Feisty Defense Propels No. 17 Bears Past Texas A&M Corpus Christi, 65-42

WACO, Texas – In the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Baylor women’s basketball program, the No. 17 Bears (3-1) took down Texas A&M Corpus Christi (3-1), 65-42, Sunday afternoon at Foster Pavilion.

In the victory, Baylor’s defense stifled the Islanders throughout the contest. The Bears collected a season-high nine blocks, forced 11 steals and held Texas A&M Corpus Christi to 30% shooting from the field (18-60).

On the other end of the floor, however, the Bears struggled on offense for much of the game, shooting a season-low 34% from the field (22-66), 36% from beyond the arc (11-30) and turning the ball over 15 times. Baylor was 5-for-13 on layups and shot 53% from the free-throw line (10-19).

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Baylor struggled for much of the afternoon on offense but pulled away late. Yaya Felder (Sr.) and Sarah Andrews (5Sr.) combined for 11 points in the fourth quarter.

“I need to give credit to Corpus Christi because if you look at them analytically, this is what they do,” head coach Nicki Collen said post-game. “Am I frustrated with our execution and inability to finish at the rim? Yes. Do I think they had something to do with it? Yes.”

Guard Yaya Felder (Sr.) and forward Bella Fontleroy (Jr.) both finished with a team-high 12 points. Felder also added four rebounds and two assists, while Fontleroy drilled four 3-pointers, collected five rebounds and blocked a career-high five shots.

“I’ve seen Yaya grow so much in the past year,” Fontleroy said. “Nicki always uses that phrase of ‘instant offense,’ and [Yaya] really is. She’s become way more disciplined in the shots that she takes and the looks she has. It’s not only her scoring, but she comes in and gets assists and gets stops.”

Center Aaronette Vonleh (Sr.) got involved early, just minutes into the first quarter, with a successful post hook; the bucket marked her 1,000th career collegiate point.

Vonleh fouled out in 20 minutes of play but ended the contest with nine points and two rebounds.

Baylor shot at just a 35% clip from the field and 14% from beyond the arc in the first quarter, but Felder provided a nice spark off the bench for the Bears with seven early points.

“The nature of how they play is very uncomfortable with us; it’s even uncomfortable for me to coach because I don’t like slowing down,” Collen said of Texas A&M Corpus Christi. “I like the game to go up and down.”

The shooting woes continued early in the second quarter until the Bears went on a 12-2 to close the half.

Guard Jada Walker (Sr.) went on a personal 5-0 run with a 3-pointer and a fast-break layup. Forward Darianna Littlepage-Buggs (Jr.) added a couple of buckets and guard Sarah Andrews (5Sr.) nailed a corner-3 as the buzzer expired.

Baylor took a 35-23 lead heading into the halftime locker room.

The Bears pulled away in the fourth quarter with some feisty defense and a handful of big shots from Felder and Andrews. The duo combined for 11 points in the fourth quarter.

Andrews put together an all-around performance with 11 points, eight rebounds and five assists.

Baylor will head to the Bahamas next week for the “Battle 4 Atlantis” Tournament. The Bears will take on Southern Miss (2-2) in the opening round on Saturday, Nov. 23, at 12:30 p.m. The game will be streamed on Flo Hoops.