THE EXPERIENCE EDGE
3/20/2025 7:26:00 PM | Women's Basketball
4th-seeded WBB has NCAA Tournament-tested talent
By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
WACO, Texas – While 13th-seeded Grand Canyon (32-2) is making the program's NCAA Tournament debut, the fourth-seeded and 14th-ranked Baylor women (27-7) are hoping to lean on a postseason-tested roster that includes Colorado transfer Aaronette Vonleh and six players off last year's Sweet 16 team.
Making their 21st-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and 23rd overall, the Bears are hosting the first and second rounds and will face the Lopes at 2:30 p.m. Friday at the Foster Pavilion.
"Just continuing to play my game, just be authentic, not trying to do too much," said senior guard Jada Walker (11.0 ppg, 5.4 assists), who scored a career-high 28 points in last year's 75-72 second-round road upset of Virginia Tech. "I guess whenever I feel the need to go off, I can. That may happen in this tournament, it may not. They might key in. They may think, 'Hey, she's a better player in postseason, we better guard her this way.'''
Vonleh (14.6 ppg, 5.6 rebounds) had a huge NCAA Tournament last year at Colorado, recording a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds in the first round versus Drake, nine points and eight boards in a 63-50 upset road win at Kansas State and 13 points, five rebounds and two blocks in a region semifinal loss to Iowa and Caitlin Clark.
The 6-3 senior center has also been on a tear of late, averaging 18.7 points and 8.0 rebounds in the seven games that 6-1 junior forward Darianna Littlepage-Buggs missed with a knee injury. Scoring a career-high 37 points in a Big 12 Championship semifinal win over Oklahoma State, she earned a spot on the all-tournament team.
"I feel like the tournament was definitely a confidence boost for me," Vonleh said. "Just grateful that I was able to play. I hope I can keep building off that for Grand Canyon. They aren't the tallest, but they are very scrappy and they're very aggressive. I hope I can just keep that momentum going."
GCU, which swept the WAC regular-season and tournament titles, does have an inside presence with 6-2 grad forward Laura Erikstrup, a San Diego transfer who's averaging 14.4 points and 7.1 rebounds per game.
"The position she creates, early in transition, deep, it's hard to bring a double (against Vonleh)," Baylor coach Nicki Collen said. "This team (GCU) is going to bring a double. They're going to scrap. If she doesn't make quick moves, they're coming."
Fifth-year senior guard Sarah Andrews (10.9 ppg, 5.0 assists), the Big 12 all-time leader with 166 career games played, has already played in 11 tournament games and scored a postseason-high 17 points in last year's loss to top-seeded USC in the Round of 16.
"I think we surprised a lot of people," Andrews said of last year's run to the Sweet 16. "Not really having a true post last year, I think it makes a huge difference. And we showed that we can play. I think this is the first time we brought back a lot of returners. We've been in big games, especially with this team. And I think we know it's our last time playing together, so we want to make a long run."
The Bears, obviously, have a strong post in Vonleh, but also get back the 6-1 Littlepage-Buggs (14.3 ppg, 10.5 rebounds). A first-team All-Big 12 pick, she scored in double-digits 18 times and has recorded 11 double-doubles.
"I am absolutely ready to play," said Littlepage-Buggs, who will be on a restricted-minutes load. "I think that made me more hungry to play. I was so happy to cheer on my teammates, but I did want to play. So, being able to actually get to play again is amazing. I'm not going to take this for granted. Whatever, however many minutes I have, I'm going to go out there and just use them and play hard."
Barely missing a beat, Baylor was 5-2 without Littlepage-Buggs and took sixth-ranked TCU down to the wire twice in losses in the regular-season finale (51-48) and Big 12 Championship final (64-59).
"I don't even have the words to explain it. Proud is an understatement," Littlepage-Buggs said. "In my eyes, they accomplished a lot of stuff that a lot of people may not talk about. They played undersized, and they didn't dwell on it. They won nine straight, we made it to the championship twice. People had to step up, and that was just amazing to see. I see that every day in practice. I know what they can do, but for them to show the world is amazing."
Junior forward Bella Fontleroy (9.2 ppg, 5.6 rebounds) said the motivation is no different than the previous two years.
"Each year that I've been able to be a part of this program, we've had the same want to be successful in March," Fontleroy said. "But I feel like, at least for me personally, my understanding of what Coach Nicki expects and wants and what this team needs from me is something I really understand. I think we're all very much ready to put our best foot forward."
Coming in with a full head of steam, GCU has reeled off 30-consecutive wins since a 70-54 loss at then-No. 23 Oregon on Nov. 18. Listed among the Lopes' school-record 32 wins are road upsets of in-state foes Arizona and Arizona State from the Big 12.
"Our kids were so fired up," GCU head coach Molly Miller said of the program's first NCAA Tournament bid. "We said we were winning the championship in June, not March. And that's played its way through the whole season.
"There's a lot of pressure throughout the year – pressure to keep the win streak alive, pressure to stay undefeated at home (19-0), pressure to win the regular-season conference title, pressure to win a conference title – and they just handled that so beautifully. I'm really proud of them, and they deserved all the joy that came with winning the conference."
Fifth-seeded and 25th-ranked Ole Miss (20-10) will face MAC champion and 12th-seeded Ball State (27-7) in the other first-round game at 5 p.m. Friday, with the two winners advancing to play on Sunday for a spot in the Sweet 16 and a trip to Spokane, Washington.
"We're here to win," said Ball State coach Brady Sallee, whose team is making its second overall NCAA Tournament appearance and first since 2009, "and we believe we can."
