Baylor Women Dominate Grambling State in Wire-to-Wire Win
WACO, Texas - From the opening tip, Baylor made it clear: this one wasn’t going to be close.
The Bears came out firing on all cylinders, rattling off 14 unanswered points to start the game and never looking back in a 76-35 rout of Grambling State on Sunday afternoon at Foster Pavilion. It was the second of five straight home games for Baylor, and they made sure the home crowd had plenty to cheer about.
The first quarter set the tone - 24 points for Baylor, just 6 for Grambling - and by halftime, the Bears had built a commanding 37-10 lead. They kept their foot on the gas through the second half, stretching the margin to as much as 41 in the fourth quarter. This was Baylor at its most efficient, shooting 51% from the floor (29-of-57), knocking down eight threes, and converting 10-of-11 from the free-throw line.
Littlepage-Buggs Owns the Glass
Darianna Littlepage-Buggs continues to be a force in the paint. The sophomore forward posted her third double-double of the season, finishing with 10 points and a season-high 16 rebounds, adding two blocks and an assist for good measure. Her presence on the boards helped Baylor dominate the rebounding battle, 47-31, and led to 13 second-chance points - a key stat in a game where every opportunity was maximized.
Scott Sparks the Offense
Taliah Scott brought the early fireworks, drilling three triples in the opening minutes to ignite Baylor’s fast start. The freshman guard led all scorers with 17 points and was perfect from the line (9-for-9), showing poise beyond her years. She also chipped in three assists and a steal, continuing to build on an already impressive debut season.
Frontcourt Depth Shines
Kiersten Johnson made the most of her 19 minutes off the bench, tallying nine points and swatting five shots. Baylor as a team recorded 10 blocks on the night, while holding Grambling State to zero - the first time a BU opponent failed to register a block since UNLV two weeks ago. That rim protection was a major factor in keeping the Tigers out of rhythm offensively.
Bella Fontleroy added 11 points and seven rebounds, providing steady two-way play, while Jana Van Gytenbeek found her stroke from deep, hitting a season-high two threes.
Grambling Held in Check
Grambling State’s offense never found a foothold. Zaria Johnson led the Tigers with 14 points, but the team went over five minutes without a field goal to start the game and never recovered. Baylor’s defense was dialed in from the jump, and their discipline showed - the Bears went nearly 18 minutes without committing a foul and finished with just seven personals, their lowest total of the season and the second-lowest of the Nicki Collen era.
Bench Keeps the Energy High
It wasn’t just the starters making noise. Freshman Marcayla Johnson added four points, while Yuting Deng turned in a well-rounded performance with seven points and four assists. Kiera Pemberton, Kayla Nelms, and Kyla Abraham each chipped in four points, showcasing Baylor’s depth and balance across the roster.
What’s Next
Baylor will look to keep the momentum rolling on Wednesday night when they host Southeastern Louisiana at Foster Pavilion. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+ and the Baylor Sports Media Network.
Through two dominant home wins, the Bears are playing with confidence, cohesion, and a clear identity - one built on defense, rebounding, and unselfish offense. If they keep this up, they’ll be a tough out for anyone.