Littlepage-Buggs, Vonleh Collect Double-Doubles as No. 17 Bears Take Down ETAMU, 104-55
WACO, Texas – No. 17 Baylor (2-1) rebounded from its last-minute loss to Oregon with a dominating 104-55 win over East Texas A&M (2-2) Thursday night at Foster Pavilion.
Forward Darianna Littlepage-Buggs (Jr.) collected the 22nd double-double of her career in the victory, scoring 22 points on 6-of-8 shooting and bringing down 11 boards. She was also 10-of-12 from the free throw line.
Littlepage-Buggs has been the Bears' leading scorer early in the season, averaging 22 points per game across the first three contests.
"She's combining her motor, which she's had since the day she stepped on campus, with her process and is continuing to get better," head coach Nicki Collen said after the win. "She's finishing at the rim. She's making good decisions most of the time. Tonight, it was drawing fouls. … She brings you what you need when you need it."
In the victory, Baylor shot 53% from the floor (42-of-79) and turned the ball over just 10 times, compared to East Texas A&M's 23.
Guards Jada Walker (Sr.) and Sarah Andrews (5Sr.) played efficiently, scoring 11 and nine points, respectively; the duo combined for 15 assists.
After totaling just five points against Oregon, the Bears prioritized feeding 6-foot-3 center Aaronette Vonleh (Sr.) early and often inside the paint.
Vonleh had four points a minute and a half into the contest. She struggled with foul trouble for the rest of the first half but finished with 18 points on 8-of-14 shooting from the field and 11 rebounds — six of which were offensive. It was her fifth career double-double and first as a Bear.
"That shows we can have a balanced game," Andrews said. "We can kill you in the post, and our guards can kill you as well. I think that's a little bit of what we were missing last year. To see Netty dominate down there is amazing; it'll open up stuff for the guards. Her having a night like this is just the beginning."
Outside of Vonleh's early impact, Baylor had a sloppy first quarter, shooting 25% (8-for-18) from the field and 57% (4-for-7) on layups. The Bears picked up the pace in the second quarter and outscored the Lions 28-to-10.
"I thought that team was better than the score," Collen said. "They bothered us at times."
Forward Bella Fontleroy (Jr.) showed some life on offense after playing only two minutes against Oregon due to an ankle injury. She drained a 3-pointer and added seven of her 15 points in the quarter.
Forward Kayla Nelms (Fr.) and junior college transfer guard Waiata Jennings (Jr.) both scored their first points in a Baylor uniform on put-back layups. Nelms ended the contest with eight points and six boards, while Jennings dropped five points and collected three rebounds.
"I thought Wise was phenomenal," Collen said. "She played within herself. She didn't do anything crazy. She was guarding really, really well. I thought her defensive intensity was really important for us."
The Bears went on a 55-27 run over the final two quarters and closed with a season-high 104 total points.
Every player off the bench made positive contributions in the second half. Guard Yaya Felder (Sr.), who will be asked to step up in the absence of Jana Van Gytenbeek (5Sr.), had 11 points. Center Kyla Abraham (Jr.) tallied three points, seven rebounds and two blocks.
"When Kyla settles down and takes her time around the rim, it becomes more of an offensive threat," Collen said. "She's going to be really, really good coming off the bench for Netty. I think she gives us more of a shot-blocking presence."
The Bears (2-1) will resume action on Sunday versus Texas A&M Corpus Christi (3-0). Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT, and the game will be streamed on ESPN+.