Wednesday, January 11
Waco, Texas
7 p.m.
Baylor
vs
Oklahoma State
No. 18 WBB Hosts Oklahoma State Wednesday
1/10/2023 3:24:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Bears have won the last 13 meetings with the Cowgirls
By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
In the program's first-ever back-to-back road wins over top-25 teams, the No. 18/17 Baylor women proved that they can beat anyone in the Big 12.
But, second-year head coach Nicki Collen said the Bears (12-3, 3-0) have to fight complacency going into Wednesday's 7 p.m. game at home against the Oklahoma State Cowgirls (11-4, 1-2).
"We think we can beat anyone, but I also think if we don't show up and compete and we're not prepared, we can get beat by anybody in the league," said Collen, whose team has won four-straight overall and 13 in a row against Oklahoma State. Proud but never satisfied, that's the kind of mentality we've got to take.
"There's a reason why we won those two games. But if we suddenly feel like we've arrived, it'll turn on us really quick. I think we went up and played like we were underdogs, but we competed like we belonged. And we certainly do. I think you have to seize those moments when you get them."
Alone at the top of the Big 12 at 3-0, Baylor was named the National Team of the Week by ESPN, the U.S. Basketball Writers Association and NCAA.com and also debuted in the ESPN Power Rankings at No. 15. The Bears defeated Oklahoma, 81-70, then followed that up with a 75-62 win over Kansas.
"I think we deserve it, just played our best basketball," said junior guard Sarah Andrews, who averaged 28.5 points in earning National and Big 12 Player of the Week honors. "I'm going to be honest with you, the thing I'm most proud of is the National Team of the Week. That's the biggest thing to me. That's all I care about right now."
Picking up the slack with senior forward Aijha Blackwell missing nine of the first 14 games with injuries, Andrews ranks among the league leaders in scoring average (15.3), assists (4.6) and 3-point shooting percentage (36.7).
"Whatever I've got to do for us to win, I'm willing to do," Andrews said. "Sometimes, that's me putting the ball in the hole. That's just the team and the coaches putting that confidence in me and allowing me to play like that – play loose and play free. Be able to miss shots and be like, 'Okay, the next one's going to go in.'''
Even with Blackwell out, the Bears have five other players averaging between 9.3 and 12.0 points per game. Senior forward Caitlin Bickle is averaging 12.0 points and 7.0 rebounds, followed by guards Ja'Mee Asberry (10.6 ppg) and Jaden Owens (10.0 ppg, 6.0 assists) and freshman forwards Bella Fontleroy (9.4 ppg) and Darianna Littlepage-Buggs (9.3 ppg, 8.5 rebounds).
Littlepage-Buggs earned her second Big 12 Freshman of the Week honor after recording her team-best fifth double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds in the win over Kansas. Buggs credited her teammates for keeping her confidence high, even when she had only two points and one rebound before fouling out in the game before against OU.
"If I were to put my head down or miss a shot, they were always there to be like, 'You've got it,''' she said. "Or, if I'm not looking for my shot, they're like, 'Hey, that's your shot, shoot it. We believe in you.'''
First-year OSU head coach Jacie Hoyt completely turned over the Cowgirls' roster, bringing guards Naomie Alnatas (13.3 ppg, 4.5 assists) and Landry Williams with her from Kansas City, Claire Chastain (12.6 ppg) and Terryn Milton from UT Arlington (9.3 ppg) and Lior Garzon (11.2 ppg, 38 3-pointers) from Villanova.
Hoyt also brought in former Baylor player and SMU assistant Jhasmin Player as her associate head coach. Lexy Keys (10.8 ppg) and Taylen Collins (9.4 ppg, 8.9 rebounds) are returning starters, but Collins left with an injury in the third quarter of Saturday's 86-82 win over Texas.
"They're really confident offensively," Collen said. "They think they can score, and they scored pretty consistently against Texas, which we know over the years is not the easiest thing to do. And even though it's a bunch of new players, they're not young.
"A team with weapons from 3 that we're going to have to do a good job of closing out on shooters, but still being in good rotations, because they'll put it on the bounce and get to the basket. They'll get you all stretched out."
Wednesday's game will be streamed by Big 12 Now on ESPN+, with Pete Sousa and former Baylor men's basketball coach Jim Haller calling the action.
WACO, Texas – The No. 18 Baylor women's basketball team returns home to take on Oklahoma State inside the Ferrell Center on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
The contest between the Bears (12-3, 3-0 Big 12) and the Cowgirls (11-4, 1-2 Big 12) is available for streaming via Big 12 Now on ESPN+ and a live radio broadcast is also available for fans on the Varsity Network App and locally on 104.9 FM. Live in-game updates will be provided via Twitter or live stats.
LAST TIME OUT
Baylor picked up its third top-25 win of the season on Saturday with a 75-62 victory at then-No. 21 Kansas. The Bears used a 27-point outpouring from junior Sarah Andrews, and pair of double-doubles from Darianna Littlepage-Buggs and Caitlin Bickle, to hand the Jayhawks their first home loss of the season.
