No. 21 Bears Bash Cowgirls, 67-45

The No. 21 Baylor Bears obliterated the Oklahoma State Cowgirls 67-45 and secured the No. 5 seed for the upcoming Big 12 Tournament. 

Aijha Blackwell and Dre’Una Edwards led the Bears on senior day with both athletes putting on definitive performances to close out their last game in the Foster Pavillion (In the event the Bears host the first and second rounds of the NCAA tournament the games will be played in the Ferrell Center). Blackwell recorded her fifth double-double of the year and led the Bears in scoring and rebounds today with 20 points and 18 boards; Edwards was close behind, recording her third double-double with 16 points and ten rebounds, picking up the last rebound in the final minutes for her double-double. This is a new season high in scoring for Blackwell, replacing the 16 points she scored against Harvard in November (11/19/2023). This is her 22nd game scoring in double figures, her sixth leading in both scoring and her sixth in rebounds. 

Before the game, the Bears celebrated the seniors leaving the program, Aijha Blackwell, Dre’Una Edwards and Catarina Ferreira. In a shock to the crowd, Sarah Andrews announced that she is returning for her fifth year with the program. Jana Van Gytenbeek and Madison Bartley are both seniors and were not recognized in the ceremony; it is unknown if they will return next year. 

Nicki Collen elected to put all three recognized seniors in the starting lineup today, giving Ferreira her first start of the season.

The stats tell an ugly tale of the game but on senior day it was still enough to get the job done and send the seniors out right. In the post-game presser Collen joked about the team padding stats for the seniors which contributed to some of the ugliness on the field goal percentage. 

Final Stats

Baylor 

FG: 28-75 (37.3%)

3FG: 8-28 (28.6%)

FT: 3-10 (30%)

REB: 52

A: 19

PF: 13

TO: 14

Oklahoma State

FG: 20-52 (38.5%)

3FG: 2-12 (16.7%)

FT: 3-6 (50%)

REB: 29

A: 13

PF: 17

TO: 21

First Quarter

TL;DR: Baylor is only shooting 11.1% and trailing by 6; OSU’s shooting percentage is good, but they aren’t taking many shots. So far, this game is excruciatingly slow.

Cowgirls win the tip but don’t capitalize on their first possession with a loose ball forced by Catarina Ferreira and some tough defense under the net from Dre’Una Edwards. The first points weren’t scored until the fifth possession of the game when Quincy Noble made a jumper after Stailee Heard stole the ball from Edwards. Sarah Andrews quickly responded with a three-pointer assisted by Jada Walker. The Cowgirls sent Edwards to the line where she went 1-2. With 6:48 on the clock, Bella Fontleroy enters the game for Ferreira. Lior Garzon and Stailee Heard each put up some two-point jumpers and Blackwell went 1-2 from the line bringing the score to 6-5 in favor of OSU with 5:21 remaining in the first; the Bears brought in Jana Van Gytenbeek and Darianna Littlepage-Buggs. Hannah Gusters went to the line after a shooting foul from Edwards, and she went 2-2. At the under-five media timeout, OSU leads 8-5 after shooting 60% from the field compared to the Bears 14.3%; the Bears are currently shooting 1-7 from the field and 2-4 from the line. Coming out of the timeout, OSU’s Anna Asi drained a jumper for two, then Van Gytenbeek turned around and sunk a three for the Bears. Andrews sent Rylee Langerman to the line where she went 1-2 bringing the score up to 11-8 for OSU. Asi drained a three for the Cowgirls sending us tot eh quarter-break with a score of 14-8.

First Quarter Stats

Baylor 

FG: 2-16 (12.5%)

3FG: 2-7 (28.6%)

FT: 2-4 (50%)

REB: 14

A: 2

PF: 4

TO: 5

Oklahoma State

FG: 5-11 (45.5%)

3FG: 1-4 (25%)

FT: 3-4 (75%)

REB: 9

A: 1

PF: 4

TO: 5

Second Quarter

TL;DR: We will live or die by the three, and we are currently living by it with 18/28 points coming from outside the arc thus far. Bears outscored the Cowgirls 20-8 to take a six-point lead at the half. 

Hannah Gusters and Madison Bartley started off the scoring in the second quarter, each putting up a shot from under the basket for their respective teams. Edwards fouled and sent Langerman to line where she went 0-2, then rebounded a missed shot from Van Gytenbeek for an easy layup. About a minute later Sarah Andrews drained a three to pull the Bears within one (16-15); Gusters answered for OSU with a jumper which Edwards then covered with one of her own. OSU calls a timeout and we have a one-point ball game with 5:39 left in the second, 18-17 in favor of the Cowgirls. After a two minute scoring drought Andrews drains her third three-pointer and the Bears take the lead 20-18. Lior Garson briefly tied it up with a jumper but Blackwell covered that up with a three of her own putting the Bears up 23-20 with 2:49 left in the second. Gusters put up a jumper, bringing OSU within one, but the ever-determined Van Gytenbeek drained a three to keep the Cowgirls at bay. In the final seconds, Jada Walker sunk a layup to send us the half with a score 28-22 in favor of Baylor.

