Game Thread: No. 14 Baylor Women’s Basketball Faces Huge Road Test at No. 22 West Virginia

MORGANTOWN, W.V. – No. 14 Baylor women’s basketball (19-3, 8-1) aims to bring its eight-game winning streak into February against the West Virginia Mountaineers (17-5, 7-3), who look to bounce back following a road loss against Utah. Tipoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. CT on Sunday, Feb. 1. The game will be televised on ESPN.

The Mountaineers are capable on both ends of the floor, and a lot of that success stems from their rebounding. They rank 43rd in offensive rebounding percentage and 27th in defensive rebounding percentage. West Virginia’s biggest strength is its ability to turn teams over, ranking ninth nationally in defensive turnover percentage, turning opponents over on 32.3% of possessions.

Baylor must take care of the ball and exploit the Mountaineers’ weak 3-point defense. This game currently ranks second in wins above bubble on Baylor’s remaining schedule.

• Baylor Barttorvik Rank: 26
  • Baylor Massey Rating: 14
• West Virginia Barttorvik Rank: 27
  • West Virginia Massey Rating: 21
• Barttorvik Prediction: 64-62 West Virginia
  • Massey Prediction: 67-63 West Virginia

Coaches

• Nicki Collen (Baylor): 121-39 record; 4 NCAA Tournaments, Sweet 16
• Mark Kellogg (West Virginia): 262-76 record; 4 NCAA Tournaments

Projected Lineups

Baylor Starters

• Guard Jana Van Gytenbeek (5’7, 6Sr.): 7.4 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 6.5 APG, 1.0 SPG, 38% FG, 35% 3-PT, 71% FT, 32 MPG
• Guard Taliah Scott (5’9, RSo.): 20.3 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.2 SPG, 40% FG, 33% 3-PT, 90% FT, 30 MPG
• Forward Bella Fontleroy (6’0, Sr.): 9.7 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 1.1 APG, 1.7 SPG, 1.4 BPG, 35% FG, 30% 3-PT, 87% FT, 26 MPG
• Forward Darianna Littlepage-Buggs (6’1, Sr.): 10.9 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 2.0 APG, 53% FG, 27% 3-PT, 62% FT, 29 MPG
• Forward Kiersten Johnson (6’4, Sr.): 5.4 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 0.5 APG, 2.0 BPG, 51% FG, 57% 3-PT, 73% FT, 19 MPG

Baylor Bench

• Guard Yuting Deng (6’2, So.): 7.7 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 1.1 APG, 46% FG, 40% 3-PT, 74% FT, 18 MPG
• Guard Marcayla Johnson (6’0, Fr.): 3.8 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 0.8 APG, 32% FG, 14% 3-PT, 38% FT, 18 MPG
• Forward Kyla Abraham (6’3, RJr.): 3.9 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 0.3 APG, 1.7 BPG, 59% FG, 48% FT, 16 MPG
• Forward Kayla Nelms (6’1, So.): 4.1 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 0.4 APG, 58% FG, 40% 3-PT, 75% FT, 9 MPG
• Guard Ines Goryanova (5’8, Fr.): 1.0 PPG, 0.0 RPG, 1.3 APG, 40% FG, 0% 3-PT, 6 MPG

Projected Lineups

West Virginia Starters

• Guard Jordan Harrison (5’6, Sr.): 12.6 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 5.2 APG, 2.8 SPG, 42% FG, 25% 3-PT, 82% FT, 30 MPG
• Guard Gia Cooke (5’8, Jr.): 14.5 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.0 SPG, 37% FG, 31% 3-PT, 76% FT, 28 MPG
• Guard Sydney Shaw (5’9, Sr.): 11.6 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 2.5 APG, 2.2 SPG, 43% FG, 40% 3-PT, 78% FT, 32 MPG
• Forward Kierra Wheeler (6’1, Sr.): 13.4 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.7 SPG, 53% FG, 29% 3-PT, 55% FT, 28 MPG
• Forward Carter McCray (6’1, Jr.): 7.6 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 0.8 APG, 60% FG, 100% 3-PT, 53% FT, 21 MPG

West Virginia Bench

• Guard Sydney Woodley (5’8, Sr.): 5.3 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 0.3 APG, 1.3 SPG, 51% FG, 17% 3-PT, 85% FT, 17 MPG
• Forward Riley Makalusky (6’2, Jr.): 5.0 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 0.5 APG, 42% FG, 42% 3-PT, 78% FT, 16 MPG
• Forward Jordan Thomas (6’3, So.): 4.6 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 0.6 APG, 57% FG, 68% FT, 13 MPG
• Forward Celia Riviere (6’3, Sr.): 2.4 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 1.5 APG, 47% FG, 58% FT, 11 MPG
• Guard Loghan Johnson (5’10, Jr.): 1.8 PPG, 1.1 RPG, 0.6 APG, 50% FG, 20% 3-PT, 61% FT, 9 MPG