Gameday Thread: No. 14 Baylor Basketball vs. McNeese

WACO, Texas – The No. 14 Baylor women’s basketball team returns to action and wraps up a five-game homestand this weekend when it hosts McNeese and Alcorn State on Friday and Sunday, respectively. 

The stretch of home contests marks the second time in five seasons that the Bears have started their season with five straight games at home.

Both contests are set for 2 p.m. and are available for streaming via Big 12 Now on ESPN+ and a live radio broadcast is also available for fans. Live in-game updates will be provided via Twitter and live stats. For links to follow along with each game, fans should visit the team’s schedule page on BaylorBears.com.

STARTING FIVE

In week three of the AP Top-25 Poll, Baylor jumped seven spots to No. 14 after its wins over Utah and Harvard. The climb marked the largest jump in the poll this week and the highest ranking for the Bears since finishing the 2021-22 season at No. 7.

The Bears were selected as the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) National Team of the Week on Tuesday. The recognition marks the second-straight year and second time under the direction of head coach Nicki Collen the team has earned it.

In the 10-point win over Harvard on Sunday (Nov. 19), all five starters finished in double figures led by Aijha Blackwell’s 16 points.

With their 81 points against the Crimson, the Bears have scored 80-plus in three-straight games to start a season for just the 12th time in program history and first time under the direction of Collen. Additionally, in those 11 seasons, it is the first time that two of the three opponents in that stretch reached the postseason the year prior.

A win over McNeese on Friday would move the Bears to 4-0 on the year marking the first time since the 2019-20 campaign that Baylor would start a season with four-straight wins.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT

McNeese is 2-4 to start the year and is coming off a 107-77 win against North American University on Tuesday night, snapping a four-game losing streak. Friday’s game at Baylor marks the first road contest of the season for the Cowgirls.

Cristina Gil (23 pts, 13 rebs) and Julia Puente (16 pts, 14, rebs) each recorded their first-career double-doubles in McNeese’s 30-point win. The Cowgirls have four players averaging double figures led by Emilia Tenbrock’s 11.3 points per contest.

To stay up to date on all things Baylor women’s basketball, follow the team on its official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts: @BaylorWBB.