Game Thread: No. 18 Baylor Women’s Basketball Begins Trip to the Mountains at Utah

SALT LAKE CITY – No. 18 Baylor women’s basketball (15-3, 4-1) takes its winning streak on the road to play the Utah Utes (13-4, 4-1). Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. CT on Wednesday, Jan. 14, at the Jon M. Huntsman Center. The game will be televised on ESPN+.

The Utes' ability to find open players and shoot the 3-point shot makes their offense capable of knocking off high-ranked teams. This was evident less than two weeks ago, when Utah upset the No. 8 TCU Horned Frogs. Utah also does not allow free points. Head coach Gavin Petersen’s deep drop coverage allows Utah to avoid defensive fouls and gather defensive rebounds, but the lack of ball pressure removes the opportunity to force large amounts of turnovers.

• Baylor Barttorvik Rank: 31
  • Baylor Massey Rating: 18
• Utah Barttorvik Rank: 40
  • Utah Massey Rating: 35
• Barttorvik Prediction: 63-61 Baylor
  • Massey Prediction: 69-66 Baylor

Coaches

• Nicki Collen (Baylor): 117-39 record; 4 NCAA Tournaments, Sweet 16
• Gavin Petersen (Utah): 32-12 record; 1 NCAA Tournament

Projected Lineups

Baylor Starters

• Guard Jana Van Gytenbeek (5’7, 6Sr.): 7.2 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 6.6 APG, 1.0 SPG, 35% FG, 33% 3-PT, 70% FT, 32 MPG
• Guard Taliah Scott (5’9, RSo.): 20.6 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 2.9 APG, 1.3 SPG, 42% FG, 33% 3-PT, 91% FT, 30 MPG
• Forward Bella Fontleroy (6’0, Sr.): 9.3 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 1.2 APG, 1.8 SPG, 1.4 BPG, 36% FG, 27% 3-PT, 85% FT, 26 MPG
• Forward Darianna Littlepage-Buggs (6’1, Sr.): 10.4 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.0 SPG, 51% FG, 15% 3-PT, 61% FT, 29 MPG
• Forward Kiersten Johnson (6’4, Sr.): 5.6 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 0.4 APG, 2.3 BPG, 53% FG, 67% 3-PT, 80% FT, 19 MPG

Baylor Bench

• Guard Marcayla Johnson (6’0, Fr.): 4.3 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 0.7 APG, 32% FG, 15% 3-PT, 38% FT, 19 MPG
• Guard Yuting Deng (6’2, So.): 8.7 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 1.2 APG, 48% FG, 42% 3-PT, 72% FT, 19 MPG
• Forward Kyla Abraham (6’3, RJr.): 3.4 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 0.3 APG, 1.7 BPG, 62% FG, 50% FT, 16 MPG
• Forward Kayla Nelms (6’1, So.): 4.5 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 0.5 APG, 57% FG, 40% 3-PT, 75% FT, 10 MPG

Projected Lineups

Utah Starters

• Guard Maty Wilke (5’10, Sr.): 10.4 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.6 SPG, 40% FG, 36% 3-PT, 100% FT, 28 MPG
• Guard Brooke Walker (5’9, So.): 6.2 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 2.6 APG, 57% FG, 47% 3-PT, 78% FT, 22 MPG
• Guard Lani White (6’0, Sr.): 14.3 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 1.7 APG, 47% FG, 41% 3-PT, 86% FT, 30 MPG
• Forward Chyra Evans (6’3, Jr.): 8.4 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 2.6 APG, 53% FG, 33% 3-PT, 42% FT, 22 MPG
• Forward Reese Ross (6’1, Jr.): 10.1 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 2.3 APG, 53% FG, 37% 3-PT, 54% FT, 29 MPG

Utah Bench

• Guard LA Sneed (5’6, Fr.): 6.6 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.3 SPG, 38% FG, 31% 3-PT, 60% FT, 27 MPG
• Guard Avery Hjelmstad (6’1, Fr.): 7.5 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 0.6 APG, 34% FG, 31% 3-PT, 81% FT, 18 MPG
• Forward Evelina Otto (6’2, Fr.): 4.8 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 1.5 APG, 51% FG, 17% 3-PT, 69% FT, 15 MPG
• Guard Grace Foster (5’10, So.): 3.9 PPG, 1.6 RPG, 0.8 APG, 40% FG, 44% 3-PT, 88% FT, 11 MPG
• Forward Samantha Crispe (6’2, Sr.): 1.4 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 0.8 APG, 44% FG, 33% 3-PT, 75% FT, 8 MPG