Game Thread: No. 18 Baylor Women’s Basketball Aims to Sweep Mountain Road Trip at BYU

PROVO, Utah – No. 18 Baylor women’s basketball (16-3, 5-1) and its five-game winning streak travel to play the BYU Cougars (14-3, 3-2). Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT on Saturday, Jan. 17, at the Marriott Center. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.

BYU’s shot defense has been its strength throughout the season. This game figures to be a defensive battle, as Baylor’s shot defense ranks fifth nationally. Baylor must limit BYU’s ability to get on the offensive glass to pick up its second win of the week.

• Baylor Barttorvik Rank: 30
  • Baylor Massey Rating: 17
• BYU Barttorvik Rank: 52
  • BYU Massey Rating: 46
• Barttorvik Prediction: 65-60 Baylor
  • Massey Prediction: 71-61 Baylor

Coaches

• Nicki Collen (Baylor): 118-39 record; 4 NCAA Tournaments, Sweet 16
• Lee Cummard (BYU): 14-3 record

Projected Lineups

Baylor Starters

• Guard Jana Van Gytenbeek (5’7, 6Sr.): 7.3 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 6.6 APG, 36% FG, 34% 3-PT, 70% FT, 33 MPG
• Guard Taliah Scott (5’9, RSo.): 20.3 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 2.9 APG, 1.3 SPG, 40% FG, 33% 3-PT, 90% FT, 30 MPG
• Forward Bella Fontleroy (6’0, Sr.): 9.2 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 1.2 APG, 1.7 SPG, 1.5 BPG, 36% FG, 28% 3-PT, 85% FT, 26 MPG
• Forward Darianna Littlepage-Buggs (6’1, Sr.): 10.4 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 1.9 APG, 52% FG, 15% 3-PT, 62% FT, 29 MPG
• Forward Kiersten Johnson (6’4, Sr.): 5.4 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 0.4 APG, 2.2 BPG, 52% FG, 65% 3-PT, 80% FT, 20 MPG

Baylor Bench

• Guard Yuting Deng (6’2, So.): 8.7 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 1.2 APG, 48% FG, 42% 3-PT, 72% FT, 19 MPG
• Guard Marcayla Johnson (6’0, Fr.): 4.1 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 0.7 APG, 32% FG, 14% 3-PT, 38% FT, 19 MPG
• Forward Kyla Abraham (6’3, RJr.): 3.4 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 0.4 APG, 1.7 BPG, 57% FG, 50% FT, 16 MPG
• Forward Kayla Nelms (6’1, So.): 4.3 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 0.4 APG, 57% FG, 40% 3-PT, 75% FT, 10 MPG

Projected Lineups

BYU Starters

• Guard Sydney Benally (5’9, Fr.): 9.1 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 5.0 APG, 1.8 SPG, 32% FG, 27% 3-PT, 84% FT, 30 MPG
• Guard Delaney Gibb (5’10, So.): 16.6 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 5.1 APG, 1.7 SPG, 40% FG, 30% 3-PT, 76% FT, 29 MPG
• Forward Brinley Cannon (6’1, So.): 8.1 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.9 SPG, 42% FG, 29% 3-PT, 75% FT, 28 MPG
• Forward Marya Hudgins (6’0, Jr.): 10.6 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1.2 SPG, 43% FG, 39% 3-PT, 88% FT, 27 MPG
• Forward Lara Rohkohl (6’3, Sr.): 8.3 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 0.4 APG, 1.2 SPG, 1.6 BPG, 69% FG, 60% FT, 20 MPG

BYU Bench

• Guard Olivia Hamlin (5’10, Fr.): 12.0 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 1.7 APG, 2.1 SPG, 38% FG, 28% 3-PT, 64% FT, 28 MPG
• Guard Kambree Barber (6’0, So.): 4.1 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1.1 BPG, 29% FG, 13% 3-PT, 29% FT, 21 MPG
• Forward Bolanle Yussuf (6’3, Fr.): 6.2 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 0.5 APG, 54% FG, 49% FT, 13 MPG
• Forward Braeden Gunlock (6’0, Fr.): 2.5 PPG, 1.6 RPG, 0.4 APG, 33% FG, 42% 3-PT, 71% FT, 12 MPG