No. 18 Bears Dominate in Battle 4 Atlantis Opener, Defeat Southern Miss 101-55

PARADISE ISLAND, The Bahamas – No. 18 Baylor (4-1) opened the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament with a decisive 101-55 win over Southern Miss (2-3) on Saturday afternoon at Imperial Arena.

In the victory, the Bears turned the ball over a season-low eight times, made a season-high 15 3-pointers and handed out a season-high 25 assists. 

Five players scored in double figures — Darianna Littlepage-Buggs (Jr.), Jada Walker (Sr.), Bella Fontleroy (Jr.), Sarah Andrews (5Sr.) and Yaya Felder (Sr.).

The Bears dominated on the glass all afternoon, out-rebounding Southern Miss 42-to-22. Littlepage-Buggs led the way with seven boards while adding a team-high 19 points on 7-11 shooting.

Walker scored 17 points on an efficient 7-10 shooting and dished out eight assists. Andrews had her best game of the young season, scoring 14 points and nailing four shots from beyond the arc.

The Bears jumped out to a quick start in the first quarter thanks to a pair of buckets from center Aaronette Vonleh (Sr.). Vonleh struggled with foul trouble for much of the game but ended with eight points and five rebounds in 20 minutes of play.

Matching Vonleh was the Golden Eagles starting center, Melyia Grayson (5Sr.), who led Southern Miss with 12 points on 6-of-13 shooting.

In the second quarter, Baylor out-scored Southern Miss, 27-to-8, and shot 59% (10-of-17) from the field and 50% (6-for-12) from beyond the arc. Andrews and Fontleroy both drilled three 3-pointers in the quarter.

After struggling from deep to start the year, Fontleroy hit four of her nine shots from beyond the arc in Saturday’s win. She tied a season-high with 15 points and three rebounds.

The Bears’ dominance continued in the second half. Felder scored five of her 14 points in the third quarter and tied Walker with a team-high eight assists.

Off the bench, Waiata Jennings (Jr.), Kyla Abraham (Jr.) and Kayla Nelms (Fr.) combined for 14 points.

The Bears will now face the winner of Indiana (2-2) versus Colombia (4-1) at 12:30 p.m. CT on Sunday, Nov. 24. The game will be streamed on Flo Sports.