Game Thread: No. 15 Baylor WBB Welcomes Arizona State to Waco in Play4Kay Game

WACO, Texas – No. 15 Baylor women’s basketball (20-4, 9-2) looks to spark a new win streak at home against the Arizona State Sun Devils (19-5, 6-5). Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. CT on Saturday, Feb. 7, at the Foster Pavilion. The game will be televised on FS1.

Arizona State’s strength is its ability to force turnovers, as the Sun Devils turn teams over on 28.7% of possessions. That mark ranks 23rd nationally. As Baylor fans are well aware, the Bears have struggled with ball security in their losses this season. Baylor has turned the ball over on 27.6% of possessions in losses, as opposed to just 18.4% in wins. Turnover rate will be a very interesting metric to track in this game.

• Baylor Barttorvik Rank: 29
  • Baylor Massey Rating: 16
• Arizona State Barttorvik Rank: 46
  • Arizona State Massey Rating: 42
• Barttorvik Prediction: 63-55 Baylor
  • Massey Prediction: 73-57 Baylor

Coaches

• Nicki Collen (Baylor): 122-40 record; 4 NCAA Tournaments, Sweet 16
• Molly Miller (Arizona State): 136-43 record; 1 NCAA Tournament

Projected Lineups

Baylor Starters

• Guard Jana Van Gytenbeek (5’7, 6Sr.): 7.6 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 6.3 APG, 37% FG, 35% 3-PT, 67% FT, 33 MPG
• Guard Taliah Scott (5’9, RSo.): 20.4 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 2.9 APG, 1.3 SPG, 40% FG, 34% 3-PT, 89% FT, 31 MPG
• Forward Bella Fontleroy (6’0, Sr.): 10.0 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 1.1 APG, 1.7 SPG, 1.5 BPG, 34% FG, 29% 3-PT, 89% FT, 27 MPG
• Forward Darianna Littlepage-Buggs (6’1, Sr.): 10.9 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 2.0 APG, 54% FG, 35% 3-PT, 63% FT, 29 MPG
• Forward Kiersten Johnson (6’4, Sr.): 5.0 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 0.5 APG, 1.9 BPG, 48% FG, 55% 3-PT, 73% FT, 19 MPG

Baylor Bench

• Guard Marcayla Johnson (6’0, Fr.): 3.9 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 0.8 APG, 32% FG, 13% 3-PT, 48% FT, 18 MPG
• Guard Yuting Deng (6’2, So.): 7.3 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 1.0 APG, 45% FG, 39% 3-PT, 74% FT, 18 MPG
• Forward Kyla Abraham (6’3, RJr.): 3.8 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 0.3 APG, 1.7 BPG, 58% FG, 53% FT, 16 MPG
• Forward Kayla Nelms (6’1, So.): 3.9 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 0.4 APG, 57% FG, 36% 3-PT, 75% FT, 9 MPG
• Guard Ines Goryanova (5’8, Fr.): 0.8 PPG, 0.0 RPG, 1.0 APG, 40% FG, 0% 3-PT, 5 MPG

Projected Lineups

Arizona State Starters

• Guard Last-Tear Poa (5’11, Sr.): 4.5 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 3.9 APG, 35% FG, 31% 3-PT, 82% FT, 23 MPG
• Guard Marley Washenitz (5’7, Sr.): 8.0 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 2.7 APG, 2.1 SPG, 37% FG, 28% 3-PT, 76% FT, 30 MPG
• Guard Gabby Elliott (5’10, 6Yr.): 16.7 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 2.3 APG, 2.0 SPG, 41% FG, 30% 3-PT, 78% FT, 33 MPG
• Forward McKinna Brackens (6’1, Jr.): 14.9 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.4 SPG, 46% FG, 30% 3-PT, 71% FT, 32 MPG
• Forward Heloisa Carrera (6’2, So.): 10.0 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 0.6 APG, 51% FG, 0% 3-PT, 80% FT, 27 MPG

Arizona State Bench

• Guard Amaya Williams (5’8, Fr.): 3.9 PPG, 1.4 RPG, 2.0 APG, 38% FG, 20% 3-PT, 57% FT, 18 MPG
• Guard Jyah LoVett (5’8, Jr.): 4.3 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 1.1 APG, 1.3 SPG, 39% FG, 22% 3-PT, 67% FT, 17 MPG
• Forward Deborah Davenport (6’2, Jr.): 3.1 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 0.4 APG, 55% FG, 57% 3-PT, 50% FT, 13 MPG
• Center Martina Fantini (6’3, Fr.): 1.8 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 0.3 APG, 51% FG, 0% 3-PT, 27% FT, 8 MPG