure as the tournament's attention focuses solely on their performance.

For a BYU program built around youthful talent including Delaney Gibb, Benally, Olivia Hamlin, and Brinley Cannon, extended postseason experience proves invaluable for future development. The deeper their tournament run extends, the more momentum they build heading into next season.

A victory Monday would earn BYU a home third-round matchup against ACC representative Stanford, who defeated Quinnipiac in Sunday's second-round action. The semifinals and championship will take place at Charles Koch Arena in Wichita, Kansas, with the title game scheduled for April 1.

With their status as Utah's lone remaining Division I basketball team still playing—following Utah State's men's tournament exit and Southern Utah's WNIT elimination—BYU carries the hopes of an entire state into Monday night's crucial encounter.