Fore! Bears Strike Down Bearcats for Fourth Straight Win, 74-53

Jana Van Gytenbeek led the Bears to a runaway victory over Cincinnati with 19 points on the night, good for a new career high, going 8-11 from the floor and 3-5 from deep. This is also a new career-high eight-field goal for her. Van Gytenbeek was joined in double figures by Bella Fontleroy with 13 and Dre’Una Edwards with 10. Baylor shot 45.1% from the field and 36% outside the arc. The only shots the Bears left something to be desired came from the charity stripe where BU went 1-5.

Off the boards, Aijha Blackwell led the way with 10 rebounds. Darianna Littlepage-Buggs was close behind with eight boards, which is enough for the Sophomore to record 500 career rebounds. 

In a 21-point victory, it is easy to look past any issues, but it should be noted that the Bears sent Cincy to the line 20 times compared to the five times they saw the stripe themselves. 

The Bears return to action on Sunday, closing the regular season against Oklahoma State at 11:00 a.m. in the Foster Pavillion. 

First Quarter

The Bears lost the tip but drew first blood, with Jada Walker draining a three to get things going. Sarah Andrews then took the ball on the following possession and drained another three from the corner to put the Bears up 6-0. Jillian Hayes put Cincinnati’s first points on the board with a second-chance layup. Bella Fontleroy converted a travel turnover by Reagan Jackson into an easy two-point drive to the hoop after taking possession. The Bearcats got another second-chance layup, this one by Destiny Thomas and the Bears answered with a mid-range jumper from Darianna Littlepage-Buggs. Bears leading 10-4 at the 6:12 mark. At the under 5:00 media timeout, the Bears still led 10-4; the Bearcats have only scored on second-chance layups at this point. The Bears are currently shooting 50% from the floor and 50% from three (4-8, 2-4) while Cincy is shooting 20% from the floor and )% from three (2-10, 0-2). Dre’Una Edwards came out of the timeout ready to play some ball, putting up four points for the Bears, two layups, one of which was a fast break. Cincinnati scored their first non-second-chance points at the 2:27 mark with a three-point-jumper from Malea Williams. Williams turned around and put up a two-point hookshot on the following possession after a three-second-violation by the Bears. BU leading 14-9 at the 1:27 mark, Madison Bartley entered the game at this point; this is her first action in several games due to injury. Edwards and Yaya Felder each put up a layup to double Cincinnati’s score, Bears leading 18-9 with 0:39 remaining. Bartley sent Reagan Jackson to the line where she drained a pair of shots. The Bears capped off the quarter with a three from Felder, giving us a score of 21-11 after 10:00.

First Quarter Stats: 

Baylor 

FG: 9-17 (56.3%)

3FG: 3-7 (42.9%)

FT: 0-1 (0.0%)

REB: 11

A: 7

PF: 4

TO: 4

Cincy

FG: 4-16 (25%)

3FG: 1-3 (33.3%)

FT: 2-3 (66.7%)

REB: 10

A: 2

PF: 3

TO: 5

Second Quarter

Jana Van Gytenbeek kicked off the second 10:00 for the Bears with a three-point jumper assisted by Edwards nine seconds into the quarter. After almost four scoreless minutes, Jada Walker broke through three Cincy defenders to put up a layup, extending the Bear’s lead to 26-11. Coming out of the under 5:00 media timeout, Andrews drained a two for the Bears, then Bartley fouled and sent Hayes to the line where she went 2-2. Edwards negated the free throws with a layup. Then Andrews and Aijah Blackwell each put up a layup, bringing the Bears up 34-13. Edwards picked up a technical sending Jackson to the line for the Bearcats; she went 2-2; A’riel Jackson turned around and put up a pullup jumper for 2, bringing the score to 34-17 in favor of the Bears. Lety Vasconcelos stopped the bleeding with a Baylor layup, upping the score to 36-17. Thomas and Jackson each tacked on two for Cincy before Fontleroy drained a three, bringing us to 39-21 heading to the locker rooms. 

Second Quarter Stats

Baylor 

FG: 8-16 (50%)

3FG: 2-7 (28.6%)

FT: 0-0 (0%)

REB: 11

A: 6

PF: 4

TO: 5

Cincy

FG: 3-15 (20%)

3FG: 0-3 (0%)

FT: 4-4 (100%)

REB: 8

A: 1

PF: 2

TO: 5

Third Quarter

Coming out of the break, Cincy scored first on a pair of free throws after Fontleroy sent Hayes to the line. Fontleroy made up for it by draining a three on the Bears’ next possession, bringing the score to 42-23. Both teams exchanged blows when Ta’Ziah Jenks and Andrews each put down a layup in sequential possessions. Littlepage-Buggs put up a mid-range jumper, extending the Bears’ lead to 21 (46-25) at the 6:47 mark. Fonteroy drained another three for the Bears, assisted by Andrews. Brianna Byars drained a pullup jumper for Cincinnati, breaking up the Bears’ momentum; however, the Bears got it right back after Littlepage-Buggs got sent to the line where she went 1-2, then Van Gytenbeek sunk a layup and a three, bringing the Bears up by 28 (55-27). Coming out of the under 5:00 media timeout, the Bears sent Hayes to the line, where she went 1-2, and then Jackson turned around and put up a layup, bringing the score to 55-30 in favor of the Bears. Edwards and Van Gytenbeek sandwiched Cincy’s three-pointer by Jackson with a pair of layups. Van Gytenbeek then capped off the quarter with a stepback-three, bringing the score up to 62-33. 

Third Quarter Stats

FG: 9-21 (42.9%)

3FG: 4-8 (50%)

FT: 1-4 (25%)

REB: 14

A: 5

PF: 5

TO: 0

Cincy

FG: 4-14 (28.6%)

3FG: 1-6 (16.7%)

FT: 3-6 (50%)

REB: 10

A: 1

PF: 3

TO: 2