Both first-round games on Friday will be broadcast by ESPNU, with Krista Blunk and Mary Murphy calling the action.
Baylor Bear Insider
WACO, Texas – While 13th-seeded Grand Canyon (32-2) is making the program's NCAA Tournament debut, the fourth-seeded and 14th-ranked Baylor women (27-7) are hoping to lean on a postseason-tested roster that includes Colorado transfer Aaronette Vonleh and six players off last year's Sweet 16 team.
Making their 21st-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and 23rd overall, the Bears are hosting the first and second rounds and will face the Lopes at 2:30 p.m. Friday at the Foster Pavilion.
"Just continuing to play my game, just be authentic, not trying to do too much," said senior guard Jada Walker (11.0 ppg, 5.4 assists), who scored a career-high 28 points in last year's 75-72 second-round road upset of Virginia Tech. "I guess whenever I feel the need to go off, I can. That may happen in this tournament, it may not. They might key in. They may think, 'Hey, she's a better player in postseason, we better guard her this way.'''
Vonleh (14.6 ppg, 5.6 rebounds) had a huge NCAA Tournament last year at Colorado, recording a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds in the first round versus Drake, nine points and eight boards in a 63-50 upset road win at Kansas State and 13 points, five rebounds and two blocks in a region semifinal loss to Iowa and Caitlin Clark.
The 6-3 senior center has also been on a tear of late, averaging 18.7 points and 8.0 rebounds in the seven games that 6-1 junior forward Darianna Littlepage-Buggs missed with a knee injury. Scoring a career-high 37 points in a Big 12 Championship semifinal win over Oklahoma State, she earned a spot on the all-tournament team.
"I feel like the tournament was definitely a confidence boost for me," Vonleh said. "Just grateful that I was able to play. I hope I can keep building off that for Grand Canyon. They aren't the tallest, but they are very scrappy and they're very aggressive. I hope I can just keep that momentum going."
GCU, which swept the WAC regular-season and tournament titles, does have an inside presence with 6-2 grad forward Laura Erikstrup, a San Diego transfer who's averaging 14.4 points and 7.1 rebounds per game.
"The position she creates, early in transition, deep, it's hard to bring a double (against Vonleh)," Baylor coach Nicki Collen said. "This team (GCU) is going to bring a double. They're going to scrap. If she doesn't make quick moves, they're coming."
Fifth-year senior guard Sarah Andrews (10.9 ppg, 5.0 assists), the Big 12 all-time leader with 166 career games played, has already played in 11 tournament games and scored a postseason-high 17 points in last year's loss to top-seeded USC in the Round of 16.
"I think we surprised a lot of people," Andrews said of last year's run to the Sweet 16. "Not really having a true post last year, I think it makes a huge difference. And we showed that we can play. I think this is the first time we brought back a lot of returners. We've been in big games, especially with this team. And I think we know it's our last time playing together, so we want to make a long run."
The Bears, obviously, have a strong post in Vonleh, but also get back the 6-1 Littlepage-Buggs (14.3 ppg, 10.5 rebounds). A first-team All-Big 12 pick, she scored in double-digits 18 times and has recorded 11 double-doubles.
"I am absolutely ready to play," said Littlepage-Buggs, who will be on a restricted-minutes load. "I think that made me more hungry to play. I was so happy to cheer on my teammates, but I did want to play. So, being able to actually get to play again is amazing. I'm not going to take this for granted. Whatever, however many minutes I have, I'm going to go out there and just use them and play hard."
Barely missing a beat, Baylor was 5-2 without Littlepage-Buggs and took sixth-ranked TCU down to the wire twice in losses in the regular-season finale (51-48) and Big 12 Championship final (64-59).
"I don't even have the words to explain it. Proud is an understatement," Littlepage-Buggs said. "In my eyes, they accomplished a lot of stuff that a lot of people may not talk about. They played undersized, and they didn't dwell on it. They won nine straight, we made it to the championship twice. People had to step up, and that was just amazing to see. I see that every day in practice. I know what they can do, but for them to show the world is amazing."
Junior forward Bella Fontleroy (9.2 ppg, 5.6 rebounds) said the motivation is no different than the previous two years.
"Each year that I've been able to be a part of this program, we've had the same want to be successful in March," Fontleroy said. "But I feel like, at least for me personally, my understanding of what Coach Nicki expects and wants and what this team needs from me is something I really understand. I think we're all very much ready to put our best foot forward."
Coming in with a full head of steam, GCU has reeled off 30-consecutive wins since a 70-54 loss at then-No. 23 Oregon on Nov. 18. Listed among the Lopes' school-record 32 wins are road upsets of in-state foes Arizona and Arizona State from the Big 12.
"Our kids were so fired up," GCU head coach Molly Miller said of the program's first NCAA Tournament bid. "We said we were winning the championship in June, not March. And that's played its way through the whole season.
"There's a lot of pressure throughout the year – pressure to keep the win streak alive, pressure to stay undefeated at home (19-0), pressure to win the regular-season conference title, pressure to win a conference title – and they just handled that so beautifully. I'm really proud of them, and they deserved all the joy that came with winning the conference."
Fifth-seeded and 25th-ranked Ole Miss (20-10) will face MAC champion and 12th-seeded Ball State (27-7) in the other first-round game at 5 p.m. Friday, with the two winners advancing to play on Sunday for a spot in the Sweet 16 and a trip to Spokane, Washington.
"We're here to win," said Ball State coach Brady Sallee, whose team is making its second overall NCAA Tournament appearance and first since 2009, "and we believe we can."
Both first-round games on Friday will be broadcast by ESPNU, with Krista Blunk and Mary Murphy calling the action.
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