NATIONALLY KNOWN
The Bears and Andrews combined for five national honors this week after picking up a pair of top-25 wins on the road last week. Baylor was named ESPN's National Team of the Week (Monday), U.S. Basketball Writers Association National Team of the Week (Tuesday) and the NCAA.com Team of the Week (Tuesday). Andrews was selected as the ESPN National Player of the Week (Monday), as well as the Naismith Trophy Player of the Week (Tuesday).
ANDREWS, LITTLEPAGE-BUGGS SWEEP BIG 12 HONORS
Andrews and Littlepage-Buggs were named the Big 12 Player and Big 12 Freshman of the Week, repsectively, on Monday. The award was the first career weekly honor for Andrews, while Littlepage-Buggs picked up her second recognition of the season.
Andrews finished the week averaging 28.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game, while shooting 50.0% (18-for-36) from the floor, 47.1% (8-for-17) from 3-point range and 86.7% (13-for-15) from the charity stripe. She opened last week with a career-high 30 points against the Sooners, becoming the fifth player in the Big 12, and first in conference play, to turn in a 30-point performance this season. In Saturday's win at Kansas, the guard notched her second-highest scoring output of the year, finishing with a game-high 27 points.
After limited action against the Sooners due to foul trouble, Littlepage-Buggs ended the week with 17 points and 13 rebounds at Kansas, turning in her fifth double-double of the season. For the week, she shot 64.3% from the field while leading all Big 12 rookies with 7.0 rebounds per game. Littlepage-Buggs added four steals against the Jayhawks becoming the first freshman Bear since the 2013-14 season to earn 15-plus points, 10-plus rebounds and four steals in a game.
SCOUTING OKLAHOMA STATE AND THE SERIES
Baylor leads the all-time series with Oklahoma State, 48-11, and has won the last 13 meetings dating back to the 2015-16 season. The Bears are 26-2 in Waco against the Cowgirls and haven't lost a home game against OSU since March 6, 2008.
Oklahoma State is under the direction of Jacie Hoyt, who spent the previous five years leading Kansas City, before coming to Stillwater this season. The Cowgirls are 11-4 entering Wednesday's game and 1-2 in conference play after picking up the 86-82 win over Texas on Saturday.
OSU has used the same starting lineup in each of the past 12 games. The Cowgirls currently have four players scoring in double figures, as Taylen Collins is shooting 74.5% from the floor in OSU's last seven games.
Baylor Bear Insider
In the program's first-ever back-to-back road wins over top-25 teams, the No. 18/17 Baylor women proved that they can beat anyone in the Big 12.
But, second-year head coach Nicki Collen said the Bears (12-3, 3-0) have to fight complacency going into Wednesday's 7 p.m. game at home against the Oklahoma State Cowgirls (11-4, 1-2).
"We think we can beat anyone, but I also think if we don't show up and compete and we're not prepared, we can get beat by anybody in the league," said Collen, whose team has won four-straight overall and 13 in a row against Oklahoma State. Proud but never satisfied, that's the kind of mentality we've got to take.
"There's a reason why we won those two games. But if we suddenly feel like we've arrived, it'll turn on us really quick. I think we went up and played like we were underdogs, but we competed like we belonged. And we certainly do. I think you have to seize those moments when you get them."
Alone at the top of the Big 12 at 3-0, Baylor was named the National Team of the Week by ESPN, the U.S. Basketball Writers Association and NCAA.com and also debuted in the ESPN Power Rankings at No. 15. The Bears defeated Oklahoma, 81-70, then followed that up with a 75-62 win over Kansas.
"I think we deserve it, just played our best basketball," said junior guard Sarah Andrews, who averaged 28.5 points in earning National and Big 12 Player of the Week honors. "I'm going to be honest with you, the thing I'm most proud of is the National Team of the Week. That's the biggest thing to me. That's all I care about right now."
Picking up the slack with senior forward Aijha Blackwell missing nine of the first 14 games with injuries, Andrews ranks among the league leaders in scoring average (15.3), assists (4.6) and 3-point shooting percentage (36.7).
"Whatever I've got to do for us to win, I'm willing to do," Andrews said. "Sometimes, that's me putting the ball in the hole. That's just the team and the coaches putting that confidence in me and allowing me to play like that – play loose and play free. Be able to miss shots and be like, 'Okay, the next one's going to go in.'''
Even with Blackwell out, the Bears have five other players averaging between 9.3 and 12.0 points per game. Senior forward Caitlin Bickle is averaging 12.0 points and 7.0 rebounds, followed by guards Ja'Mee Asberry (10.6 ppg) and Jaden Owens (10.0 ppg, 6.0 assists) and freshman forwards Bella Fontleroy (9.4 ppg) and Darianna Littlepage-Buggs (9.3 ppg, 8.5 rebounds).
