No. 15 WBB Completes Non-Conference Slate Defeating Southern, 77-60

Thursday, December 18

Waco, Texas

7 p.m.

Baylor

11-2,0-0Big 12

Southern

4-6,0-0SWAC

Southern U.

Baylor

No. 15 WBB Completes Non-Conference Slate Defeating Southern, 77-60

12/18/2025 10:10:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Game Book

Bears complete unscathed non-conference home slate for the fourth time under Collen

WACO, Texas – Bella Fontleroy poured in a game-high 21 points and Darianna Littlepage-Buggs recorded her sixth double-double of the season as No. 15 Baylor marched to a 77-60 victory over Southern on Thursday night at Foster Pavilion.

Fontleroy shot 7-of-11 from the field, including 3-of-6 from beyond the arc, while adding seven rebounds and four assists in 30 minutes. Littlepage-Buggs finished with 13 points and 12 rebounds for her 36th career double-double, controlling the glass with seven offensive boards.

Kayla Nelms provided a spark off the bench with a career-high 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting, including 2-of-2 from three-point range. The sophomore also dished out a career-high two assists and blocked two shots in 20 minutes. Jana Van Gytenbeek orchestrated the offense with 10 assists while adding seven points. Also coming off the bench, Yuting Deng contributed 11 points, knocking down 2-of-5 from deep.

The Bears won the tipoff but neither team could break through within the first two minutes, until Marcayla Johnson, who earned the first start of her career, broke the silence with an and-one to give Baylor a 3-0 lead.

Nelms opened the second quarter with the first points of her night to push Baylor's lead to five. After Southern trimmed the margin to three, Van Gytenbeek ended an over three-minute scoring drought for the Bears with a breakaway layup. Nelms then knocked down a three to extend the lead to 29-21, giving her seven points in the second quarter. The half came to a close with free throws on both ends helping Baylor carry a 10-point advantage into the break.

Southern opened the second half with the first basket, but Fontleroy answered with her second three of the game. After a brief drought, Nelms snapped back in with an and-one to push the lead to nine before adding her second three of the night to tie her career-best beyond the arc. Fontleroy then ignited an 11-0 Baylor run with a 3-pointer, with Van Gytenbeek capping the surge with her first three of the game as the Bears carried a 58-41 advantage into the fourth quarter.

Nelms opened the final period by extending her career-high night with a bucket off an offensive rebound before Deng drilled her second three to give Baylor a 20-point cushion, its largest of the game. Fontleroy sealed the victory by hitting two free throws with just over two minutes remaining, and Kyla Abraham added four free throws down the stretch as the Bears closed out the 77-60 victory.

Baylor shot 46.7 percent from the field and controlled the paint, outscoring Southern 34-30 in the lane. The Bears also controlled the glass at 45-31.

Southern (4-6) was led by Jaylia Reed's 11 points, while Demya Porter and Jestiny Dixon each added 10. The Lady Jaguars shot just 35.5 percent from the field and 23.1 percent from three-point range.

The Bears open conference play on Sunday in the back half of a doubleheader, hosting Texas Tech at 3 p.m. in Foster Pavilion. The game will be live on ESPN+ and the Baylor Sports Media Network.

Baylor women's basketball is presented by Central National Bank, a family-owned, independent bank headquartered in Waco, Texas, that provides uniquely personal service while simultaneously embracing the latest developments in banking technology.

To stay up to date, follow the team on its official Facebook, X and Instagram accounts: @BaylorWBB.

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