Game Thread: No. 14 Baylor Women’s Basketball Returns Home, Hosts Struggling UCF

WACO, Texas – No. 14 Baylor women’s basketball (17-3, 6-1) heads back to the Foster Pavilion to host the UCF Knights (10-8, 2-5). Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT on Wednesday, Jan. 21. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.

While UCF ranks second-to-last in adjusted efficiency in conference play, the Knights are coming off an upset win over Colorado. The Knights’ strengths are their shot defense and ability to get to the free-throw line, but they fail to shoot the 3-pointer well and are simply mediocre in the other aspects of the game. Baylor should emerge victorious if the Bears do not beat themselves.

• Baylor Barttorvik Rank: 28
  • Baylor Massey Rating: 14
• UCF Barttorvik Rank: 111
  • UCF Massey Rating: 110
• Barttorvik Prediction: 70-50 Baylor
  • Massey Prediction: 76-53 Baylor

Coaches

• Nicki Collen (Baylor): 119-39 record; 4 NCAA Tournaments, Sweet 16
• Sytia Messer (UCF): 102-99 record

Projected Lineups

Baylor Starters

• Guard Jana Van Gytenbeek (5’7, 6Sr.): 7.3 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 6.5 APG, 37% FG, 34% 3-PT, 72% FT, 33 MPG
• Guard Taliah Scott (5’9, RSo.): 20.5 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.2 SPG, 40% FG, 33% 3-PT, 91% FT, 30 MPG
• Forward Bella Fontleroy (6’0, Sr.): 9.4 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 1.1 APG, 1.6 SPG, 1.5 BPG, 36% FG, 28% 3-PT, 86% FT, 26 MPG
• Forward Darianna Littlepage-Buggs (6’1, Sr.): 10.1 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 2.0 APG, 51% FG, 15% 3-PT, 62% FT, 29 MPG
• Forward Kiersten Johnson (6’4, Sr.): 5.5 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 0.5 APG, 2.1 BPG, 53% FG, 61% 3-PT, 80% FT, 20 MPG

Baylor Bench

• Guard Marcayla Johnson (6’0, Fr.): 4.2 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 0.7 APG, 33% FG, 14% 3-PT, 38% FT, 19 MPG
• Guard Yuting Deng (6’2, So.): 8.4 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 1.1 APG, 47% FG, 41% 3-PT, 74% FT, 19 MPG
• Forward Kyla Abraham (6’3, RJr.): 3.5 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 0.4 APG, 1.8 BPG, 56% FG, 50% FT, 16 MPG
• Forward Kayla Nelms (6’1, So.): 4.3 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 0.5 APG, 59% FG, 40% 3-PT, 75% FT, 9 MPG

Projected Lineups

UCF Starters

• Guard Leah Harmon (5’6, So.): 16.6 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 2.5 APG, 42% FG, 38% 3-PT, 83% FT, 31 MPG
• Guard Jacorriah Bracey (5’9, Sr.): 5.8 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 1.2 APG, 39% FG, 17% 3-PT, 68% FT, 29 MPG
• Forward Summer Yancy (5’11, So.): 7.3 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 2.4 APG, 1.1 SPG, 41% FG, 32% 3-PT, 79% FT, 23 MPG
• Forward Mahogany Chandler-Roberts (6’2, So.): 6.2 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 0.9 APG, 41% FG, 67% 3-PT, 76% FT, 25 MPG
• Center Khyala Ngodu (6’3, Jr.): 10.9 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1.3 SPG, 55% FG, 67% FT, 26 MPG

UCF Bench

• Guard Samari Bankhead (6’0, Fr.): 3.9 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 0.7 APG, 30% FG, 16% 3-PT, 59% FT, 17 MPG
• Guard Kristol Ayson (5’8, Sr.): 3.3 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 1.6 APG, 40% FG, 19% 3-PT, 63% FT, 16 MPG
• Center Savannah Scott (6’4, So.): 5.4 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 0.2 APG, 56% FG, 76% FT, 13 MPG
• Guard Kayanna Cox (5’10, So.): 2.2 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 0.9 APG, 23% FG, 9% 3-PT, 42% FT, 10 MPG