Pray for Alcorn
Gameday Thread: No. 14 Baylor vs Alcorn State
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 Alcorn State on Sunday.
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.
The contest is set for 2 p.m. and is 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 onBaylorBears.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. – four-straight after scoring 120+ against McNeese.
The win over McNeese on Friday moved 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
Alcorn State is looking for its first win of the season, currently sitting at 0-3 to start the year. Sunday’s game marks the third contest in four games that the Lady Braves have faced a Power 5 opponent after starting the year at Mississippi State and Nebraska.
Nakia Cheatham leads Alcorn State offensively, averaging 8.0 points per game in a team-high 30.3 minutes per contest. Additionally, she has a team-best 7.3 rebounds per game.