By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
 
The 19^th-ranked Baylor women's basketball team begins the third year of the Nicki Collen era with a matchup against the Southern University Jaguars at 7 p.m. Monday at the Ferrell Center, looking to extend a streak of 13-straight season-opening victories and 23 consecutive 20-win seasons.
 
"It's always exciting to play somebody new, not to play against each other every day," said senior guard Sarah Andrews, a returning All-Big 12 player who averaged 14.7 points and 4.3 assists last season. "I know I'm getting old and up there, but every game, I get excited to play."
 
Even though the Bears lost three of their top six scorers off a 20-13 team, this could be one of the deepest rosters in program history.
 
Reigning Big 12 Freshman of the Year Darianna Littlepage-Buggs (10.6 ppg, 9.2 rebounds) and fellow sophomore Bella Fontleroy (8.8 ppg, 5.1 rebounds) are joined by redshirts Aijha Blackwell and Dre'Una Edwards, along with transfers Denae Fritz from Iowa State, Yaya Felder from Ohio, Madison Bartley from Belmont and Jada Walker from Kentucky.
 
"You've seen over the years, we've been playing with seven or eight people . . . for injuries or just other reasons," Andrews said. "This year, I think the depth is going to take us a long way. Now, you've got different people at different positions that can come in and we have the same thing on the floor. They bring something different, each and every player. But now, we can go into our bench and stay fresh and competing for 40 minutes."
 
Collen said the Bears will see "a lot of different styles early," and the key will be "adjusting to that and being able to play our game, regardless of the opponent." Baylor closed out preseason play on Friday with a 120-41 exhibition-game win over Division III Hardin-Simmons.
 
"You play a Southern team that was in the NCAA Tournament last year," she said, "but is very much an aggressive, defensive full-court pressure. . . . Once we play Southern, we'll have kind of that whole week to evaluate what have we done, where are we, and starting to really have an identity, which is what you're trying to find."
 
Southern University returns four starters from a squad that lost to Sacred Heart, 57-47 in a First Four play-in game for last year's NCAA Tournament. The Jaguars have won two SWAC championships in five years under coach Carlos Funchess.
 
Genovea Johnson was the Jags' only double-figure scorer last year, averaging 11.4 points and 4.8 rebounds. Also back are 6-1 junior forward Raven White (6.5 ppg), fifth-year senior guard Taylor Williams and 5-6 junior guard Chloe Fleming.
 
Baylor has added scoring threats all over the court, with Edwards, Blackwell and Bartley inside and Felder, Walker and Fritz in what's become a loaded backcourt.  
 
"I think we bring a lot of experience," said Andrews, who was named to watch lists for the Naismith Trophy and Lieberman Award. "We've got players that have played at a high level. Now, you can't just guard me in ball screens. You've got Yaya that can play off ball screens' you've got Jada. We have so many perimeter threats now that you've got to pick your poison, because anyone on our offense can pick you apart."
 
Felder, who led the MAC last year with 22.0 points per game, said she brings a very up-tempo style to the Bears' attack. Walker, who played her freshman season at Kentucky with Edwards, averaged 11.7 points in two years with the Wildcats and shot 34.5% from 3-point range.
 
"I'm very fast, I run the floor very well," Felder said. "I can attack the rim, I can shoot. I feel like just all-around."
 
Monday's game will be streamed by Big 12 Now on ESPN+, with "Voice of the Bears" John Morris and former Baylor men's basketball coach Jim Haller calling the action.
 
 

WACO, Texas – The No. 19 Baylor women's basketball team begins the 2023-24 campaign on Monday against Southern at 7 p.m. at the Ferrell Center. 
 
The contest is available for streaming via Big 12 Now on ESPN+ and a live radio broadcast on ESPN Central Texas (1660 AM/92.3 FM) is also available for fans. Live in-game updates will be provided via Twitter and live stats. 
 
STARTING STRONG
The Bears are going for their 14th-straight season-opening victory on Monday. Baylor's last season-opening loss was during the 2009-10 season to then-No. 9 Tennessee on the road, falling 74-65 when the Bears were ranked No. 7 to start that year. Baylor's matchup with Southern marks the 14th-consecutive year the Bears are starting their season at home. Baylor has won 18-straight home openers, dating back to the 2005-06 campaign.
 
SEASONED SARAH
Sarah Andrews was a unanimous preseason All-Big 12 selection and brings back the most experience in a Baylor uniform as the only Bear to have played more than two seasons at BU. The two-time all-conference pick averaged a team-leading 14.7 points per game in 2022-23 and is just 11 points shy of 1,000 in her career. When she reaches this milestone, she will be the 39th player in program history to accomplish this feat.
 
PROMOTIONS
Monday's season opener has been tabbed Camper Reunion Night and women's basketball summer campers are invited back and get a free ticket if they come wearing their summer camp shirt. For a full list of this season's promotions, please visit BaylorBears.com/FanEngagement.
 
To stay up to date on all things Baylor women's basketball, follow the team on its official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts: @BaylorWBB.