Baylor's women's basketball team is gearing up for an exciting conclusion to their regular-season home schedule as they host Kansas State on Monday at 6 p.m. This matchup, airing on ESPN2 and the Baylor Sports Media Network, marks the 56th meeting between these two programs. Under the leadership of Coach Nicki Collen, Baylor has split their last six encounters with the Wildcats, including a solid 17-point victory in Manhattan last season.
The Bears are currently ranked No. 15 in the AP Top 25 and No. 14 in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll, reflecting their impressive 23-6 record. This ranking marks their 22nd consecutive appearance in the AP rankings and their 363rd in the past two decades, second only to UConn in that span.
In the Big 12 standings, Baylor is tied for second with West Virginia at 12-4, trailing TCU, which leads at 12-3. Texas Tech and Colorado are right behind, tied for fourth at 10-6.
Baylor has been a defensive powerhouse, leading the conference in blocks per game (6.4) and three-point percentage defense (25.1). They also rank in the top three in several other defensive categories, including field goal percentage defense and rebounds per game.
The Bears recently showcased their resilience with a convincing 14-point win over Arizona at Foster Pavilion. Taliah Scott led the charge with 22 points, including a stellar performance at the free throw line.
Marcayla Johnson and Darianna Littlepage-Buggs also contributed significantly, scoring 12 and 10 points, respectively. Bella Fontleroy dominated the boards with 10 rebounds, marking her second double-digit rebounding game of the season.
Baylor's defense shone brightly, especially in the second quarter, where they outscored Arizona 23-8 and held them to just 23.5% shooting. The Bears' teamwork was on full display, finishing with a Big 12-best 22 assists, with Jana Van Gytenbeek dishing out eight.
Notably, Baylor has maintained an impressive streak of recording at least 10 assists in 286 straight home games, a national-leading record that dates back to November 2010.
Individually, Taliah Scott and Darianna Littlepage-Buggs have been recognized for their outstanding performances. Both were named to midseason top-10 lists for their respective Starting Five Awards by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
Scott, a contender for the Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard of the Year Award, is averaging 20.4 points per game, ranking second among her peers. She's also been added to the 2026 Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy Women's College Player of the Year Late-Season Team.
Littlepage-Buggs continues to impress as one of the nation's top power forwards, being named a finalist for the Katrina McClain Award. She is one of only two players on this year's top-10 list averaging a double-double.
As Baylor gears up for their clash with Kansas State, the Bears are not only looking to solidify their standings but also continue their tradition of excellence on both ends of the court. With key players hitting their stride and team chemistry at an all-time high, Baylor fans have plenty to be excited about.