Game Thread: No. 15 Baylor Women’s Basketball Looks to Rebound Against Southern

WACO, Texas – No. 13 Baylor women’s basketball (10-2) takes on the Southern Jaguars (4-5) as the Bears play their final non-conference game. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT on Thursday, Dec. 18, at the Foster Pavilion. The game will be televised on ESPN+.

Southern scheduled an impressive non-conference schedule, playing nine high-major programs. The Jaguars have notable wins at Arizona and at Houston, both in December.

• Baylor Barttorvik Rank: 29
  • Baylor Massey Rating: 20
• Southern Barttorvik Rank: 178
  • Southern Massey Rating: 182
• Barttorvik Prediction: 72-47 Baylor
  • Massey Prediction: 79-38 Baylor

Coaches

• Nicki Collen (Baylor): 112-38 record; 4 NCAA Tournaments, Sweet 16
• Carlos Funchess (Southern): 120-105 record; 3 NCAA Tournaments

Projected Lineups

Baylor Starters

• Guard Jana Van Gytenbeek (5’7, 6Sr.): 5.8 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 6.4 APG, 37% FG, 38% 3-PT, 75% FT, 30 MPG
• Guard Marcayla Johnson (6’0, Fr.): 5.3 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 1.0 APG, 36% FG, 18% 3-PT, 39% FT, 21 MPG
• Forward Bella Fontleroy (6’0, Sr.): 9.8 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 0.8 APG, 1.5 SPG, 1.3 BPG, 39% FG, 29% 3-PT, 93% FT, 24 MPG
• Forward Darianna Littlepage-Buggs (6’1, Sr.): 9.7 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.0 SPG, 46% FG, 22% 3-PT, 58% FT, 29 MPG
• Forward Kiersten Johnson (6’4, Sr.): 6.5 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 0.6 APG, 2.5 BPG, 59% FG, 67% 3-PT, 75% FT, 20 MPG

Baylor Bench

• Guard Yuting Deng (6’2, So.): 7.3 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 1.0 APG, 51% FG, 42% 3-PT, 83% FT, 17 MPG
• Forward Kyla Abraham (6’3, RJr.): 3.3 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 0.3 APG, 1.8 BPG, 64% FG, 50% FT, 17 MPG
• Forward Kayla Nelms (6’1, So.): 3.6 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 0.3 APG, 52% FG, 17% 3-PT, 63% FT, 9 MPG
• Forward Kiera Pemberton (6’1, Jr.): 2.7 PPG, 1.4 RPG, 0.3 APG, 73% FG, 50% 3-PT, 88% FT, 8 MPG
• Guard Taliah Scott (5’9, RSo.)*: 22.6 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.6 SPG, 46% FG, 39% 3-PT, 91% FT, 32 MPG

*Not expected to play due to injury 

Projected Lineups

Southern Starters

• Guard Mykayla Cunningham (5’10, Jr.): 3.9 PPG, 1.6 RPG, 4.1 APG, 1.5 SPG, 24% FG, 10% 3-PT, 60% FT, 26 MPG
• Guard D’Shantae Edwards (5’7, Sr.): 3.1 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 1.1 APG, 1.1 SPG, 22% FG, 20% 3-PT, 83% FT, 17 MPG
• Guard Jaylia Reed (5’5, Sr.): 7.3 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 1.1 APG, 37% FG, 34% 3-PT, 73% FT, 22 MPG
• Guard Zaria Hurston (6’0, Jr.): 8.4 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 0.7 APG, 41% FG, 33% 3-PT, 48% FT, 24 MPG
• Forward DeMya Porter (6’1, So.): 9.8 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 0.2 APG, 58% FG, 82% FT, 20 MPG

Southern Bench

• Guard Jocelyn Tate (5’11, So.): 6.6 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 2.3 APG, 2.1 SPG, 32% FG, 14% 3-PT, 67% FT, 21 MPG
• Guard Jestiny Dixon (5’8, Jr.): 2.1 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 0.9 APG, 1.0 SPG, 23% FG, 33% 3-PT, 67% FT, 18 MPG
• Guard Demonnie Lagway (5’10, Sr.): 4.9 PPG, 0.9 RPG, 0.9 APG, 1.0 SPG, 35% FG, 46% 3-PT, 64% FT, 17 MPG
• Guard Olivia Delancey (5’11, Sr.): 3.9 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 0.1 APG, 27% FG, 24% 3-PT, 40% FT, 16 MPG
• Center Anaja Hall (6’5, Jr.): 6.0 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 0.3 APG, 55% FG, 46% FT, 15 MPG