Game Thread: No. 16 Baylor Women’s Basketball Welcomes Kansas in Whiteout Game

WACO, Texas – No. 16 Baylor women’s basketball (14-3, 3-1) finishes its week at home as it plays host to the Kansas Jayhawks (11-5, 1-3). Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT on Sunday, Jan. 11, at the Foster Pavilion. The game will be televised on ESPN+.

Kansas operates through its star, S’Mya Nichols. The Jayhawks’ point guard is sixth nationally in usage percentage, and her talent has led Kansas to the 19th-best shot offense in the country. However, Baylor’s defense ranks fifth nationally in effective field goal percentage allowed. The Jayhawks’ ability to score allowed them to knock off a strong Minnesota squad and threaten Iowa State.

• Baylor Barttorvik Rank: 31
  • Baylor Massey Rating: 19
• Kansas Barttorvik Rank: 56
  • Kansas Massey Rating: 49
• Barttorvik Prediction: 68-58 Baylor
  • Massey Prediction: 72-60 Baylor

Coaches

• Nicki Collen (Baylor): 116-39 record; 4 NCAA Tournaments, Sweet 16
• Brandon Schneider (Kansas): 250-234 record; 2 NCAA Tournaments

Projected Lineups

Baylor Starters

• Guard Jana Van Gytenbeek (5’7, 6Sr.): 7.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 6.8 APG, 35% FG, 34% 3-PT, 75% FT, 32 MPG
• Guard Taliah Scott (5’9, RSo.): 20.4 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.4 SPG, 42% FG, 35% 3-PT, 91% FT, 30 MPG
• Forward Bella Fontleroy (6’0, Sr.): 9.4 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 1.1 APG, 1.7 SPG, 1.5 BPG, 36% FG, 27% 3-PT, 85% FT, 26 MPG
• Forward Darianna Littlepage-Buggs (6’1, Sr.): 10.1 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.1 SPG, 48% FG, 15% 3-PT, 60% FT, 29 MPG
• Forward Kiersten Johnson (6’4, Sr.): 5.6 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 0.4 APG, 2.4 BPG, 53% FG, 67% 3-PT, 80% FT, 19 MPG

Baylor Bench

• Guard Marcayla Johnson (6’0, Fr.): 4.5 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 0.7 APG, 32% FG, 15% 3-PT, 38% FT, 20 MPG
• Guard Yuting Deng (6’2, So.): 8.8 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 1.1 APG, 50% FG, 44% 3-PT, 67% FT, 19 MPG
• Forward Kyla Abraham (6’3, RJr.): 3.5 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 0.3 APG, 1.6 BPG, 62% FG, 50% FT, 16 MPG
• Forward Kayla Nelms (6’1, So.): 4.4 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 0.5 APG, 58% FG, 33% 3-PT, 73% FT, 9 MPG
• Guard Ella Brow (5’8, Jr.): 0.0 PPG, 0.5 RPG, 1.0 APG, 3 MPG

Projected Lineups

Kansas Starters

• Guard S’Mya Nichols (6’0, Jr.): 19.3 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 5.1 APG, 1.3 SPG, 51% FG, 40% 3-PT, 83% FT, 28 MPG
• Guard Laia Conesa (5’11, Jr.): 4.0 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.1 SPG, 38% FG, 25% 3-PT, 70% FT, 21 MPG
• Guard Elle Evans (6’3, Sr.): 10.3 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.0 SPG, 49% FG, 51% 3-PT, 100% FT, 29 MPG
• Forward Lilly Meister (6’3, Sr.): 9.8 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 1.0 APG, 1.0 SPG, 56% FG, 27% 3-PT, 58% FT, 28 MPG
• Forward Jaliya Davis (6’2, Fr.): 20.0 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 1.0 APG, 66% FG, 70% FT, 28 MPG

Kansas Bench

• Guard Libby Fandel (6’1, Fr.): 4.8 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 1.1 APG, 37% FG, 29% 3-PT, 71% FT, 18 MPG
• Guard Keeley Parks (5’11, Fr.): 5.1 PPG, 0.9 RPG, 1.2 APG, 37% FG, 35% 3-PT, 33% FT, 17 MPG
• Guard Sania Copeland (5’7, Sr.): 1.7 PPG, 0.6 RPG, 0.6 APG, 28% FG, 14% 3-PT, 60% FT, 12 MPG
• Center Nadira Eltayeb (6’4, Sr.): 1.5 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 0.6 APG, 50% FG, 0% FT, 9 MPG
• Guard Brittany Harshaw (6’1, Jr.): 3.1 PPG, 1.1 RPG, 0.5 APG, 39% FG, 28% 3-PT, 100% FT, 9 MPG