Littlepage-Buggs earned her second Big 12 Freshman of the Week honor after recording her team-best fifth double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds in the win over Kansas. Buggs credited her teammates for keeping her confidence high, even when she had only two points and one rebound before fouling out in the game before against OU.
"If I were to put my head down or miss a shot, they were always there to be like, 'You've got it,''' she said. "Or, if I'm not looking for my shot, they're like, 'Hey, that's your shot, shoot it. We believe in you.'''
First-year OSU head coach Jacie Hoyt completely turned over the Cowgirls' roster, bringing guards Naomie Alnatas (13.3 ppg, 4.5 assists) and Landry Williams with her from Kansas City, Claire Chastain (12.6 ppg) and Terryn Milton from UT Arlington (9.3 ppg) and Lior Garzon (11.2 ppg, 38 3-pointers) from Villanova.
Hoyt also brought in former Baylor player and SMU assistant Jhasmin Player as her associate head coach. Lexy Keys (10.8 ppg) and Taylen Collins (9.4 ppg, 8.9 rebounds) are returning starters, but Collins left with an injury in the third quarter of Saturday's 86-82 win over Texas.
"They're really confident offensively," Collen said. "They think they can score, and they scored pretty consistently against Texas, which we know over the years is not the easiest thing to do. And even though it's a bunch of new players, they're not young.
"A team with weapons from 3 that we're going to have to do a good job of closing out on shooters, but still being in good rotations, because they'll put it on the bounce and get to the basket. They'll get you all stretched out."
Wednesday's game will be streamed by Big 12 Now on ESPN+, with Pete Sousa and former Baylor men's basketball coach Jim Haller calling the action.
WACO, Texas – The No. 18 Baylor women's basketball team returns home to take on Oklahoma State inside the Ferrell Center on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
The contest between the Bears (12-3, 3-0 Big 12) and the Cowgirls (11-4, 1-2 Big 12) is available for streaming via Big 12 Now on ESPN+ and a live radio broadcast is also available for fans on the Varsity Network App and locally on 104.9 FM. Live in-game updates will be provided via Twitter or live stats.
LAST TIME OUT
Baylor picked up its third top-25 win of the season on Saturday with a 75-62 victory at then-No. 21 Kansas. The Bears used a 27-point outpouring from junior Sarah Andrews, and pair of double-doubles from Darianna Littlepage-Buggs and Caitlin Bickle, to hand the Jayhawks their first home loss of the season.
NATIONALLY KNOWN
The Bears and Andrews combined for five national honors this week after picking up a pair of top-25 wins on the road last week. Baylor was named ESPN's National Team of the Week (Monday), U.S. Basketball Writers Association National Team of the Week (Tuesday) and the NCAA.com Team of the Week (Tuesday). Andrews was selected as the ESPN National Player of the Week (Monday), as well as the Naismith Trophy Player of the Week (Tuesday).
ANDREWS, LITTLEPAGE-BUGGS SWEEP BIG 12 HONORS
Andrews and Littlepage-Buggs were named the Big 12 Player and Big 12 Freshman of the Week, repsectively, on Monday. The award was the first career weekly honor for Andrews, while Littlepage-Buggs picked up her second recognition of the season.
Andrews finished the week averaging 28.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game, while shooting 50.0% (18-for-36) from the floor, 47.1% (8-for-17) from 3-point range and 86.7% (13-for-15) from the charity stripe. She opened last week with a career-high 30 points against the Sooners, becoming the fifth player in the Big 12, and first in conference play, to turn in a 30-point performance this season. In Saturday's win at Kansas, the guard notched her second-highest scoring output of the year, finishing with a game-high 27 points.
After limited action against the Sooners due to foul trouble, Littlepage-Buggs ended the week with 17 points and 13 rebounds at Kansas, turning in her fifth double-double of the season. For the week, she shot 64.3% from the field while leading all Big 12 rookies with 7.0 rebounds per game. Littlepage-Buggs added four steals against the Jayhawks becoming the first freshman Bear since the 2013-14 season to earn 15-plus points, 10-plus rebounds and four steals in a game.
SCOUTING OKLAHOMA STATE AND THE SERIES
Baylor leads the all-time series with Oklahoma State, 48-11, and has won the last 13 meetings dating back to the 2015-16 season. The Bears are 26-2 in Waco against the Cowgirls and haven't lost a home game against OSU since March 6, 2008.
Oklahoma State is under the direction of Jacie Hoyt, who spent the previous five years leading Kansas City, before coming to Stillwater this season. The Cowgirls are 11-4 entering Wednesday's game and 1-2 in conference play after picking up the 86-82 win over Texas on Saturday.
OSU has used the same starting lineup in each of the past 12 games. The Cowgirls currently have four players scoring in double figures, as Taylen Collins is shooting 74.5% from the floor in OSU's last seven games.
- BaylorBears.com -
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