Baylor Women's Basketball

Gameday Thread: Baylor Travels To Face Arizona

Baylor (12-3, 2-1) hits the road for a matchup against the Arizona Wildcats (11-5, 2-1) on Wednesday, Jan. 8. Tipoff at McKale Center is slated for 7 p.m. CT, and the game will be streamed on ESPN+.
January 7, 2025
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Photo by Jack Mackenzie - SicEm365

TUSCON, Arizona – Baylor (12-3, 2-1) hits the road for a matchup against the Arizona Wildcats (11-5, 2-1) on Wednesday, Jan. 8. Tipoff at McKale Center is slated for 7 p.m. CT, and the game will be streamed on ESPN+.


  • Massey Prediction: Baylor 71, Arizona 63
  • Baylor Massey Rating: No. 21
  • Arizona Massey Rating: No. 51

Coaches

Baylor (Nicki Collen): 82-31 Record; 3 NCAA Tournaments; Sweet 16

Arizona (Adia Barnes): 161-105 Record; 4 NCAA Tournaments; Sweet 16; Final Four


Baylor Starters

  • Guard Jada Walker (5’7, Sr.): 12.3 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 5.3 APG, 47% FG, 43% 3-PT, 74% FT
  • Guard Sarah Andrews (5’6, 5Sr.): 12 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 5.7 APG, 38% FG, 37% 3-PT, 60% FT
  • Forward Darianna Littlepage-Buggs (6’1, Jr.): 14.5 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 2.1 APG, 51% FG, 73% FT
  • Forward Bella Fontleroy (6’0, Jr.): 9 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 36% FG, 27% 3-PT, 53% FT
  • Center Aaronette Vonleh (6’3, Sr.): 13.7 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 60% FG, 59% FT

Baylor Bench

  • Guard Yaya Felder (5’8, Sr.): 11.5 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 2.9 APG, 50% FG, 46% 3-PT, 75% FT
  • Guard Aliyah Matharu (5’7, Gr.): 0.5 PPG. 0.5 RPG
  • Forward Kyla Abraham (6’3, Jr.): 2.5 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 47% FG, 40% FT
  • Forward Madison Bartley (6’3, 5Sr.): 2.8 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 58% FG, 77% FT

Arizona Starters

  • Guard Lauryn Swann (5’7, Fr.): 8.1 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 1 APG, 46% FG, 38% 3-PT, 68% FT
  • Guard Jada Williams (5’8, So.): 11.7 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 3 APG, 34% FG, 25% 3-PT, 82% FT
  • Guard Mailen Rolf (5’10, Fr.): 3.9 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 1.5 APG, 44% FG, 32% 3-PT, 92% FT
  • Forward Isis Beh (6’3, Sr.): 4.6 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 1 APG, 54% FG, 93% FT
  • Forward Breya Cunningham (6’4, So.): 12.9 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 65% FG, 50% FT

Arizona Bench

  • Guard Skylar Jones (6’0, So.): 10.3 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 2 APG, 48% FG, 35% 3-PT, 75% FT
  • Forward Sahnya Jah (6’0, So.): 7.5 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 36% FG, 36% 3-PT. 58% FT 
  • Forward Montaya Dew (6’2, So.): 5.1 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 2.2 APG, 40% FG, 34% 3-PT, 54% FT

Arizona Notable Opponents

  • UNLV  (75-66 Win)
  • BYU (57-53 Win)
  • Utah (69-48 Loss)

Top Quotes

Head coach Nicki Collen on the importance of a swing trip to the Grand Canyon State to play Arizona and Arizona State:

  • “If you want to win a conference championship, you have to go on the road and win. You can’t put yourself in a hole. It’s a good opportunity with two games on the road, and fortunately, with no school, it is easier to go out there and stay out there and be road warriors.”

Guard Aliyah Matharu (Gr.) on adjusting to playing at Baylor despite arriving mid-way through the season:

  • “The past two weeks, I honestly didn’t expect to get into the game because I knew I was new and came in at such an awkward time, but [I’m] getting reps in practice and trying to go as hard possible on those reps. I feel way more comfortable than when I first got here when I was pretty nervous.”

Guard Jada Walker (Sr.) on the type of impact Matharu can make:

  • “She was a great pickup. She brings intensity, and she brings aggressiveness on offense and defense. Once she really picks up the system, that’s a great backcourt that we’ll have with me, Sarah [Andrews], her, Yaya [Felder]. All of our guards are super hard to guard, whether coming off the bench or starting the game. She brings a great impact to our team.”
113 Comments
Discussion from...

