WBB Back in Action for Future Bears Day, Playing Utah Tech in First Meeting

Wednesday, December 18

Waco, Texas

11 AM

Baylor

Utah Tech

WBB Back in Action for Future Bears Day, Playing Utah Tech in First Meeting

12/17/2024 6:09:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Game Notes

	NR/21 BAYLOR BEARS (9-2, 0-0 Big 12) Location: Waco, Texas Conference/Affiliation: Big 12 Head Coach: Nicki Collen (Marquette, 1998) Roster \| Stats \| Game Notes (PDF)	NR/21 BAYLOR (9-2, 0-0 Big 12) vs. UTAH TECH TRAILBLAZERS (4-7, 0-0 WAC) Dec. 18, 2024 • 11:00 a.m. CT Waco, Texas • Foster Pavilion (7,500) LIVE STATS: Stat Broadcast WATCH: ESPN+ Talent: John Morris (pxp), Jordan Lewis (analyst), Jim Haller (analyst) LISTEN: Baylor Sports Media Network via FOX Sports Radio 93.9FM in Central Texas and worldwide at centexsportsfan.com. Talent: Derek Smith (pxp), Lori Fogleman (analyst) Baylor Social Media:
	UTAH TECH TRAILBLAZERS (4-7, 0-0 WAC) Location: St. George, Utah Conference/Affiliation: Western Athletic Head Coach: JD Gustin (Montana Western, 2000) Roster \| Stats \| Game Notes (PDF)

Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider

WACO, Texas – With final exams over and an extended Christmas break looming, Baylor coach Nicki Collen looks at this as "the toughest week to coach college student-athletes."

"They get done with finals, they're giddy, and then you have Christmas break coming where they know they're going to go home and have time with friends and family," said Collen, whose Bears (9-2) host Utah Tech (4-7) at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Foster Pavilion.

"This game tomorrow is about keeping them focused and finishing the right way. It's been 10 days since we played, so it's getting our feet wet again, just from a conditioning perspective, and then marching toward Kansas."

The Bears, who open Big 12 play with a game on Saturday at Kansas (10-1), have reeled off five-straight wins since a loss to Indiana in the Bahamas. But they've been off since a 71-64 win over UNLV on Dec. 8.

"There were different flows to that game," Collen said. "The first half was a real offensive-minded half for both teams. Both teams shot it well. And then, the second half, it was a grind-it-out, teams were struggling to score. Obviously, we couldn't extend that nine-, 10-point lead, probably because we were missing free throws."

Junior forward Darianna Littlepage-Buggs had a game-high 21 points and 20 rebounds versus UNLV, becoming just the eighth player in program history to record a 20-20 double-double. She is also one of two Big 12 players averaging a double-double with 15.4 points and 10.9 rebounds per game.

"Buggs is always going to give you what you need in the moment," Collen said. "When there's misses, you've got to go get the ball, whether that's at the offensive end or the defensive end. That's what the game dictated. The fact that they sagged off of her and attempted to keep an extra body on (Aaronette Vonleh), I thought they gave her a free run to the rim."

Florida transfer Aliyah Matharu could be declared eligible in time for Wednesday's game after finishing her fall semester in Gainesville.

"Her grades have been posted, we're waiting on the official transcript and for all the paperwork to be done," Collen said. "Everything that she can do, she has done. Everything that we can do has been done. It's a matter of the rubber stamp saying she's eligible. It could be tomorrow, it could be Thursday, could be Friday. But ultimately, we're really hopeful that it's (Wednesday)."

The SEC's second-leading scorer last year at 19.0 points per game, the 5-7 Matharu will "be as prepared as she could possibly be the moment she steps foot on the court

"She says she's stayed in shape, but when is the last time you played, like play, play?" Collen said. "There's a difference between running on the treadmill and getting around a screen and the pace and the energy that you have to play with in an elite basketball game. I think the adrenaline will kick in, and then at some point it's going to wear off."

Utah Tech, which has lost four of its last five, took Colorado down to the wire in an 85-73 loss at home the day before Thanksgiving. The Trailblazers are led by the backcourt duo of Aaliyah Ibarra (13.6 ppg) and Chardonnay Hartley (13.5 ppg, 6.7 assists) and 5-11 forward Emily Isaacson (12.2 ppg, 5.5 rebounds).

"We're not ranked, and we have these opportunities to play these good teams to put ourselves kind of back in that consideration," Collen said. "We failed the two tests we've had in Indiana and Oregon. And now, we're going to have another one (versus Kansas). But I don't want to look past Utah Tech, because I think they're going to present unique challenges and they're not going to beat themselves. We're going to have to show up and be really good tomorrow."

Wednesday's game will be streamed by ESPN+, with 'Voice of the Bears" John Morris, former All-Big 12 guard Jordan Lewis and former Baylor men's basketball head coach Jim Haller calling the action.

Game notes-
• Baylor faces Utah Tech at 11 a.m. on Wednesday for the first Future Bears Day held at Foster Pavilion.
• BU is planning to host 3,000 students from 19 local elementary and junior high schools for the annual education game.
• Wednesday is the final home non-conference game of the season before Baylor heads to Lawrence to open conference play against the Kansas Jayhawks on Saturday afternoon.
• Utah Tech has a 4-7 record this season, splitting 3-3 in St. George and 1-4 on the road. The Trailblazers' lone road win came against McNeese in Lake Charles, defeating the Cowgirls 79-69.
• The Trailblazers have one power four contest under their belts, dropping a home matchup against Colorado, 85-73.
• Chardonnay Hartley is the leading scorer for UT, totaling 148 points in 11 games, 13.5 per game with 6.7 assists per game.
• Emily Isaacson's 5.5 rebounds per game is enough for the team lead, with a season-best mark of eight hit twice against HCU and McNeese.
• Junior Darianna Littlepage-Buggs averages a double-double (15.4 ppg, 10.9 rpg) through 11 games this season with nine double-digit performances, three with 20+.
• Against UNLV, Littlepage-Buggs became the eighth Bear to record a 20 point, 20 rebound game with 21 points and 20 rebounds. She joins Debbie Polk, Maggie Davis Stinnett, Danielle Crockrom, Sophia Young-Malcolm, Brittney Griner, Kalani Brown and NaLyssa Smith, Smith who most recently had a 20/20 game against Iowa State in the 2021-22 season.
• She's set new career best marks this season in rebounds (20 vs UNLV), assists (five vs New Orleans), 3-pointers (two vs UIW), and free throws made (10 vs ETAMU). Buggs has also tied or set her career best marks in attempts for all three shot categories.
• A force at the glass, Littlepage-Buggs ranks top-10 nationally in rebounds and rebounds per game and is one of 17 players with at least six double-doubles (through games on Dec. 16).
• Baylor downed UNLV at Foster Pavilion before the finals break, 71-64, on Sunday evening.
• BU used a 16-point run to pull away from UNLV in the third quarter for an 11-point lead, the largest of the game.
• Sarah Andrews passed the 1,500 career point mark with 18 on the day, as Aaronette Vonleh recorded a third 20-point game in 27 minutes.
• Jana Van Gytenbeek, who announced a season-ending ACL tear sustained during the first game of the season, was awarded the Kay Yow Servant Leader Award in its first season.
• The award honors student-athletes of great character who put the needs of others before their own, who uplift others and who do it with grace and humility. They are nominated by their coach and exemplify Coach Yow's spirit to reflect her resolve, grace, generosity and servant's heart.