Baylor’s Commanding Victory Over UCF
In a commanding display, No. 12 Baylor secured a decisive victory against UCF, finishing the game 93-63 on Sunday afternoon in Orlando. This win followed a previous setback for the Bears, which saw them drop a home game to No. 17 TCU, losing 83-67 and falling to half a game behind first place in the Big 12. Baylor is set to face TCU again on March 1 in a crucial rematch.
Standout Performers
Taliah Scott was the standout performer, netting 26 points while showcasing her shooting accuracy, hitting 8 of 10 attempts from the field, including 3 of 4 from beyond the arc, and completing all 7 free throws. Her dominant first-half performance included 21 points, helping the Bears establish a commanding 52-23 halftime lead thanks to their impressive 65% shooting accuracy in the opening half compared to UCF’s 37%.
Baylor wasted no time in asserting their dominance, taking an early 27-13 lead after the first quarter. Jana Van Gytenbeek contributed significantly with her first double-double of the season, tallying 11 assists and 10 points, complementing her earlier triple-double achieved against Alabama State on December 9. Other notable contributions came from Kayla Nelms, who added 12 points off the bench, while Bella Fontleroy and Darianna Littlepage-Buggs chipped in with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
UCF’s Struggles
In contrast, UCF struggled offensively, with no starters reaching double figures. The team’s bench, led by Samari Bankhead‘s 16 points and Kayanna Cox‘s 13, attempted to narrow the gap. Despite Baylor’s substantial leads in the second half, UCF managed to reduce the margin to 30 points late in the game through three quick 3-pointers from Bankhead and Jacorriah Bracey.
Looking Ahead
This game marked the second encounter between the teams this season, with Baylor previously besting UCF 73-48 on January 21, a loss that initiated UCF’s current seven-game losing streak.
Looking ahead, Baylor will take on Texas Tech on Wednesday, while UCF is preparing to host Kansas State on the same day.
