THE BANK IS OPEN
12/8/2025 12:33:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Abraham contributes on both ends in Bears’ 73-55 win over UTSA
By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
WACO, Texas – When 6-3 senior forward Kyla Abraham launched a shot from just inside the 3-point arc in the second quarter of Sunday's game at Foster Pavilion, it's understandable why Baylor coach Nicki Collen's immediate reaction was "No! No! No!"
And even when the 18-foot jumper banked in off the glass, "I'm not sure it was quite a yes," Collen said. "The fact that it was more like 18 feet, that was a little outside her range."
But it was indicative of the kind of game Abraham put together, hitting 3-for-3 from the floor and scoring a season-high eight points to go with five rebounds, two blocks, two steals and one assist with no turnovers in the 14th-ranked Bears' 73-55 win over the UTSA Roadrunners.
"In totality, I thought that might be the best game she's played in a Baylor uniform," Collen said of Abraham. "She's had these moments. I thought her impact in the Duke game was really big. But I thought we needed to lean into her today, because they were absolutely manhandling KJ (Kiersten Johnson) on the low block. The physicality of their post players was really bothering her. And I thought bringing in Kyla allowed us to match up better."
Taliah Scott and Darianna Littlepage-Buggs combined for 27 second-half points to help the Bears (9-1) win their fifth-straight overall and fourth in a row in a five-game home stand at Foster Pavilion. Sixth-year senior point guard Jana Van Gytenbeek hit three first-half 3-pointers and finished with a season-high 16 points.
"I'm asking a lot more of her than I've ever asked of her," Collen said of Van Gytenbeek, who missed most of last season with an ACL injury. "She gets the wrath of me a little more than she's used to as well. . . . She's getting better, she's getting more confident. She's learning how to lead. She's learning when to defer to Taliah."
Van Gytenbeek is also learning how to find Abraham, feeding her for a layup for Baylor's last points with 31 seconds left in the game.
But it wasn't that bucket or even Abraham's bank shot that pleased Collen the most. It was an offensive rebound and putback late in the third quarter that gave the Bears a double-digit lead, followed up by a blocked shot on the other end.
"That's what she doesn't do enough of," Collen said. "She goes and gets an offensive rebound, doesn't know where she's at, and then turns and throws it out to someone on the perimeter. She gets us an extra possession, but there are times when she literally has a layup. And I thought her taking that was a bigger play."
A career 37.3% free throw shooter who has never averaged better than 3.0 points per game, Abraham said she has figured out other ways to contribute when she's not scoring.
"Freshman and sophomore year, I didn't play a lot. But when I was off, I was off. And when I was on, I was on," she said. "But I feel like this year, I've definitely overcome. Okay, I'm off, I have to figure out other ways to be on. Maybe I'm not scoring, but I'm helping my teammates score by setting good screens or rebounding the basketball or even altering shots on the defensive end. For me personally, once my defense starts going, my offense starts to click."
Asked if she had seen Collen's reaction on her shot off the glass, Abraham said, "I have no idea. I was shocked myself."
While most of the bench was laughing when Abraham's shot went in, Van Gytenbeek said she was excited. "That's a bucket, I don't care how it goes in."
Continuing the homestand, Baylor will face Alabama State (2-5) in the "Future Bears Day" game at 11 a.m. Tuesday, with buses of Waco elementary school students attending the game. The Lady Hornets have lost three matchups against Power Four teams by an average of 41.3 points per game.
Baylor Bear Insider
WACO, Texas – When 6-3 senior forward Kyla Abraham launched a shot from just inside the 3-point arc in the second quarter of Sunday's game at Foster Pavilion, it's understandable why Baylor coach Nicki Collen's immediate reaction was "No! No! No!"
And even when the 18-foot jumper banked in off the glass, "I'm not sure it was quite a yes," Collen said. "The fact that it was more like 18 feet, that was a little outside her range."
But it was indicative of the kind of game Abraham put together, hitting 3-for-3 from the floor and scoring a season-high eight points to go with five rebounds, two blocks, two steals and one assist with no turnovers in the 14th-ranked Bears' 73-55 win over the UTSA Roadrunners.
"In totality, I thought that might be the best game she's played in a Baylor uniform," Collen said of Abraham. "She's had these moments. I thought her impact in the Duke game was really big. But I thought we needed to lean into her today, because they were absolutely manhandling KJ (Kiersten Johnson) on the low block. The physicality of their post players was really bothering her. And I thought bringing in Kyla allowed us to match up better."
Taliah Scott and Darianna Littlepage-Buggs combined for 27 second-half points to help the Bears (9-1) win their fifth-straight overall and fourth in a row in a five-game home stand at Foster Pavilion. Sixth-year senior point guard Jana Van Gytenbeek hit three first-half 3-pointers and finished with a season-high 16 points.
"I'm asking a lot more of her than I've ever asked of her," Collen said of Van Gytenbeek, who missed most of last season with an ACL injury. "She gets the wrath of me a little more than she's used to as well. . . . She's getting better, she's getting more confident. She's learning how to lead. She's learning when to defer to Taliah."
Van Gytenbeek is also learning how to find Abraham, feeding her for a layup for Baylor's last points with 31 seconds left in the game.
But it wasn't that bucket or even Abraham's bank shot that pleased Collen the most. It was an offensive rebound and putback late in the third quarter that gave the Bears a double-digit lead, followed up by a blocked shot on the other end.
"That's what she doesn't do enough of," Collen said. "She goes and gets an offensive rebound, doesn't know where she's at, and then turns and throws it out to someone on the perimeter. She gets us an extra possession, but there are times when she literally has a layup. And I thought her taking that was a bigger play."
A career 37.3% free throw shooter who has never averaged better than 3.0 points per game, Abraham said she has figured out other ways to contribute when she's not scoring.
"Freshman and sophomore year, I didn't play a lot. But when I was off, I was off. And when I was on, I was on," she said. "But I feel like this year, I've definitely overcome. Okay, I'm off, I have to figure out other ways to be on. Maybe I'm not scoring, but I'm helping my teammates score by setting good screens or rebounding the basketball or even altering shots on the defensive end. For me personally, once my defense starts going, my offense starts to click."
Asked if she had seen Collen's reaction on her shot off the glass, Abraham said, "I have no idea. I was shocked myself."
While most of the bench was laughing when Abraham's shot went in, Van Gytenbeek said she was excited. "That's a bucket, I don't care how it goes in."
Continuing the homestand, Baylor will face Alabama State (2-5) in the "Future Bears Day" game at 11 a.m. Tuesday, with buses of Waco elementary school students attending the game. The Lady Hornets have lost three matchups against Power Four teams by an average of 41.3 points per game.
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