No. 15 Baylor Holds Off Arizona State in Gritty 67-64 Win Behind Scott, Van Gytenbeek and Nelms
WACO, Texas - It wasn’t always pretty, and it certainly wasn’t easy, but No. 15 Baylor women’s basketball found just enough down the stretch to fend off a feisty Arizona State squad, 67-64, inside Foster Pavilion. The Bears improved to 21-4 on the season, leaning on a balanced scoring effort and timely defense to get it done.
Taliah Scott led the way with 17 points, including a perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line, but this was a team win in every sense. Jana Van Gytenbeek added 13 points and seven assists, while Kayla Nelms provided a spark off the bench with 12 points in just 15 minutes - her most in conference play this season.
Early Control, Defensive Grit
Baylor set the tone early with a layup from Darianna Littlepage-Buggs, and while the first quarter saw both teams trading buckets, the Bears clamped down defensively midway through. Arizona State hit just one of its final eight shots in the opening frame, going cold during a five-minute drought. That opened the door for Baylor to build a 15-9 lead behind a three from Scott and a midrange jumper from Kiersten Johnson.
ASU came out with energy in the second quarter, scoring the first two buckets to cut into the lead. But Kyla Abraham came up with a momentum-shifting block that led to a bucket from Nelms, and Van Gytenbeek knocked down her second three of the night to keep Baylor in front.
Even as the Sun Devils tied the game at 26 late in the half, Scott showed poise - drawing a foul on a three-point attempt and calmly sinking all three free throws to send Baylor into the locker room with a 29-26 edge.
Momentum Swings in a Back-and-Forth Third
Scott wasted no time after the break, drilling a three to open the third quarter. Johnson followed with a pair of tough finishes in the paint, and Abraham added a putback to push the lead to 43-36. Baylor’s defense again stepped up, holding ASU without a field goal for over three minutes.
But Arizona State wouldn’t go away. The Sun Devils responded with an 8-0 run to grab their first lead of the night, forcing Baylor to regroup.
The Bears turned to the free throw line, where Marcayla Johnson knocked down two to steady the ship. Then Van Gytenbeek capped the quarter with a steal and coast-to-coast layup to give Baylor a 53-48 cushion heading into the fourth.
Closing Time: Baylor Delivers in the Clutch
ASU tied the game once again to start the final quarter, but Scott had the answer - her fourth three of the night. Nelms followed with four straight points, giving Baylor some breathing room and reaching double figures for just the third time this season.
Both teams went cold for a stretch, trading stops and missed opportunities. But with the game hanging in the balance, Scott slashed through the defense for a go-ahead layup, putting Baylor up 63-62 in the final minute.
From there, the Bears dug in defensively. They forced two critical stops and got clutch free throws from Abraham and Van Gytenbeek to ice the win.
Stat Leaders and Impact Players
Scott’s 17 points led all scorers, and her perfect night at the line underscored her composure in big moments. Van Gytenbeek was everywhere - orchestrating the offense, hitting big shots, and coming up with key defensive plays, including two steals.
Nelms’ 12 points were huge, especially considering her limited minutes this season. She also added four rebounds, making the most of her extended run.
Littlepage-Buggs didn’t score much, but she owned the glass, finishing with a game-high 12 rebounds. Bella Fontleroy added nine more, helping Baylor control the boards in a tight contest.
What’s Next
Baylor returns to Foster Pavilion on Thursday for its “Go Gold” game against conference rival TCU. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. and will be broadcast live on ESPN and the Baylor Sports Media Network.
With the postseason creeping closer, wins like this - gritty, hard-fought, and earned possession by possession - are exactly the kind of experience that can pay off come March.