No. 13 Baylor Women’s Basketball Screams Past Alabama State 90-36

WACO, Texas – No. 13 Baylor women’s basketball (10-1) defeated Alabama State (2-6) by a score of 90-36, led by a huge day from the starting backcourt.

Sixth-year point guard Jana Van Gytenbeek put up her first career triple-double, amassing 10 points, 10 rebounds and 13 assists. The veteran only attempted five shots and limited her turnovers to three in the milestone performance.

Redshirt-sophomore guard Taliah Scott led the Bears in the scoring department with 30 points, on 7-of-11 shooting from the field, 5-of-7 shooting from 3-point range and a perfect 11-of-11 shooting from the free-throw line.

The starting frontcourt had an impressive day as well. Senior forward Darianna Littlepage-Buggs added a double-double, scoring 10 points and securing 10 rebounds. Senior forward Kiersten Johnson totaled 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting, six rebounds and three blocks.

Baylor was clearly more athletic and talented, holding Alabama State to 17-of-66 shooting from the field and 2-of-14 shooting from downtown, while turning over the Lady Hornets 18 times. On the contrary, the Bears shot 28-of-61 from inside the arc, and had a hot day from deep, converting on 11-of-23 3-point attempts.

Baylor started fast in a scream-filled Foster Pavilion. Littlepage-Buggs split a pair of free throws and knocked down a mid-range jumper, Johnson converted an and-one layup and Scott knocked down a triple as the Bears opened the game on a 9-0 run. A transition layup from Johnson and a layup off an attacked closeout from Bella Fontleroy forced an Alabama State timeout just before a media timeout, with the score being 13-2.

After the Lady Hornets’ timeout, the game turned into the Scott show. She contributed to the following eight Baylor points, knocking down a pair of 3-pointers and assisting a Marcayla Johnson transition layup. The Bears’ defense was stout on the other end of the floor, forcing Alabama State into multiple mid-range jump shots and runners.

Scott led the way for the Bears in the opening quarter, totaling nine points on 3-of-3 shooting from downtown. Baylor shot 8-of-19 from the field and amassed six offensive rebounds. Alabama State shot 3-of-17 from the field, putting the score at 24-7 entering the second quarter.

Baylor was out in transition early in the second quarter. Scott found Fontleroy for a layup on a fastbreak, then Van Gytenbeek did it herself for another transition layup. Scott followed that up by drawing a foul in the Bears’ third consecutive transition opportunity and converted both free throws.

The Baylor defense was a big reason for the transition opportunities, holding Alabama State scoreless for the first 3:05 of the quarter. Scott continued to impress in the quarter. She took a steal all the way for another transition basket and knocked down her fourth 3-pointer of the game before being subbed out with 5:10 remaining in the half.

Van Gytenbeek knocked down a top-of-the-key 3-pointer right after the second quarter media timeout, and knocked down a left wing triple three possessions later. Her recent shooting resurgence has been a very welcoming sight for the Bears following a rough start to the season.

Yuting Deng got in on the longball party with Van Gytenbeek, adding two of her own, as Van Gytenbeek and Deng combined for 12 consecutive Baylor points. Deng ended the day with nine points, all from the 3-point line. A Johnson steal and layup concluded the first-half scoring for the Bears, and put Baylor up 53-17 heading into the break.

Baylor’s blistering hot 3-point shooting in the first half was key in the 53-point half. The Bears shot 8-of-13 from beyond the arc and a respectable 10-of-19 from 2-point territory.

Baylor was very unselfish and moved the ball around, leading to 14 assists on 18 field goals. The defense forced Alabama State into an abysmal 8-of-32 shooting and 10 turnovers. The difference in size and length was very apparent.

Scott concluded the half with 16 points on four made threes, four rebounds and three assists. Her backcourt mate Van Gytenbeek added 10 first-half points and five assists. Littlepage-Buggs led the Bears on the glass with six rebounds to go along with seven points herself.

The Bears got off to a quick 8-0 run in the third quarter, with Littlepage-Buggs opening the scoring, and Kiersten Johnson and Scott connecting from deep. The following Alabama State possession stalled and forced a Lady Hornets’ timeout just 2:15 into the second half.

Following a Lady Hornets’ 4-0 run, another Johnson and-one finish added to the Bears’ dominance inside and put her over the double-digit scoring mark on the day. Johnson continued her productive quarter with two blocks on the following possession that ended in a Lady Hornets shot-clock violation.

The ‘Scream Game’ reached an atmosphere peak on the Bears’ next trip down the court, with three Scott free throws putting the Bears at 67 points, prompting a celebration from head coach Nicki Collen and the visiting grade school students.

Scott continued another big quarter, converting on an additional six free throws and knocking down a contested mid-range jumper, bringing her third-quarter total to 14 points. Only three Bears scored in the quarter, but the big quarter from Scott led to Baylor winning the quarter by a score of 23-11.

Alabama State was 5-of-20 from the field and 1-of-6 from 3-point range. It was also a good game for cupcake fans, as the Lady Hornets failed to convert on all five third-quarter free-throw attempts. The fourth quarter began with the Bears holding a 76-28 lead.

Sophomore forward Kayla Nelms got on the board to break the ice in the fourth quarter, scoring through contact in the paint. Fellow forward Kyla Abraham also broke into the scoring column, knocking down a free throw on the following possession and converting on a layup from a Van Gytenbeek drive and dish later in the quarter.

Johnson joined in on the frontcourt scoring party, also finishing off a Van Gytenbeek pass. The Baylor frontcourt trio scored the first eight points of the quarter for the Bears.

A Deng triple continued Baylor’s strong day, as it extended the Bears’ lead to 55. Nelms added to her strong quarter as well. She ended the quarter with a quarter-high six points.

While the Bears did have a rough fourth quarter shooting the ball, only converting on 5-of-17 attempts, the Baylor bench erupted as Van Gytenbeek secured her 10th rebound to post a triple-double. The sixth-year point guard had undergone ACL surgery during the 2024-25 season, and the achievement clearly meant a lot to Van Gytenbeek, as she immediately smiled.

Baylor coasted to a 14-8 fourth-quarter advantage and 90-36 triumph.

The clear takeaway is Van Gytenbeek’s recent comfort on the court. She had a rough start to the season, but over the last three games, she has totaled 34 points and 28 assists.

Van Gytenbeek’s resurgence adds a true threat from beyond the arc, and that extra shooting capability allowed the Bears to get into favorable closeouts all game, which they did a good job of attacking and making the correct read. Baylor assisted 22-of-28 field goals on the day.

Turnovers would be the only critique, as a team as talented as the Bears should not have a 21.6 turnover rate against Alabama State. Overall, a smooth win with a lot of positives to a few negatives, and a confidence booster before a huge matchup.

The Bears’ (10-1) next game is against the Texas Longhorns at 12 p.m. CT, Sunday, Dec. 14, at the Foster Pavilion. The game will be streamed on ABC.