NO LACK OF CONFIDENCE

By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider

DURHAM, N.C. – Even after Taliah Scott missed 33 of 44 shots in her last two games, including shooting just 15.8% from 3-point range, Baylor coach Nicki Collen said she's "just not going to worry."

"She's had too many games that she's had rough stretches, and she always bounces back," said Collen, whose sixth-seeded Bears (24-8) will face 11^th-seeded Nebraska (19-12) at 1 p.m. CT Friday at Cameron Indoor Stadium in the first round of the NCAA Tournament

"She doesn't lack confidence. She can make a lot of different type plays. This will be her first time to play in the NCAA Tournament, so excited to see how she rises to the occasion."

A first-team All-Big 12 pick and WBCA All-America finalist, Scott is averaging 20.0 points and 2.9 assists per game while shooting 34.0% from outside the arc and 90% from the free throw line.

After struggling in the back-to-back losses to TCU in the regular-season finale and Colorado in the Big 12 Tournament quarterfinals, Scott said she "got back in the gym."

"To be able to see the ball go in the basket over the past week has been very beneficial for me," Scott said, "and I think it's helped my confidence tremendously after a couple of slow games. Just getting back in the game, and I think that'll be ready to go when the game starts."

Senior forward Darianna Littlepage-Buggs, the only player in the Big 12 to average a double-double with 10.7 points and 10.1 rebounds per game, said the Bears have to "keep giving (Taliah) the ball and instilling confidence in her."

"She can't turn down a shot," Littlepage-Buggs said. "We all believe in her. She needs to score for us, so we're going to get her that ball. Just instilling in her that you missed a few shots, you make the next few. We're not going to not pass her the ball because she's missing or whatever. We'll find her, and she'll hit the open shots, whether it's a transition layup or a 3 or a jump shot. Whatever her spots are, we're going to get it to her."

Baylor draws a Nebraska team that exploded for 27 third-quarter points in a 75-56 win over the Richmond Spiders in Wednesday's play-in game. Sophomore guard Britt Prince (17.6 ppg, 4.5 assists, 4.1 rebounds) poured in 22 points for the Cornhuskers, who had lost eight of their previous 10 games after starting out 12-0.

"Last year, she was a piece of the team," Collen said. "This year, she's the centerpiece. When you talk about someone who is a 50-40-90 player (shooting percentages) and has done it through their wins and their losses, there's been one consistent. She's an elite, efficient player. Obviously, what makes them dangerous is their ability to shoot the 3-ball."

Nebraska coach Amy Williams said she watched a lot of Scott's "buckets over the last 10, 12 hours or so," getting ready for Friday's game.

"She is just a really dynamic player," Williams said. "And it feels like once she sees a ball go in, it gets harder and harder. It can come in icing, like snaking ball screens, like being able to pull up mid-range jumpers, step back behind if you go under. If you make any type of mistake, if you give any type of separation, she's capable of making you pay for that."

Friday's game will be broadcast by ESPN, with Jenn Hildreth and Kelly Gramlich calling the action.

The Baylor-Nebraska winner advances to face third-seeded and eighth-ranked Duke (24-8) or 14^th-seeded Charleston (27-5) on Sunday for a spot in the Sweet 16 in Sacramento, Calif.

"Excited for another NCAA Tournament," Collen said. "I think sometimes it's easy to take for granted. But I've been at Baylor five years, and this is the fifth time we've gotten to do this. So, just excited to be here in Durham. I spent a lot of time scouting in this area when I was in (the WNBA), but excited to play here."

NO LACK OF CONFIDENCE

Players Mentioned

Darianna Littlepage-Buggs

Taliah Scott

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