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Baylor Women's Basketball

Gameday Thread: Baylor Travels To Face Arizona

January 7, 2025
11,721

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.”
Discussion from...

Gameday Thread: Baylor Travels To Face Arizona

5,423 Views | 100 Replies | Last: 1 hr ago by DFW Bill
WacoKelly83
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LittlePage Buggs has so much heart
SirBearALot
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That was not a kicked ball , the ball was inbounded against our players leg while she was in the air, !!
MrGolfguy
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DLB finishes it with FTs

Sic'em Bears, gutsy win!
I don't feel tardy
BearFan33
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Gals win by 5 in a tough contest.

It shouldn't have been this close but a W is a W. Need to cut down turnovers and make lay ups
bawitdaball
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BearFan33 said:

Up by 3 with 12 sec left

Was Bella fouled on that last attempt?
Yes. The refs took tonct orl of this about half way through the third. Made it a game. Bears could have helped themselves, but hopefully they learn something from this. Andrews has to play better. Buggs can't wait to wake up until the fourth quarter.
BearFan33
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Walker is a good interview
WacoKelly83
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It was very telling that Coach benched Andrews for the last 1:30ish of overtime. There was a time when she was the leader to the end. Then again you can't ride her when she's in a slump
BUVA
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BearFan33 said:

Walker is a good interview


Wow, she played 38 minutes. DLB got her double/ double...she was great in last minutes.
rileyroo
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Sometimes overall talent bails out bad coaching.
BearFan33
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WacoKelly83 said:

It was very telling that Coach benched Andrews for the last 1:30ish of overtime. There was a time when she was the leader to the end. Then again you can't ride her when she's in a slump


I hate to say it but Andrews seems to have regressed as a shooter. I'm hopeful it's just an extended slump
bawitdaball
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BearFan33 said:

WacoKelly83 said:

It was very telling that Coach benched Andrews for the last 1:30ish of overtime. There was a time when she was the leader to the end. Then again you can't ride her when she's in a slump


I hate to say it but Andrews seems to have regressed as a shooter. I'm hopeful it's just an extended slump
I feel CNC has gotten so many tremendous shooters in the portal. Not sure any of them (maybe Jana) have been better after coming to Baylor.
Bear3
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Jana is definitely better. I would also say Jada and Yaya are better.
Bear3
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Some questionable calls by refs, Buggs had to sit most of first half because of foul trouble, not one of Sarah's best games…….. I will happily take the road win!!!
bawitdaball
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Bear3 said:

Jana is definitely better. I would also say Jada and Yaya are better.
Yaya was averaging 23 points a game at Ohio. Granted she was shooting more. Not sure of her averages. She still has an allow release on her three point shot. And I feel Jada has grown into a true point guard. Just wish she was about 3-4 inches taller to fully see the court.
SirBearALot
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bawitdaball said:

SirBearALot said:

make the free throws we win
I am shocked that Andrews shoots 60% from the line.

Maybe if she stood at top of circle instead of free line, she would have better percentage? Do they have to toe the line or can they back up more ? Asking for a friend ?
blackie
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bawitdaball said:

BearFan33 said:

WacoKelly83 said:

It was very telling that Coach benched Andrews for the last 1:30ish of overtime. There was a time when she was the leader to the end. Then again you can't ride her when she's in a slump


I hate to say it but Andrews seems to have regressed as a shooter. I'm hopeful it's just an extended slump
I feel CNC has gotten so many tremendous shooters in the portal. Not sure any of them (maybe Jana) have been better after coming to Baylor.
I don't think it has been restricted to CNC. I can't think of any one who has come to Baylor in recent memory either out of HS or a transfer that had a reputation for a shooting machine that showed it after they got here. The only one I can think of that comes close was Landrum and she was not consistent. Perhaps it is / was the type of offense NC and KM run / ran.
blackie
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Is there some problem with Kyla? Is Bartley that much more a better option? It would seem the extra height would at least put up more resistance to passes over the top.
blackie
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Bear3 said:

Some questionable calls by refs, Buggs had to sit most of first half because of foul trouble, not one of Sarah's best games…….. I will happily take the road win!!!
Buggs only got to play 22 minutes, less than half the game of 45 minutes. Baylor with Buggs on the court is a much stronger team than when she is on the bench. That is the big variable in game outcomes that really only exists with basketball of the major sports. Its the only one I know of where a player is forced to be taken out of the game because of many times subjective calls by referees where there is no egregious physical action taken by the player. In football you have to really go out of your way to get booted from the game. It is a great equalizer.
blueeyedbear
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blackie said:

bawitdaball said:

BearFan33 said:

WacoKelly83 said:

It was very telling that Coach benched Andrews for the last 1:30ish of overtime. There was a time when she was the leader to the end. Then again you can't ride her when she's in a slump


I hate to say it but Andrews seems to have regressed as a shooter. I'm hopeful it's just an extended slump
I feel CNC has gotten so many tremendous shooters in the portal. Not sure any of them (maybe Jana) have been better after coming to Baylor.
I don't think it has been restricted to CNC. I can't think of any one who has come to Baylor in recent memory either out of HS or a transfer that had a reputation for a shooting machine that showed it after they got here. The only one I can think of that comes close was Landrum and she was not consistent. Perhaps it is / was the type of offense NC and KM run / ran.

Emily Neiman
MrGolfguy
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blueeyedbear said:

blackie said:

bawitdaball said:


I feel CNC has gotten so many tremendous shooters in the portal. Not sure any of them (maybe Jana) have been better after coming to Baylor.
I don't think it has been restricted to CNC. I can't think of any one who has come to Baylor in recent memory either out of HS or a transfer that had a reputation for a shooting machine that showed it after they got here. The only one I can think of that comes close was Landrum and she was not consistent. Perhaps it is / was the type of offense NC and KM run / ran.

Emily Neiman
Sheila Lambert - but she was an unknown coming out of JC
I don't feel tardy
Bear3
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I wonder if Kyla is injured. I don't think she played at all in last 2 games.
ScottyB_The_Baylor_King
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Kyla played against Colorado but not against Arizona.
Wbbfan29
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Would have liked to see kyla against Arizona. Her offense is not got but I think her mobility and length would have helped match Arizona at times.
blackie
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blueeyedbear said:

blackie said:

bawitdaball said:

BearFan33 said:

WacoKelly83 said:

It was very telling that Coach benched Andrews for the last 1:30ish of overtime. There was a time when she was the leader to the end. Then again you can't ride her when she's in a slump


I hate to say it but Andrews seems to have regressed as a shooter. I'm hopeful it's just an extended slump
I feel CNC has gotten so many tremendous shooters in the portal. Not sure any of them (maybe Jana) have been better after coming to Baylor.
I don't think it has been restricted to CNC. I can't think of any one who has come to Baylor in recent memory either out of HS or a transfer that had a reputation for a shooting machine that showed it after they got here. The only one I can think of that comes close was Landrum and she was not consistent. Perhaps it is / was the type of offense NC and KM run / ran.

Emily Neiman
Agreed, but not recent.
Dcheetah
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T'ea is probably our best outside shooter from the transfer portal in recent years along with Jana. T'ea shot much better here than she did at USCe or Tenn. Playing with better players helps with spacing and subsequently shooting. Hopefully Ines and Jana and at least 1 transfer can step into that void next year. So unfortunate Jana is not available to play. She could've really stepped up yesterday when Sarah had such a rough game. I hope this is not getting in Sarah's head. We need her to be a leader and a confident and consistent scorer.
Task Force 2015
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Lambert was a Parade All American in high school and a two time juco All American.Unknown?
bawitdaball
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blackie said:

bawitdaball said:

BearFan33 said:

WacoKelly83 said:

It was very telling that Coach benched Andrews for the last 1:30ish of overtime. There was a time when she was the leader to the end. Then again you can't ride her when she's in a slump


I hate to say it but Andrews seems to have regressed as a shooter. I'm hopeful it's just an extended slump
I feel CNC has gotten so many tremendous shooters in the portal. Not sure any of them (maybe Jana) have been better after coming to Baylor.
I don't think it has been restricted to CNC. I can't think of any one who has come to Baylor in recent memory either out of HS or a transfer that had a reputation for a shooting machine that showed it after they got here. The only one I can think of that comes close was Landrum and she was not consistent. Perhaps it is / was the type of offense NC and KM run / ran.

I think it was definitely the type of offense Mulkey played. I feel at times Lambert was deterred from shooting the 3.
franke
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Yeah Mulkey teams made 3s were a biproduct of how teams packed the paint against our superior bigs. It wasn't really ever an emphasis.

It's an emphasis in this offense but shooters haven't been consistent.

I disagree with you on Juicy not being consistent. She was a career 41% 3 point shooter, so she made them, she was just sometimes a liability on D which limited her playing time.
bawitdaball
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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.
DFW Bill
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N. Smith, Kalani Brown, Queen Egbo and D. Carrington are all playing in the WNBA, all we're recruited by the former Coach.

Who on the current team will "play" in the WNBA?
 
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