Gameday Thread: Baylor Faces Undefeated No. 1 UCLA in Coretta Scott King Classic

NEWARK, N.J. – Baylor women’s basketball (16-3) will take a quick break from conference play on Monday, Jan. 20, for a highly anticipated matchup against the undefeated No. 1 UCLA Bruins (17-0) in the Coretta Scott King Classic. Tipoff from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT and will be televised on FOX.

• Massey Prediction: UCLA 70, Baylor 67
• Baylor Massey Rating: No. 15
• UCLA Massey Rating: No. 2

Coaches

Baylor (Nicki Collen): 86-31 Record; 3 NCAA Tournaments; Sweet 16

UCLA (Cori Close): 304-140 Record; 8 NCAA Tournaments; 6 Sweet 16s; Elite Eight

Baylor Starters

• Guard Jada Walker (5’7, Sr.): 11.7 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 6.1 APG, 46% FG, 41% 3-PT, 76% FT
• Guard Sarah Andrews (5’6, 5Sr.): 11.4 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 5.3 APG, 37% FG, 35% 3-PT, 59% FT
• Forward Darianna Littlepage-Buggs (6’1, Jr.): 14.5 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 2.1 APG, 53% FG, 73% FT
• Forward Bella Fontleroy (6’0, Jr.): 8.8 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 36% FG, 29% 3-PT, 59% FT
• Center Aaronette Vonleh (6’3, Sr.): 14.2 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 61% FG, 61% FT

Baylor Bench

• Guard Yaya Felder (5’8, Sr.): 11.1 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 2.7 APG, 49% FG, 41% 3-PT, 75% FT
• Guard Aliyah Matharu (5’7, Sr.): 5.2 PPG, 2 RPG, 42% FG, 39% 3-PT, 50% FT
• Forward Kyla Abraham (6’3, Jr.): 2.4 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 46% FG, 40% FT
• *Forward Madison Bartley (6’3, 5Sr.): 2.8 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 52% FG, 77% FT

*questionable with injury*

UCLA Starters

• Guard Kiki Rice (5’11, Jr.): 12.8 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 4.1 APG, 57% FG, 33% 3-PT, 81% FT
• Guard Londynn Jones (5’4, Jr.): 7.9 PPG, 2.2 APG, 31% FG, 34% 3-PT, 75% FT
• Guard Gabriela Jaquez (6’0, Jr.): 10.3 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 2.6 APG, 56% FG, 32% 3-PT, 85% FT
• Forward Angela Dugalic (6’4, Sr.): 9.1 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 51% FG, 37% 3-PT, 88% FT
• Center Lauren Betts (6’7, Jr.): 19.7 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 62% FG, 58% FT

UCLA Bench

• Guard Elina Aarnisalo (5’10, Fr.): 6.9 PPG, 2.9 APG, 4.8 APG, 52% FG, 33% 3-PT, 82% FT
• Forward Timea Gardiner (6’3, Jr.): 9.2 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 46% FG, 44% 3-PT, 94% FT

UCLA Notable Opponents

• No. 17 Louisville (66-59 Win)
• No. 1 South Carolina (77-62 Win)
• No. 24 Michigan (86-70 Win)
• Indiana (73-62 Win)

Top Quotes

Head coach Nicki Collen on facing No. 1 UCLA:

• “It’s a fun challenge as a coach. It’ll be a fun challenge for our players. It’s a really cool opportunity to represent Baylor on the national stage in the first Coretta Scott King Classic. It’s on Martin Luther King Day, a special opportunity for our team. Certainly, when we scheduled this, we did not know that UCLA would be undefeated or that they would have added a haul in the [transfer] portal and all of the things that we signed up for. We have to understand that we’re the underdogs and that we have nothing to lose. … We have to play our style better than they play their style, and they are huge. … We have to be quicker and get into transition. There are a lot of things we’re going to have to do well, but that’s a really, really elite team.”

Center Aaronette Vonleh (Sr.) on playing No. 1 UCLA:

• “They’re always a really, really good team. With them being No. 1, this is a really good opportunity for us to get back into the rankings and back into the conversation of a team that’s capable of winning a championship. We’re definitely going to make the most of this opportunity.”