No. 21 WBB Hosts No. 4 Utah Tuesday Night

Tuesday, November 14

Waco, Texas

6:30 PM

Baylor

Utah

No. 21 WBB Hosts No. 4 Utah Tuesday Night

11/13/2023 3:40:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Baylor Game Notes

The game marks the first top-five opponent at the Ferrell Center since 2018-19

By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider

Off since an 85-53 season-opening win over Southern, the 21^st-ranked Baylor women (1-0) will host No. 4 Utah (2-0) at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the opening game of a doubleheader at the Ferrell Center.

The defending Pac-12 champion Utes are the highest-ranked team to come into the Ferrell Center since eventual national champion Baylor knocked off No. 1 UConn, 68-57, on Jan. 3, 2019.

"I think it's an early test for us to see where we're at," third-year Baylor head coach Nicki Collen said. "And we're going to get our players' attention one way or another. We're going to see who rises to the occasion in these types of matchups. We know that we're putting together a team that has different starters from a year ago and has a chance to be really good. But how quickly can we gel?"

While the Bears lost three starters from a team that finished 20-13 last season, Utah returns all five starters and their top seven scorers from a 27-5 team that lost to eventual national champion LSU, 66-63, in the Sweet 16.

Reigning Pac-12 Player of the Year Alissa Pili (22.5, 6.5 rebounds), first-team All-Pac 12 guard Gianna Kneepkens (17.0 pg, 7.0 assists) and former Texas transfer Isabella Palmer (15.5 ppg, 6.5 assists) lead a Utah team that blew out Mississippi Valley State (104-45) and South Carolina State (108-48) to open the regular season.

"Whether the shots fall or they don't fall, for me it's about, are we learning, are we growing, are we making the right plays?" Collen said. "And if the shots don't fall, then we're going to have to guard the heck out of them, which we're going to have to do anyway.

"You have to guard them hard if you want to have any chance to win. They're top-five in the country for a reason. They've earned it. And until someone knocks them off, there's no reason to believe they're not the same team and even better."

Baylor had four double-figure scorers in its 32-point win over Southern, led by Kentucky transfer Dre'Una Edwards with 20 points on 9-of-10 shooting. Edwards actually started her collegiate career at Utah, earning Pac-12 Freshman of the Year honors in 2018-19.

"It's like full circle all over again," Edwards said. "I know that's where I started. I'm super-excited, ready to play."

While Edwards had to sit out last year as a 4-4-4 transfer, Collen stacked this year's roster with transfers Jada Walker from Kentucky, Denae Fritz from Iowa State, Yaya Felder from Ohio and 6-3 forward Madison Bartley from Belmont.

She's blended them in with a returning core of first-team All-Big 12 guard Sarah Andrews, reigning Big 12 Freshman of the Year Darianna Littlepage-Buggs, sophomore guard/forward Bella Fontleroy and former Missouri transfer Aijha Blackwell, who played in only eight games last season due to an injury.

"I really think it just comes with us all coming together and playing together and not playing selfish basketball," said Fritz, who joined Littlepage-Buggs and Fontleroy on the Big 12 All-Freshman Team last year. "We're all really good players. And what's going to be a difference-maker (Tuesday against Utah) is how well we play together. We're all really good separately, but we've got to really come together."

One of the big focal points for the Bears is defending the 3-point line. The Utes are No. 1 in the country in 3-pointers made (34) and attempted (85) after hitting a school-record 21 treys in last Thursday's 108-48 blowout of South Carolina State.

"We have to stop them at the 3-point line and make them hit tough twos on us," Fritz said. "We can't let them get out in transition and hit those 3s. Once we take that away, it'll be a game-changer."

What's made Utah even tougher is Palmer being able to "rise up and make shots," Collen said. After knocking down 26 3-pointers all last year, she hit seven against South Carolina State and is 9-of-13 for the season.

"You want to think that maybe that's someone you can (play off of) a little bit," Collen said. "And then she hits seven (3-pointers) in the last game and that throws that out the window."

But when the game is on the line, the Utes rely on Pili and Kneepkens. During last year's magical ride, Pili and Kneepkens averaged 20.7 and 15.3 points, respectively.

"They know who they are, and they know they can play through the Conference Player of the Year (Pili), who's a fifth-year senior," Collen said. "Kneepkens had an amazing year last year and will continue, I'm sure, to be a go-to."

Baylor will continue a season-opening five-game homestand with a 1 p.m. matinee on Sunday versus Harvard (2-1). Tuesday's game will be streamed by Big 12 Now on ESPN+, with "Voice of the Bears" John Morris and former Baylor men's basketball coach Jim Haller calling the action.

In the back end of Tuesday night's doubleheader, the No. 15/13 Baylor men (3-0) will play their fourth game in eight days, facing Kansas City (2-0) at 9 p.m.

WACO, Texas – The No. 21 Baylor women's basketball team returns to action after an eight-day hiatus on Tuesday night when it hosts No. 4 Utah at 6:30 p.m. at the Ferrell Center.

The contest is available for streaming via Big 12 Now on ESPN+ and a live radio broadcast on ESPN Central Texas (1660 AM/92.3 FM) is also available for fans. Live in-game updates will be provided via Twitter and live stats.

STARTING FIVE

In her Baylor debut against Southern, Dre'Una Edwards led the way with a game-high 20 points, going 9-for-10 from the floor, in 19 minutes of action. Her 20-point performance marked the 16th 20-plus point game of her career.
With Baylor's 85-53 win last week to kick off the 2023-24 campaign, the Bears have now scored 80-plus to start the year in eight of the last 10 seasons.
As a team, Baylor shot 52.5% (31-for-59) from the field in the Bears' win over Southern and moved to 260-2 all-time when shooting 50% or better from the field.
Tuesday's matchup with Utah will be just the second meeting all-time between the two programs. With Utah checking in at No. 4 in the AP Top 25 Poll, it will be the first time since the 2018-19 season that a top-five opponent has come into the Ferrell Center. The last time was on Jan. 3, 2018, when No. 1 UConn lost to the Bears, 68-57.
The Bears are aiming to break the women's basketball student attendance record on Tuesday night. The theme is "Eras Night, Baylor WBB Version" and every quarter break will feature student giveaways. The first 1,000 students in attendance will get an Eras Tour inspired Baylor women's basketball T-shirt.

SCOUTING THE UTES
Utah is 2-0 to start the year after putting up 100-plus points to take down Mississippi Valley State and South Carolina State. The Utes are led by Alissa Pili, who checked in at No. 9 on the ESPN 2023-24 women's basketball top 25 players list. Additionally, she was 2023 Pac-12 Player of the Year and was a Naismith Trophy Player of the Year Finalist last season.

Aside from Pili, who is averaging 22.0 points per game, Isabel Palmer and Gianna Kneepkens are also averaging double figures to start the year, sitting at 15.5 and 17.0 points per contest, respectfully.

PROMOTIONS
Tuesday's game against the Utes has been tabbed Eras Night (Baylor Women's Basketball Version). All fans are encouraged to wear their best Taylor Swift inspired costume to the game. For a full list of this season's promotions, please visit BaylorBears.com/FanEngagement.

To stay up to date on all things Baylor women's basketball, follow the team on its official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts: @BaylorWBB.

- BaylorBears.com -