DEFENSE-MINDED

DEFENSE-MINDED

12/13/2025 9:40:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Bears facing their biggest challenge versus Longhorns’ explosive offense

By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider

FORT WORTH, Texas – After losing a trio of ball-pressure defenders like Sarah Andrews, Jada Walker and Yaya Felder, Baylor coach Nicki Collen said she "knew our defense was going to be different."

What Collen couldn't have imagined is that Baylor's defense would rank among the best in the country – fifth in points allowed (50.9 per game), No. 4 in field goal percentage (30.9) and 3-point field goal percentage defense (23.3) and No. 2 in blocked shots per game (8.2).

"We, obviously, are blocking more shots," said Collen, whose 13^th-ranked Bears (10-1) will face No. 2 Texas (11-0) at 12 p.m. Sunday at Dickies Arena. "We started the year a year ago blocking shots. But over time, as we played better opponents, we didn't block as much. Nettie (Aaronette Vonleh) wasn't a shot blocker. She could block shots but didn't a lot of times. This defense is different because we've played with a little more switching and size and length."

Led by 6-4 senior transfer Kiersten Johnson from Oklahoma with 29, the Bears boast three of the top eight shot blockers in the Big 12. The 6-foot-3 Kyla Abraham and 6-0 senior guard/forward Bella Fontleroy chip in with 20 and 15 blocks, respectively, while five other players in their 10-person rotation have had multiple blocks.

"As Coach Tony (Greene) says, we have to allow our defense to fuel our offense," said Johnson, who is averaging 6.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.6 blocks. "I think sticking together, having each other's backs and guarding our yard are very important for our defense. We're a very good defense when we can talk and communicate and be on the same page."

Over the last five games – albeit against weaker opponents – the Bears have ratcheted up the defense even more. They have allowed just 43.8 points per game and held teams to 29% shooting overall and 18.4% from 3-point range while averaging 9.2 steals and 8.6 blocks.

"One thing about Coach Tony, if you can't play defense, you're not going to be on the floor," said senior forward Darianna Littlepage-Buggs, who is averaging 10.0 points and 10.3 rebounds. "Just know, if anybody gets on the floor, they play some defense. We take a lot of pride on defense. . . . If you can give it on the defensive end, the offense will come."

Instead of relying on intense ball pressure, particularly on the perimeter, the Bears have added significant size on the perimeter with 6-2 Auburn transfer Yuting Deng and 6-1 freshman Marcayla Johnson. Johnson is arguably the best on-ball defender and has seven steals, while Deng is fifth on the team with five blocks.

"We don't have the ball pressure we had last year," Collen said. "That's just now how we're going to wear (Auburn transfer Taliah Scott) out. I think we get a little more ball pressure when we sub and Macayla comes in. But we knew it was going to look different. We've switched way more screens this year than we've switched in the past and tried to keep a body on a body."

In easily their stiffest test to date, the Bears will face a Longhorn offense that's ranked fifth in both scoring (93.4 ppg) and shooting percentage (52.42) and fourth in assists/turnover ratio (1.92).

Including two players that have been sidelined with injuries for the past month, Texas has seven players averaging double-digit points. Two-time conference player of the year Madison Booker leads the way with 17.5 points and 7.6 rebounds per game, followed by sophomore guard Jordan Lee (14.5 ppg), with fifth-year senior guard Rori Harmon running the show with 8.9 points, 7.5 assists and 2.8 steals per game.

"They're all a challenge. They're a talented team," Collen said. "You might say the hole is the volume of threes, but they're efficient in the threes they take (34.8%). And when they've needed to make them, Rori hit multiple threes against South Carolina; Jordan can really shoot. When (Aaliyah) Crump is healthy, she's an elite shooter."

Former Southwest Conference and Big 12 rivals, Baylor and Texas meet for the 112^th time but the first time in 22 months, since the Longhorns left for the SEC.

"There are just so many parts to this matchup that are bigger than the game itself," Collen said. "But I think this idea of where we're at, and when Texas left the Big 12, when would we play them and what would it look like? I think it's just good to have this rivalry. . . . It's going to tell us a lot about what our fight is, how we compete, how we show up. Because you can guarantee that Vic Schaefer's team, they're going to compete."

The inaugural Sprouts Farmers Market espnW Invitational, Sunday's game will be broadcast by ABC, with Ryan Ruocco and Rebecca Lobo calling the action.