Andrews hits record-setting 3-pointer in Bears’ 98-54 win

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Andrews hits record-setting 3-pointer in Bears’ 98-54 win

12/1/2024 4:35:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Game Book (PDF)

Vonleh scores season-high 22 points, three players record double-doubles

Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider

WACO, Texas – On the verge of breaking a decade-old record set by recent Baylor Hall of Fame inductee Odyssey Sims, fifth-year senior guard Sarah Andrews got a call on Saturday and a text right before Sunday's game from Sims, "just saying, good luck."

Andrews etched her name in the Baylor record book in the Bears' 98-54 win over Louisiana Tech at the Foster Pavilion when she drained a 3-pointer from the corner at the 8:15 mark, her third of the game and record-setting 259^th of her career. A three-time All-American, Sims' record of 258 3-pointers had stood since her Baylor career ended in the Elite Eight in 2014.

"To be up there with some of the greatest . . . just to break that record, I can't do it without my teammates," said Andrews, who had 11 points, six rebounds and four assists, hitting 3-of-11 from outside the arc. "So, thanks to them."

Sims was one of five double-figure scorers for the Bears (7-2), who ran their winning streak to three in a row with the 44-point victory over the Lady Techsters (4-3).

"It's not the number that she's made, it's the big ones that she's made. To me, that's what stands out," said Baylor coach Nicki Collen. "I can remember at OU, hitting big shots two years ago. She always plays well at Texas and seems to like the way the ball goes through the basket for her. It's the big ones she hits when the team needs it to either take a lead or create separation and give her teammates comfort. . . . I'm just lucky to have coached Sarah Andrews."

Until hitting that record-setting 3-pointer that gave Baylor a 40-point lead, Andrews was almost an afterthought on a day when Colorado transfer Aaronette Vonleh scored a season-high 22 points and Jada Walker, Darianna Littlepage-Buggs and Bella Fontleroy all recorded double-doubles.

Baylor's inside-outside game was too much for Louisiana Tech, which was outrebounded 49-24 and outrebounded 56-28.

"We've got one of the best backcourts in the country," Andrews said of herself and Walker, who had 14 points and a career-high-tying 10 assists for the second double-double of her career.

The Bears' balanced scoring "makes everybody's life easier," Andrews said, "because you can't just guard one person. Now you've got to guard all five people on the court."

"That's what's so great about this team. On any given night, anybody can go off. I think that's what's been missing is that balance. And we've finally got it this year."

Littlepage-Buggs grabbed all 12 of her rebounds in the first half and chipped in with 13 points, Fontleroy finished with 10 points and 10 boards and Walker showed off her all-around game with 14 points, 10 assists, five steals, four boards and one block.

"I thought today was all about driving and kicking," Collen said. "Jada didn't over-penetrate. I thought that was a key today. A lot of times, we weren't going to get all the way to the rim. So, it was about where the help was coming from. And I thought we did a good job of spraying it around the perimeter, dropping it off. From that perspective, we were good."

Baylor shot just 29.4% in the first quarter, taking a 16-9 lead, but the Bears were a sizzling 34-of-59 (57.6%) the rest of the way, extending the lead to 42-21 by intermission.

"I thought we got a lot of good shots (in the first quarter) and just missed," Collen said. "In the second quarter, you saw the ball really pop around the perimeter, and we did a better job of moving it to the most open person, not just the first open person."

The Lady Techsters, losing their third in the last four games after a 3-0 start, were led by Paris Bradley and Jordan Marshall with 15 and 14 points, respectively.

Vonleh, who was an efficient 10-of-12 from the floor, said the Bears are "just taking advantage of the paint, because we have an advantage most nights."

"Our team is doing a really good job of getting the ball inside," she said, "and I'm just focusing on posting up at times and just always being an option. I'm going to keep doing that and keep building off of that."

"She's going to dunk it next game," Andrews said of the 6-4 Vonleh. Shrugging it off, the senior center said, "Nah."

Continuing a five-game homestand, the Bears will face Texas Southern (1-4) at 7 p.m. Wednesday before a stiffer test next Sunday against UNLV (6-2) in another 2 p.m. tilt.