Gameday Thread: Baylor To Be Without Littlepage-Buggs In Showdown against No. 23 Utah

WACO – Baylor (14-3, 4-1) will return to the Lone Star State for a showdown against No. 23 Utah (13-3, 4-1) on Tuesday, Jan. 14. Tipoff at Foster Pavilion is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT, and the game will be streamed on ESPN+.

• Massey Prediction: Baylor 72, Utah 65
• Baylor Massey Rating: No. 16
• Utah Massey Rating: No. 20

Coaches

Baylor (Nicki Collen): 84-31 Record; 3 NCAA Tournaments; Sweet 16

Utah (Gavin Peterson): 10-2 Record

Baylor Starters

• Guard Jada Walker (5’7, Sr.): 12.1 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 5.5 APG, 46% FG, 45% 3-PT, 75% FT
• Guard Sarah Andrews (5’6, 5Sr.): 12.2 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 5.3 APG, 38% FG, 37% 3-PT, 59% FT
• Guard Yaya Felder (5’8, Sr.): 11.6 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 2.8 APG, 49% FG, 42% 3-PT, 75% FT
• Forward Bella Fontleroy (6’0, Jr.): 8.6 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 35% FG, 28% 3-PT, 53% FT
• Center Aaronette Vonleh (6’3, Sr.): 13.7 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 60% FG, 60% FT

Baylor Bench

• Guard Aliyah Matharu (5’7, Sr.): 4.5 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 44% FG, 43% 3-PT, 50% FT
• Forward Kyla Abraham (6’3, Jr.): 2.5 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 47% FG, 40% FT
• Forward Madison Bartley (6’3, 5Sr.): 2.8 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 52% FG, 77% FT
• *Forward Darianna Littlepage-Buggs (6’1, Jr.): 14.4 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 2.1 APG, 53% FG, 73% FT

*will miss Tuesday’s game with suspension

Utah Starters

• Guard Ines Vieira (5’6, Sr.): 6.1 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 5.6 APG, 41% FG, 28% 3-PT, 74% FT
• Guard Kennedy McQueen (5’10, Sr.): 11.2 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 2.4 APG, 50% FG, 43% 3-PT, 100% FT
• Guard Gianna Kneepkens (6’0, Jr.): 16.9 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 2.8 APG, 49% FG, 44% 3-PT, 94% FT
• Forward Jenna Johnson (6’2, Sr.): 8.3 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 2.4 APG, 44% FG, 55% FT
• Forward Maye Toure (6’3, Sr.): 13.8 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 48% FG, 36% 3-PT, 71% FT

Utah Bench

• Guard Matyson Wilke (5’10, Jr.): 9.3 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 2.3 APG, 46% FG, 41% 3-PT, 100% FT
• Forward Reese Ross (6’1, So.): 8.8 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 1.2 APG, 56% FG, 39% 3-PT, 65% FT
• Forward Samantha Crispe (6’2, Jr.): 2.8 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 50% FG, 75% FT 

Utah Notable Opponents

• No. 3 Notre Dame (78-67 Win)
• Arizona (69-48 Win)
• Iowa State (75-67 Win)
• No. 12 Kansas State (71-47 Loss)

Other Notes

With just over three minutes remaining in the first half against ASU, star forward Darianna Littlepage-Buggs (Jr.) was attempting to get positioning for an offensive rebound when Arizona State guard Kennedy Fauntleroy (Jr.) shoved Baylor’s star forward and threw a punch.

Littlepage-Buggs retaliated and shoved back, but both were ejected shortly after. In just 13 minutes of action, Littlepage-Buggs had 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting and five rebounds and was well on her way to her conference-leading ninth double-double.

Per head coach Nicki Collen, there is no appeals process in this scenario, and because the officials deemed it a fight, Littlepage-Buggs will be suspended for the Utah game.

*video of the altercation is linked here*

Top Quotes

Head coach Nicki Collen gives the latest update regarding Darianna Littlepage-Buggs’ (Jr.) status following an ejection against Arizona State:

• “There is no appeals process. At this point, Buggs is suspended for the next game. Really disappointed with the ruling. Really, really proud of how Buggs handled herself. … I don’t know what Buggs could have done better than turn and run.”

Head coach Nicki Collen on winning back-to-back games on the road:

• “I just think one game at a time, and that certainly was our goal. Nothing’s easy in this league, and I’m so grateful for each of the wins and that we’re healthy. I’m proud of how we focused and got the job done, even though there were a lot of things that we could do better and a lot of ways that we could grow. I still think it was a really good experience on the road for us.”

Center Kyla Abraham (Jr.) on the team stepping up without Littlepage-Buggs:

• “The biggest thing we’ve been talking about is everyone needs to pull more weight rebounding-wise. We know how big of a factor Buggs is for us rebounding. The biggest thing we’re hounding on is everyone needs to pull more weight and crash the boards.”