Gameday Thread: Baylor Takes On UNLV in Sunday Showdown

WACO, Texas – Baylor (8-2) will face one of its toughest non-conference opponents, the UNLV Rebels (6-2), on Sunday, Dec. 8. Tipoff at Foster Pavilion is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT and the game will be streamed on ESPN+.

Massey Prediction: Baylor 76, UNLV 60

Coaches

Baylor (Nicki Collen): 79-30 Record; 3 NCAA Tournaments; Sweet 16

UNLV (Lindy La Rocque): 108-24 Record; 3 NCAA Tournaments

Baylor Starters

• Guard Jada Walker (5’7, Sr.): 12.9 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 5.9 APG, 46% FG, 38% 3-PT, 73% FT
• Guard Sarah Andrews (5’6, 5Sr.): 9.9 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 5.1 APG, 33% FG, 30% 3-PT, 64% FT
• Forward Darianna Littlepage-Buggs (6’1, Jr.): 15.2 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 1.8 APG, 51% FG, 29% 3-PT, 77% FT
• Forward Bella Fontleroy (6’0, Jr.): 9.7 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 39% FG, 32% 3-PT, 44% FT
• Center Aaronette Vonleh (6’3, Sr.): 14.2 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 65% FG, 54% FT

Baylor Bench

• Guard Yaya Felder (5’8, Sr.): 11.3 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 2.8 APG, 56% FG, 47% 3-PT, 70% FT
• Forward Kyla Abraham (6’3, Jr.): 3.1 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 48% FG, 50% FT
• Guard Waiata Jennings (5’9, Jr.): 2.3 PPG, 1.2 RPG, 47% FG, 39% 3-PT
• Forward Kayla Nelms (6’1, Fr.): 2.7 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 47% FG
• Forward Madison Bartley (6’3, 5Sr.): 2.1 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 50% FG, 72% FT

*stats last updated on 12/1 prior to Texas Southern game*

Top Quotes

Head coach Nicki Collen on finishing the non-conference schedule:

• “I want to see us execute our stuff better. We’ve done a better job of understanding the pieces and who we are, but as the opponents continue to get better, we have to do what we do better. We have to shore up our defensive transition and things that have hurt on the defensive end. … Offensively, it’s taking care of the basketball. Nothing drives me more crazy, and we still turn it over too much.”

Head coach Nicki Collen on not being ranked:

• “I would rather face the adversity earlier in the season and say, ‘We’re not as good as we think we are and that we have to keep working.’ We’re going to have each of these tests ahead of us, and we have to pass them. We have plenty of games on our schedule that can prove we belong in the top 25, top 15 and top 10. I think we have the potential to be a top-10 team. Do I think we’ve played like a top-10 team in the first eight games? No, but I think that’s what we have to prove.”

Forward Bella Fontleroy (Jr.) on not being ranked:

• “We just have to continue doing things the right way. I think the past two wins at home, since the trips to The Bahamas and then our first loss at Oregon, we have started to do things the right way again. I don’t think there was ever a time that we didn’t do things the right way, but I don’t think we did them the right way collectively. There are moments when Coach Tony [Greene] in film would pause, and he’d be like, ‘I understand what you guys are doing, and you’re working really hard, but you’re not working smart or together.’ We have to have all of those things together so we can do it the right way. ”