Diné showdown: Freshman guard Sydney Benally’s playmaking sparks BYU past Weber State

By Lee Begaye
Special to the Times

PROVO, Utah

A rare Division I women’s basketball meeting between two players from Shiprock highlighted BYU’s 79-62 win over Weber State on Saturday afternoon. Freshman guard Sydney Benally and senior guard Lanae Billy shared the floor in an important moment for the Navajo Nation.

The two players claim the same hometown of Shiprock but took different paths to reach this game. Benally graduated from Sandia High School in May 2025, where she won back-to-back state championships in 2024 and 2025. She finished her final two seasons with a 57–4 record and earned New Mexico Gatorade Player of the Year honors both years. She originally committed to Princeton but later decommitted and signed with BYU to stay closer to home.

Billy, a standout at Piedra Vista High School, surpassed 1,000 career points by her sophomore year. She signed with Fort Lewis College in 2022 and averaged 16 points per game over two seasons before transferring to Weber State. As a junior, she averaged 9 points per game and led the Wildcats with 68 made 3-pointers. This season she has increased her scoring to 14 points per game.

Their matchup brought out a strong Native crowd at the Marriott Center and added cultural significance to an early-season game.

Benally said the moment carried weight on and off the court.

“It’s very special to have this matchup, especially during Native American Heritage Month,” she said. “With us coming from Shiprock and the Navajo Nation, it really puts Native American athletics in the forefront and gives us a spotlight. I was also surprised with the turnout of Natives who came to the game.”

Benally finished with nine points and a game-high nine assists. Her playmaking helped BYU control the second half. Billy scored nine points but fouled out early in the fourth quarter.

Benally said facing Billy again felt familiar.

“I believe this is the second time I’ve gotten to play against her. First in high school and now here. It’s a great feeling,” she said. “We didn’t exchange any acknowledgement beyond a handshake and a smile.”

Weber State opened strong and scored the first four points while BYU missed its first three shots. Billy hit a jumper and later added a 3-pointer as the Wildcats built a 19–16 lead after the first quarter. Weber State senior Antoniette Emma-Nnopu led all scorers with seven points. BYU redshirt juniors Arielle Mackey-Williams and Marya Hudgins each scored six to keep the Cougars close.

BYU took control in the second quarter. Sophomore Brinkley Cannon scored seven points and senior forward Hattie Ogden added six. The Cougars outscored the Wildcats 22–16 and entered halftime with a 38-35 lead. Benally added rebounds and assists during the run. Billy scored two points in the quarter and Emma-Nnopu added six more.

The momentum stayed with BYU in the third quarter. Senior forward Lara Rohkohl scored 13 of her season-high 18 points in the period. Benally scored four points and added two assists as the Cougars pushed the lead to 61-54. Weber State junior guard Hannah Robbins scored nine to keep the Wildcats within reach. Billy added two points and picked up her fourth foul.

BYU closed the game with a strong fourth quarter. The Cougars shot efficiently and held Weber State to eight points. Benally finished with five points in the quarter on perfect shooting, including a 3-pointer and two free throws. Billy fouled out less than a minute into the period.

Rohkohl led BYU with 18 points. The Cougars shot 46 percent from the field and hit nine 3-pointers. BYU also held a 29–13 edge in bench scoring. Robbins led Weber State with 19 points and Emma-Nnopu added 17 points and eight rebounds. The Wildcats shot 43.1 percent overall.

BYU head coach Lee Cummard said the team settled in after halftime.

“It felt like two different halves,” Cummard said. “They controlled the glass early. In the second half we were much more connected on both sides of the ball.”

Cummard said Benally’s impact continues to grow each week.

“She’s a tremendous player who sees the game very well,” he said. “She does everything at a high level and does it in a quiet way. She shows up, gets the job done, and never draws attention to herself. She’s also a much better shooter than what we saw today. I see it every day in practice, and it will definitely show up in games.”

Benally said she is continuing to learn with each game.

“I’m getting more reps and building chemistry with my teammates,” she said. “In high school I played as a big guard, and now I’m playing against more size. I’m just working to keep improving and finding my spots.”

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