Game Thread: No. 20 Baylor WBB Begins Quest for Big 12 Tournament Glory against Colorado

KANSAS CITY, Missouri – No. 20 Baylor women’s basketball (24-7, 13-5) starts its Big 12 Tournament path against Colorado (21-10, 11-7). Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. CT on Friday, March 6, at the T-Mobile Center. The game will be televised on ESPN+.

Baylor and Colorado met once earlier this season, where the Bears gutted out a 56-52 win at their home venue, the Foster Pavilion. Both teams struggled to shoot the ball well, with the Bears going 20-of-56 and the Buffaloes 19-of-67.

• Baylor Barttorvik Rank: 34
  • Baylor Massey Rating: 20
• Colorado Barttorvik Rank: 37
  • Colorado Massey Rating: 38
• Barttorvik Prediction: 63-62 Baylor
  • Massey Prediction: 69-59 Baylor

Coaches

• Nicki Collen (Baylor): 126-43 record; 4 NCAA Tournaments, Sweet 16
• JR Payne (Colorado): 286-239 record; 3 NCAA Tournaments, 2 Sweet 16s

Projected Lineups

Baylor Starters

• Guard Jana Van Gytenbeek (5’7, 6Sr.): 7.5 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 6.3 APG, 1.0 SPG, 38% FG, 36% 3-PT, 72% FT, 32 MPG
• Guard Taliah Scott (5’9, RSo.): 20.2 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 2.9 APG, 1.2 SPG, 40% FG, 35% 3-PT, 90% FT, 31MPG
• Forward Bella Fontleroy (6’0, Sr.): 9.3 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 0.9 APG, 1.5 SPG, 1.3 BPG, 34% FG, 28% 3-PT, 84% FT, 26 MPG
• Forward Darianna Littlepage-Buggs (6’1, Sr.): 10.7 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.0 SPG, 53% FG, 30% 3-PT, 59% FT, 29 MPG
• Forward Kiersten Johnson (6’4, Sr.): 5.2 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 0.6 APG, 1.8 BPG, 49% FG, 44% 3-PT, 67% FT, 20 MPG

Baylor Bench

• Guard Marcayla Johnson (6’0, Fr.): 4.5 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 0.7 APG, 36% FG, 16% 3-PT, 55% FT, 18 MPG
• Guard Yuting Deng (6’2, So.): 6.8 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 1.0 APG, 43% FG, 37% 3-PT, 73% FT, 17 MPG
• Forward Kyla Abraham (6’3, RJr.): 3.7 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 0.4 APG, 1.6 BPG, 58% FG, 50% FT, 16 MPG
• Forward Kayla Nelms (6’1, So.): 4.1 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 0.4 APG, 58% FG, 31% 3-PT, 81% FT, 9 MPG

Projected Lineups

Colorado Starters

• Guard Maeve McErlane (5’10, Jr.): 1.4 PPG, 0.9 RPG, 1.2 APG, 19% FG, 18% 3-PT, 60% FT, 14 MPG
• Guard Zyanna Walker (5’11, RJr.): 11.0 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 2.4 APG, 2.2 SPG, 42% FG, 23% 3-PT, 69% FT, 29 MPG
• Forward Anaëlle Dutat (6’0, Sr.): 8.9 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 1.3 APG, 1.7 SPG, 53% FG, 11% 3-PT, 75% FT, 31 MPG
• Forward Tabitha Betson (6’2, So.): 5.1 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 1.5 APG, 41% FG, 34% 3-PT, 81% FT, 19 MPG
• Forward Jade Masogayo (6’3, Sr.): 11.6 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.1 SPG, 49% FG, 0% 3-PT, 77% FT, 26 MPG

Colorado Bench

• Guard Desiree Wooten (5’8, Jr.): 13.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 2.7 APG, 1.7 SPG, 37% FG, 35% 3-PT, 73% FT, 26 MPG
• Forward Logyn Greer (6’4, Fr.): 9.5 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 1.3 APG, 46% FG, 27% 3-PT, 77% FT, 23 MPG
• Guard Erianna Gooden (6’0, Fr.): 2.0 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 1.2 APG, 32% FG, 21% 3-PT, 80% FT, 14 MPG
• Center Jade Crook (6’4, Fr.): 3.4 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 0.3 APG, 51% FG, 27% 3-PT, 59% FT, 11 MPG