Game Thread: No. 15 Baylor WBB Returns to Action, Looks to Rebound at Cincinnati

CINCINNATI – No. 15 Baylor women’s basketball (19-4, 8-2) will have to show its ability to regroup after a loss, as the Bears stay on the road to play the Cincinnati Bearcats (8-14, 3-7). Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. CT on Wednesday, Feb. 4, at the Fifth Third Arena. The game will be televised on ESPN+.

Cincinnati’s strength is its offensive rebounding. However, the Bearcats simply cannot stop teams from scoring. Baylor faced intense ball pressure from the West Virginia Mountaineers. The Bearcats ball pressure is on the other end of the spectrum, as they turn teams over on just 20.2% of possessions, a refreshing change for the Bears. If Baylor is able to reset mentally, it should not be a difficult bounce-back game for the Bears.

• Baylor Barttorvik Rank: 28
  • Baylor Massey Rating: 17
• Cincinnati Barttorvik Rank: 113
  • Cincinnati Massey Rating: 113
• Barttorvik Prediction: 73-60 Baylor
  • Massey Prediction: 75-60 Baylor

Coaches

• Nicki Collen (Baylor): 121-40 record; 4 NCAA Tournaments, Sweet 16
• Katrina Merriweather (Cincinnati): 197-137 record; 2 NCAA Tournaments

Projected Lineups

Baylor Starters

• Guard Jana Van Gytenbeek (5’7, 6Sr.): 7.1 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 6.3 APG, 36% FG, 33% 3-PT, 67% FT, 32 MPG
• Guard Taliah Scott (5’9, RSo.): 20.2 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 2.9 APG, 1.3 SPG, 40% FG, 34% 3-PT, 90% FT, 31 MPG
• Forward Bella Fontleroy (6’0, Sr.): 9.9 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 1.0 APG, 1.7 SPG, 1.5 BPG, 35% FG, 29% 3-PT, 88% FT, 26 MPG
• Forward Darianna Littlepage-Buggs (6’1, Sr.): 11.0 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 2.0 APG, 54% FG, 35% 3-PT, 62% FT, 29 MPG
• Forward Kiersten Johnson (6’4, Sr.): 5.2 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 0.5 APG, 1.9 BPG, 50% FG, 55% 3-PT, 73% FT, 19 MPG

Baylor Bench

• Guard Yuting Deng (6’2, So.): 7.7 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 1.0 APG, 46% FG, 40% 3-PT, 74% FT, 18 MPG
• Guard Marcayla Johnson (6’0, Fr.): 4.0 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 0.8 APG, 31% FG, 13% 3-PT, 48% FT, 18 MPG
• Forward Kyla Abraham (6’3, RJr.): 3.7 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 0.3 APG, 1.7 BPG, 59% FG, 48% FT, 16 MPG
• Forward Kayla Nelms (6’1, So.): 3.9 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 0.4 APG, 57% FG, 36% 3-PT, 75% FT, 9 MPG
• Guard Ines Goryanova (5’8, Fr.): 0.8 PPG, 0.0 RPG, 1.0 APG, 40% FG, 0% 3-PT, 5 MPG

Projected Lineups

Cincinnati Starters

• Guard Caliyah Devillasee (5’8, Fr.): 15.7 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 4.3 APG, 1.2 SPG, 42% FG, 32% 3-PT, 77% FT, 33 MPG
• Guard Mya Perry (5’11, Sr.): 16.7 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.7 SPG, 38% FG, 35% 3-PT, 77% FT, 35 MPG
• Guard Reagan Jackson (5’8, Jr.): 10.0 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 1.7 APG, 35% FG, 31% 3-PT, 83% FT, 31 MPG
• Forward Destiny Thomas (6’4, Jr.): 5.2 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 0.8 APG, 65% FG, 59% FT, 19 MPG
• Forward Kylie Torrence (6’2, Fr.): 8.5 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 1.0 APG, 1.3 SPG, 1.2 BPG, 41% FG, 0% 3-PT, 61% FT, 24 MPG

Cincinnati Bench

• Guard Joya Crawford (5’8, Fr.): 6.0 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 1.7 APG, 35% FG, 17% 3-PT, 77% FT, 24 MPG
• Forward Dee Alexander (6’2, Fr.): 5.0 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 0.9 APG, 48% FG, 0% 3-PT, 60% FT, 16 MPG
• Forward Alliance Ndiba (6’3, Sr.): 4.9 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 0.5 APG, 54% FG, 76% FT, 14 MPG
• Forward Ramiyah Byrd (5’11, So.): 2.4 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 0.9 APG, 44% FG, 0% 3-PT, 44% FT, 14 MPG
• Center Mary Carden (6’6, So.): 1.4 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 0.3 APG, 64% FG, 67% FT, 6 MPG