After splitting the regular season series with Iowa State, Baylor (19-11) will meet the Cyclones (19-9) in the rubber match on Friday in Kansas City in the quarterfinals of the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship at Municipal Auditorium.
Neither team could protect their home court this season. Baylor knocked off then-twelfth-ranked Iowa State in Ames 76-70, before the Cyclones returned the favor in Waco 81-77 in double-overtime.
Here’s the 1-3-1 on the No. 6 seed Bears and No. 3 seed Cyclones.
While it might sound obvious, whoever controls the paint and keeps turnovers to a minimum will keep their Big 12 Title hopes alive. During the first two meetings this season, Baylor scored 78 points in the paint and committed 32 turnovers — Iowa State scored 68 points in the paint and committed 24 turnovers.
Caitlin Bickle and Darianna Littlepage-Buggs have played significant roles for the Bears against the Cyclones this season scoring in double figures in both matchups.
Bickle is currently shooting 50% from the floor, 40% from 3-point range and 80% at the free throw line, which are the best averages among players in the five position in the Power 5. She is on a list of just nine players that were at least six-feet tall who have shot 50/40/80 in the Big 12 since 1999-00.
The unanimous Big 12 Freshman of the Year, Littlepage-Buggs, earned her eighth Big 12 Freshman of the Week award on Monday, becoming the first BU rookie to earn it eight-or-more times in program history. Additionally, she ranks second in the Big 12 all-time in Freshman of the Week honors behind Ayoka Lee, who earned it 12 times in 2020.
● Baylor and Iowa State last met in the 2019 title game, where the Bears came out on top, 67-49.
● The Bears’ six seed is the lowest seeding for BU since Baylor was a No. 6 seed in the 2010 Big 12 Championship.
● Baylor is 48-14 all-time in the Big 12 Championship and 12-6 against its half of this year’s bracket.
Baylor has to play disciplined defense and avoid foul trouble, while trying to stop an offense that has four players averaging double figures. Iowa State guard Ashley Joens is fresh off of being named Big 12 Player of the Year, and she has torched the Bears in both meetings this season accounting for 50 points and 5 steals.
Tip-off between the Bears and the Cyclones is set for 7:30 p.m., and the game will be streamed via Big 12 Now on ESPN+. A live radio broadcast is also available for fans on the Varsity Network App or locally on 1660 AM/92.3 FM. Additionally, live in-game updates will be provided via Twitter or live stats.
Hi Dcheetah,Dcheetah said:
slimecap
5:45a, 3/1