Gameday Thread: Baylor Travels To Face Arizona

19,465 Views | 113 Replies | Last: 11 mo ago by Bear3
ctxbear
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bawitdaball said:

Slightly off subject, but out of curiosity, does anyone see anyone from the current roster on a WNBA team? I know the expansion is coming. But I'm just not convinced we have one of the best 12-15 players in the country on our roster. Which isn't anything new - I don't feel Kim has a great history of putting players in the W outside of Griner and Simms. But was watching last night and just felt we are lacking the true superstar/playmaker that can take over any game.
If DLP could put on about 20lbs of muscle in the next two years and develop a 3-shot, I could see her becoming a role player in the W. But with her frame, that seems like a difficult task to perform.
Task Force 2015
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I think we have 7 high major college talents.I thought Sarah was a WNBA prospect as a sophomore.Although I hope I am wrong,I will be pleasantly surprised if she or any of the other Bears play in the WNBA.However,I think more than a few of them can play overseas.
bawitdaball
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Task Force 2015 said:

I think we have 7 high major college talents.I thought Sarah was a WNBA prospect as a sophomore.Although I hope I am wrong,I will be pleasantly surprised if she or any of the other Bears play in the WNBA.However,I think more than a few of them can play overseas.

I would agree with Andrews. And I feel the gap between an overseas player and a WNBA player is fairly large. But I do agree - many, if they choose, will have a career overseas.
BUVA
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DLB's physique reminds me of Nina Davis, who went undrafted and didn't stick with a team in the WNBA, but had a very good career overseas. Many players move around--Nina played in Austria and Israel, just off the top of my head. WNBA expansion in the next couple of years might give them a better chance of getting on a roster.
LitigiOSO
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bawitdaball said:

rileyroo said:

Nikki has to go. She doesn't know the game. You have to intentionally miss that foul and make them go the length of the court with 1 second left.
She does need to go. But if Arizona gets the rebound they can still call a timeout to advance the ball.
LitigiOSO
B.A. '92, J.D. '95
BUVA
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rileyroo said:

Nikki has to go. She doesn't know the game. You have to intentionally miss that foul and make them go the length of the court with 1 second left.


Jada is a 75% FT shooter, so how do we know she didn't try to miss? Once the ball leaves her hands, she has no control over where it goes. AZ came out in a different gear in the second half, and we weren't prepared for the switch, allowing run after run. DLB got foul #3 quickly, so sat until Q4. And refs certainly didn't help us. I'm not ready to toss the coach yet, but IMHO, the outcome of this year is crucial to her future.
blackie
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BUVA said:

rileyroo said:

Nikki has to go. She doesn't know the game. You have to intentionally miss that foul and make them go the length of the court with 1 second left.


Jada is a 75% FT shooter, so how do we know she didn't try to miss? Once the ball leaves her hands, she has no control over where it goes. AZ came out in a different gear in the second half, and we weren't prepared for the switch, allowing run after run. DLB got foul #3 quickly, so sat until Q4. And refs certainly didn't help us. I'm not ready to toss the coach yet, but IMHO, the outcome of this year is crucial to her future.
A few responses (rhetorical not directed at BUVA)......
  • In the women's game there is NO reason to miss a free throw UNLESS this situation would have been a case where AZ had no timeouts to be able to advance the ball OR you are behind by 3 and need to make the first and miss the second in hopes of a rebound and put back. That was not the case. I am never amazed how posters on this entire website postulate stupidity on the part of a coach for what they see on the field / court with no knowledge of what is going on inside the huddle, possible injury situation, etc., especially in a case like this where the poster starting the criticism doesn't even know the rules.
  • The AZ run in the 3rd quarter probably had a lot to do with DLB sitting on the bench. It is ludicrous to believe we are the same team without our number 1 player not on the court for such an extended period. Look at what happened to Utah without theirs.
  • And toss the coach for who? Mr. Golfguy has been asking multiple times for who would replace her on another thread because of a statement made by another poster and continues to receive no answer from that person calling for the change. REMINDER - Many, many on this board were calling for Barnes, the AZ coach to be hired. She hasn't exactly had AZ tearing up the top-25. The other one was the Georgia coach. Would have been another stellar hire. Internet posters are probably the worst to make hiring / firing decisions.....including me. We just don't have the industry knowledge to make such a call and likely do not have access to people that do.
  • Just let the season play out. Whether you like it or not, CNC isn't going anywhere unless she chooses to do so.
Bear3
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I totally agree with Blackie. Nicki is extremely well respected in the Wbb world by people who know just a little bit more about the game and coaching than posters on this forum.

I guarantee you if Nicki ever did leave Baylor, she would have no problem getting another job with a very good program.
 
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