WBB Thumps Southwest Baptist, 97-40, in Exhibition

Thursday, November 3

Waco, Texas

7 p.m.

Baylor

Southwest Baptist (Exhibition)

WBB Thumps Southwest Baptist, 97-40, in Exhibition

11/3/2022 9:37:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Bears finish exhibition with Bearcats with resounding win

By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
            Other than the jersey, not much has changed in Aijha Blackwell's game from the player that had 20 points and 16 rebounds in Missouri's 70-68 loss to Baylor 11 months ago at the Ferrell Center.
            One of six newcomers that played for No. 18 Baylor in Thursday's exhibition game, the 5-foot-11 Blackwell hit back-to-back layups in the first minute and finished with a game-high 16 points in 22 minutes in the Bears' 97-40 drubbing of Division II Southwest Baptist.
            "Whenever I get the chance, I just go," said Blackwell, who helped the Bears finish with a 26-2 edge in fast-break points against the visiting Bearcats. "Coach Nicki (Collen) is always yelling, 'Go! Go! Keep it!' So, I'm just trying to keep it. But whenever I need to give it up, I need to give it up."
            Baylor's break-neck pace wore down Southwest Baptist, which lost to Blackwell's Missouri squad, 90-35, last year. The guard quartet of Sarah Andrews, Jana Van Gytenbeek, Jaden Owens and Ja'Mee Asberry constantly pushed the ball, finishing with a combined 16 assists and only three turnovers.
            "I think when you play downhill, when you put pressure on the rim, things open up on the perimeter," said Collen, beginning her second year at Baylor. "We had a couple really good possessions that for sure will be earmarked in terms of this is what Baylor basketball should look like, where you give up a good shot to get a great shot."
            Even with three players out, including two of the eight newcomers, the Bears used a 26-2 second-quarter run to pull away and take a commanding 46-16 halftime lead. In that decisive run, Owens and Asberry hit two 3-pointers apiece, finishing with 12 and 11 points, respectively.
            "Sometimes, I just need to see one go in. And then after that, I'm good," said Asberry, who was 2-of-4 from outside the arc. "Even if I don't see one go in, I still make sure I'm playing harder on defense to get it back. Go get me a layup, a jump shot. The first one was a 3, so I was like, 'I'm going to hit another one.' I did, and it just went from there."
            In a balanced attack that featured six double-figure scorers, freshmen Darianna Littlepage-Buggs (13) and Bella Fontleroy (12) and JC transfer Catarina Ferreira (10) also scored in double digits, while Stanford transfer Van Gytenbeek chipped in with nine points, five assists, four rebounds and two turnovers in 25 minutes off the bench.
            "What I love about Jana is she's never tired," Collen said. "We can't even drive up her heart rate when we want to. She's in the best shape of any player I've ever coached, at any level. She's going to get it and she's going to challenge in transition on every possession."
            Baylor's defense held the visiting Bearcats to just 28% shooting overall and 2-of-16 from outside the 3-point arc. After a slow start, the Bears also dominated on the boards, 47-28, and finished with a 52-14 edge in points in the paint.
            Southwest Baptist was led by Emma Perry with nine points. After scoring four points early, 6-6 center Victoria Hamilton got into foul trouble and finished with just six points and three boards.
            "Their big kid got in foul trouble, which helped," Collen said. "Early on, I thought we were driving and trying to avoid contact with (Hamilton), so we were missing layups. If you go in and attack the rim the same way you would a 5-10 player rotating, you're going to put foul pressure on her. Worst-case scenario, she's going to block it. . . . But when you try to lean around her and stretch, you're blocking your own shot."
            Returning forward Caitlin Bickle and Illinois junior transfer Erika Porter both sat out with injuries and could miss 2-3 weeks, while Kentucky transfer Dre'Una Edwards is waiting on an eligibility ruling.
            Baylor will open the regular season with a matchup against Lamar at 7 p.m. Monday in the back end of a split doubleheader at the Ferrell Center. The fifth-ranked Baylor men face Mississippi Valley State in the early game at 11 a.m.