Game Thread: No. 22 Baylor Women’s Basketball Aims to Upset No. 10 Iowa State

AMES, Iowa – No. 22 Baylor women’s basketball (12-3, 1-1) opens the new year on the road, playing as guests to Player of the Year candidate Audi Crooks and the No. 10 Iowa State Cyclones (14-0, 2-0). Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT on Sunday, Jan. 4, at the Hilton Coliseum. The game will be televised on ESPN.

Iowa State is undefeated as a result of its elite offense. The Cyclones operate in the halfcourt with extreme efficiency. Iowa State choosing to play in the halfcourt is a big reason they have had great ball security throughout the season. They only turn the ball over 15.6% of possessions per Barttorvik.

They surround their star, Crooks, with shooters, and it has led to the highest team effective field goal percentage in the country. The Cyclones average 1.186 points per field goal attempt. Baylor will need to find a way to limit Crooks without giving up open kickout 3-pointers.

• Baylor Barttorvik Rank: 31
  • Baylor Massey Rating: 22
• Iowa State Barttorvik Rank: 27
  • Iowa State Massey Rating: 10
• Barttorvik Prediction: 74-70 Iowa State
  • Massey Prediction: 73-69 Iowa State

Coaches

• Nicki Collen (Baylor): 114-39 record; 4 NCAA Tournaments, Sweet 16
• Bill Fennelly (Iowa State): 814-378 record; 26 NCAA Tournaments, 2 Elite 8s, 6 Sweet 16s

Projected Lineups

Baylor Starters

• Guard Jana Van Gytenbeek (5’7, 6Sr.): 7.0 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 6.8 APG, 37% FG, 37% 3-PT, 75% FT, 31 MPG
• Guard Taliah Scott (5’9, RSo.): 21.1 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 3.4 APG, 1.4 SPG, 46% FG, 39% 3-PT, 91% FT, 30 MPG
• Forward Bella Fontleroy (6’0, Sr.): 9.6 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 1.1 APG, 1.7 SPG, 1.3 BPG, 37% FG, 28% 3-PT, 80% FT, 26 MPG
• Forward Darianna Littlepage-Buggs (6’1, Sr.): 9.9 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.0 SPG, 46% FG, 17% 3-PT, 58% FT, 28 MPG
• Forward Kiersten Johnson (6’4, Sr.): 5.7 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 0.5 APG, 2.2 BPG, 54% FG, 58% 3-PT, 80% FT, 19 MPG

Baylor Bench

• Guard Marcayla Johnson (6’0, Fr.): 5.1 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 0.8 APG, 33% FG, 15% 3-PT, 38% FT, 22 MPG
• Guard Yuting Deng (6’2, So.): 8.3 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 1.0 APG, 51% FG, 43% 3-PT, 59% FT, 18 MPG
• Forward Kyla Abraham (6’3, RJr.): 3.5 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 0.3 APG, 1.7 BPG, 66% FG, 54% FT, 16 MPG
• Forward Kayla Nelms (6’1, So.): 4.7 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 0.5 APG, 58% FG, 33% 3-PT, 73% FT, 10 MPG
• Guard Ella Brow (5’8, Jr.): 0.0 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 2.0 APG, 5 MPG

Projected Lineups

Iowa State Starters

• Guard Jada Williams (5’8, Jr.): 11.1 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 7.9 APG, 1.2 SPG, 40% FG, 27% 3-PT, 84% FT, 26 MPG
• Guard Arianna Jackson (5’9, Jr.): 5.5 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 0.7 APG, 47% FG, 50% 3-PT, 25 MPG
• Guard Kenzie Hare (5’9, Jr.): 6.6 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 0.9 APG, 52% FG, 50% 3-PT, 64% FT, 21 MPG
• Forward Addy Brown (6’2, Jr.): 13.9 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 5.6 APG, 51% FG, 43% 3-PT, 77% FT, 29 MPG
• Center Audi Crooks (6’3, Jr.): 29.4 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 1.8 APG, 73% FG, 70% FT, 27 MPG

Iowa State Bench

• Forward Sydney Harris (6’1, Sr.): 6.8 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 0.5 APG, 39% FG, 37% 3-PT, 89% FT, 15 MPG
• Forward Alisa Williams (6’2, Jr.): 6.1 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 0.7 APG, 67% FG, 0% 3-PT, 96% FT, 13 MPG
• Guard Reagan Wilson (5’8, So.): 3.5 PPG, 0.9 RPG, 1.4 APG, 52% FG, 48% 3-PT, 83% FT, 10 MPG