Baylor Beats Villanova, Finishes in 3rd Place in Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament
PARADISE ISLAND, The Bahamas – Baylor (5-2) bounced back with a 73-62 win over Villanova (4-3) in the third-place game of the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament on Monday afternoon at Imperial Arena.
The Wildcats had just three players over six feet on their roster, and the Bears took advantage of that mismatch, scoring 40 points in the paint and out-rebounding Villanova 42-to-25.
Center Aaronette Vonleh (Sr.) was dominant in the victory, scoring a season-high 19 points on 8-11 shooting; Vonleh scored nine of the Bears’ 20 fourth-quarter points.
“We gave the ball to Aaronette Vonleh,” head coach Nicki Collen jokingly told ESPN after the game of what made the difference in today’s win. “The game isn’t complicated. We’re starting to understand it’s hard to guard her when she’s in the middle of the floor.”
Veteran guard Sarah Andrews (5Sr.) was Baylor’s second-leading scorer. She dropped an efficient 15 points and was 3-4 from beyond the arc. Andrews scored five points in the fourth quarter and drilled a deep 3-pointer when Villanova started making a run late.
“I thought Sarah Andrews made shots; she hit big buckets for us,” Collen said. “Sarah took shots in rhythm. She wasn’t forcing stuff. When she hits a couple, then you can go crazy with the stepbacks, but you need to see the ball go through before you’re taking those.”
In the first half, Baylor shot 64% (14-22) from the field but trailed 37-36 going into halftime due to 10 turnovers. Villanova took advantage of the early miscues and scored nine points off BU’s turnovers.
The Wildcats scored just 36 total points in their loss to No. 16 North Carolina on Sunday but came out and started 6-for-6 from beyond the arc against the Bears.
Forward Darianna Littlepage-Buggs (Jr.) added six points in the third quarter; she finished one rebounded shy of a double-double with 11 points and nine boards.
The game was tied entering the fourth quarter at 53 apiece before Vonleh and Andrews took over the stretch. Forward Bella Fontleroy (Jr.) drilled the dagger 3-pointer to go ahead, 72-60, with three and a half minutes remaining.
Fontleroy played outstanding defense all afternoon, racking up three blocks and nine rebounds while scoring nine points.
After shooting 3-for-16 in Sunday’s loss to Indiana, guard Jada Walker (Sr.) played much better against Villanova, dishing out five assists and scoring 11 points on 5-for-8 shooting.
“Jada really pressed yesterday and took too many shots,” Collen said. “I thought she was much more balanced in her approach and got us into the offense better.”
Baylor will return to Waco before picking up play against New Orleans (0-5) on Friday, Nov. 29, at 2 p.m. at Foster Pavilion.