Second Quarter Stats

Baylor 

FG: 8-18 (44.4%)

3FG: 4-9 (44.4%)

FT: 0-0 (0%)

REB: 10

A: 5

PF: 3

TO: 4

Oklahoma State

FG: 4-11 (36.4%)

3FG: 0-3 (0%)

FT: 0-2 (0%)

REB: 7

A: 4

PF: 4

TO: 7

Third Quarter

TL;DR: The quarter started off slow but the Bears quickly found some steam and extended themselves to a comforable lead. The Bears outscored OSU 18-7 in the third.

Cowgirls have the ball to start the third, but Bears strike first and second with a pair of layups from Littlepage-Buggs. Blackwell follows those up with a jumper of her own, and OSU calls a timeout; with 6:31 on the clock, this is a media timeout. Its been a slow quarter thus far with just three shots finding the net, all three of which came from the Bears who are 3-8 (37.5%) from the field so far this quarter, which is still better than the 0-6 we’ve seen from OSU thus far. Coming out of the timeout, Littlepage-Buggs swipes the ball from Langerman and drops it in for another two. Blackwell found the net again with a jumper and the Cowgirls have yet to score in the third with 5:06 remaining, Bears lead 38-22. Blackwell drops it in again for two and we’re at the under-five media timeout, Bears leading 40-22. BU is currently 6-12 (50%) from the field, outscoring OSU 12-0 so far in the third.  With 4:00 on the clock, the Cowgirls finally scored thanks to a three-pointer from Lior Garzon. Blackwell responded with another pair of jumpers; she is Baylor’s leading scorer today with 14 points (6-12, 1-2, 1-2) so far. Edwards rejoins the scoring action with a layup, and the Bears are up 46-25. With a commanding lead and 1:11 left in the third quarter, Ferreira is back in the game for senior day. Noble puts up a jumper for OK State. Asi fouls and sends Van Gytenbeek to the line where she went 0-2. Noble drops in another two points, and we’re heading to the fourth with a score of 56-29 in favor of the Bears. 

Third Quarter Stats

Baylor 

FG: 9-18 (50%)

3FG: 0-2 (0%)

FT: 0-2 (0%)

REB: 14

A: 7

PF: 3

TO: 3

Oklahoma State

FG: 3-14 (21.4%)

3FG: 1-4 (25%)

FT: 0-0

REB: 6

A: 1

PF: 4

TO: 6

Fourth Quarter

TL;DR: Bears outscore Cowgirls 21-16 in the fourth and send out the seniors in style. 

Ferriera starts off the fourth quarter with a contested layup; she’s awarded a free throw but bounces it off the back of the rim. The Bears bring the ball back down the court for Edwards to drain a three. The Bears bring the ball back down the court for Edwards to drain a three. Yes, you read that twice because she did it on back-to-back possessions! Timeout OSU, Bears lead 54-31 with 8:16 left in the game; this is a media timeout. Coming out of the timeout, Andrews connects with Littlepage-Buggs for a clean layup under the basket. OSU answers with a pair of jumpers from Gusters but they’re losing steam quick. Edwards drops in a mid-range jumper for the Bears and Gusters puts one in for OK State, 58-37 in favor of the Bears. Walker sinks a shot for the Bears and Gusters answers for OSU. Gusters is the only double-figure scorer for OSU currently with 18 points (4:45 left in 4Q). Noble drops in a shot for the Cowgirls but the BErs still have a 19 point lead…make that 21 point lead as Blackwell just drained another shot for the Bears. Blackwell steals it from Noble and sprints down the court for the layup; Blackwell now has 18 points for the Bears. Timeout OSU, down 21 with 3:46 remaining. The Cowgirls are showing a burst of energy here in the closing minutes, but the Bears are just more athletic and continue to counter any move OSU makes. Noble drops in another shot and joins Gusters in the double figures; she now has 10 points. Blackwell puts up a shot and is now at 20 points and 17 rebounds. Edwards nabs an offensive rebound, which’ll be good for a double-double on senior day; she currenlty has 15 points and ten boards. All of the seniors exit the game with 1:00 remaining, and the foster is LOUD. Edwards and Blackwell both finish with double-doubles. 

Fourth Quarter Stats

Baylor 

FG: 9-21 (42.9%) 

3FG: 2-10 (20%)

FT: 1-4 (25%)

REB: 14

A: 5

PF: 3

TO: 2

Oklahoma State

FG: 8-16 (50%)

3FG: 0-1 (0%)

FT: 0-0

REB: 7

A: 7

PF: 5

TO: 3