Gameday Thread: Bears Travel To Houston To Face Cougars

HOUSTON – Baylor women’s basketball (18-5, 8-2) hits the road for a matchup against the Houston Cougars (5-17, 1-10). Tipoff from the Fertitta Center is slated for 7 p.m. CT on Wednesday, Feb. 5, and will be streamed on ESPN+.

• Massey Prediction: Baylor 74, Houston 55
• Baylor Massey Rating: No. 16
• Houston Massey Rating: No. 156

Coaches

Baylor (Nicki Collen): 88-33 Record; 3 NCAA Tournaments; Sweet 16

Houston (Ronald Hughey): 140-186

Baylor Starters

• Guard Jada Walker (5’7, Sr.): 10.9 PPG, 3 RPG, 5.6 APG, 43% FG, 37% 3-PT, 77% FT
• Guard Sarah Andrews (5’6, 5Sr.): 11.4 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 5.4 APG, 36% FG, 35% 3-PT, 56% FT
• Forward Darianna Littlepage-Buggs (6’1, Jr.): 13.6 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 2.1 APG, 50% FG, 72% FT
• Forward Bella Fontleroy (6’0, Jr.): 9.4 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 38% FG, 31% 3-PT, 57% FT
• Center Aaronette Vonleh (6’3, Sr.): 13.9 PPG, 5 RPG, 61% FG, 59% FT

Baylor Bench

• Guard Yaya Felder (5’8, Sr.): 10.7 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 2.7 APG, 47% FG, 40% 3-PT, 73% FT
• Guard Aliyah Matharu (5’7, Sr.): 7.4 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 50% FG, 48% 3-PT, 55% FT
• Forward Kyla Abraham (6’3, Jr.): 2.3 PPG, 3 RPG, 46% FG, 35% FT
• Forward Kayla Nelms (6’1, Fr.): 2.6 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 44% FG, 23% 3-PT

Houston Starters

• Guard Kierra Merchant (5’7, So.): 8.9 PPG, 4 RPG, 38% FG, 35% 3-PT, 68% FT
• Guard Laila Blair (5’8, Sr.): 13.2 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 2.5 APG, 36% FG, 34% 3-PT, 80% FT
• Guard Gigi Cooke (5’8, So.): 11.7 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 1.8 APG, 34% FG, 24% 3-PT, 72% FT
• Guard Leilani Augmon (5’11, Sr.): 5.6 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 37% FG, 62% FT
• Forward Peyton McFarland (6’4, Sr.): 6.2 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 46% FG, 79% FT

Houston Bench

• Guard Eylia Love (6’1, Sr.): 10.8 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 33% FG, 72% FT

Houston Notable Opponents

• No. 12 Kansas State (74-55 Loss)
• Arizona State (69-60 Loss)
• No. 22 Utah (69-42 Loss)
• No. 24 Oklahoma State (79-76 Win)
• Baylor (70-51 Loss)

Top Quotes

Head coach Nicki Collen on the back half of conference play:

• “When you get to conference play, when your goal is to win a conference championship, you have to hold serve, and we can’t lose. Do I think we have a team that can win every game on the schedule? Yes. Does that mean we’re going to win every game on our schedule? I hope it does from this point on, but certainly, you have to go out, and you have to win them.”

Guard Sarah Andrews (5Sr.) on the back half of conference play:

• “I think you learn that everybody in the Big 12 is good. Anybody in the league can be beaten. Going into the second half, it’s a blessing that we’re still at the top. We still have a chance to compete for a conference championship.”