Baylor
Duke
No. 21 WBB Battles No. 8 Duke Again in NCAA Second Round
3/21/2026 10:10:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Bears bout Blue Devils in the Round of 32 after season-opening win in Paris
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21/21 BAYLOR BEARS (25-8, 13-5 Big 12) Location: Waco, Texas Conference/Affiliation: Big 12 Head Coach: Nicki Collen (Marquette, 1998) Roster | Stats | Game Notes (PDF) |
21/21 BAYLOR (25-8, 13-5 Big 12) at 8/10 DUKE (25-8, 16-2 ACC) March 22, 2026 • 3 p.m. CT Durham, N.C. • Cameron Indoor Stadium (9,314) LIVE STATS: Stat Broadcast WATCH: ESPN Talent: Jenn Hildreth (PxP), Kelly Gramlich (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) |
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8/10 DUKE BLUE DEVILS (25-8, 16-2 ACC) Location: Durham, N.C. Conference/Affiliation: Atlantic Coast Head Coach: Kara Lawson (Tennessee, 2003) Roster | Stats | Game Notes (PDF) |
Game notes:
• Baylor continues its run in the 2026 NCAA Tournament on Sunday at 3 p.m. CT against Duke in the second round. The game airs on ESPN and the Baylor Sports Media Network.
• The Bears face the Blue Devils for the third time in program history and the second time this season, having won each of the all-time matchups. The teams opened the 2025-26 campaign in Paris on Nov. 3 at Adidas Arena, where Baylor earned a six-point win. The other meeting came in the 2010 NCAA Tournament, when Baylor beat Duke in the Elite Eight to advance to its second Final Four.
• Durham, N.C., was the site of Baylor's first NCAA Tournament game in program history in 2001. The Bears were selected as an eight seed and faced ninth‑seeded Arkansas in a 68-59 first‑round loss. That game remains BU's first and only contest to tip off from Cameron Indoor.
• Baylor sits at No. 21 in the AP Top 25, marking the team's 25th straight appearance in the poll and its 366th in the last 20 seasons, the second most nationally in that span behind UConn.
• Through the end of the regular season, Baylor led the Big 12 in blocks per game (6.3) and three‑point percentage defense (25.5). The Bears also ranked in the top three in the conference in field goal percentage defense (35.7), defensive rebounds per game (28.4) and rebounds per game (40.39).
• Baylor holds a 59-20 (.745) record in the NCAA Tournament all time, with the program's first win coming in its second appearance in 2002 against Bucknell.
• BU made its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 2001 and has missed the field only once since (2003). The Bears enter this year with 22 consecutive appearances, the third-longest active streak in the nation.
• Baylor owns first‑round wins in all 22 of its consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, a streak trailing only UConn nationally. The Bears have also won 23 straight first‑round games overall, a run that dates back to 2002 and includes every tournament they have entered since missing the field in 2003.
• The Bears are 16-6 in the second round (1-3 under Collen) and 8-3 on the road in the second round (1-1 under Collen). Baylor defeated Virginia Tech in its last second-round road matchup, advancing to the 2024 Sweet 16.
• BU has never been selected as a No. 6 seed.
• Baylor beat Nebraska 67-62 at Cameron Indoor to advance to the NCAA second round for the 22nd straight year.
• The Bears opened the fourth with a 12-3 stretch and finished the game 13-9 after regaining the lead on two Taliah Scott free throws with 3:48 left following a Husker flagrant foul.
• Baylor shot 63.3% in the fourth quarter while holding Nebraska to 33.3%.
• BU held Nebraska without a two-point make for more than 15 minutes as the Huskers missed their first 12 attempts inside the arc.
• Scott led Baylor with 15 points, went 9-for-12 at the line and added two steals, Darianna Littlepage-Buggs posted her 14th double-double with 13 points and a game-high 11 rebounds, Jana Van Gytenbeek added 12 points and a team-high four assists with two threes and Bella Fontleroy had 10 points and seven rebounds.
