In Waco, Texas, the No. 18 Baylor women's basketball team delivered a commanding performance against Kansas State, cruising to an 80-54 victory.
This triumph was fueled by an explosive third quarter where the Bears sank seven 3-pointers. Leading the charge were Taliah Scott with 20 points, Bella Fontleroy adding 16, and Darianna Littlepage-Buggs contributing 10.
The game kicked off with Scott and Kiersten Johnson hitting back-to-back threes, setting the tone early. Jana Van Gytenbeek followed up with a layup, extending Baylor's lead to 10-2.
While Kansas State attempted to close the gap, Fontleroy's layup maintained Baylor's edge. Littlepage-Buggs then broke a scoring drought with a key jumper and an and-one, helping the Bears finish the first quarter ahead 19-13 after forcing three turnovers.
In the second quarter, Van Gytenbeek and Marcayla Johnson sparked the offense with long-range shots. Marcayla Johnson's presence off the bench was felt with a timely jumper that kept the lead steady.
Yuting Deng's jumper pushed the margin to double digits, although Kansas State quickly responded. Both teams went cold for a stretch, but Scott's second three-pointer reignited Baylor's momentum, giving them a 35-26 lead at halftime.
Littlepage-Buggs opened the second half strong, securing her 12th double-double of the season. Fontleroy followed with a three-pointer, and Johnson's paint play extended Baylor's lead to 42-28.
Fontleroy continued her hot streak with back-to-back threes, igniting an 11-0 run that capitalized on three Kansas State turnovers. Although the Wildcats briefly countered with a layup, Scott's trio of triples in quick succession widened the gap to 60-40 by the end of the third quarter.
Baylor maintained their momentum into the fourth quarter with a 6-0 run. Deng's three-pointer off the bench marked Baylor's 13th of the night, and contributions from Kayla Nelms and Kiera Pemberton in the paint sealed the dominant 80-54 victory.
Looking ahead, Baylor wraps up their regular season with a matchup against TCU in Fort Worth on Sunday at 3 p.m. Fans can catch the action live on ESPN and the Baylor Sports Media Network, with ESPN's College GameDay kicking off coverage at 10 a.m. CT.
For the latest updates, follow Baylor women's basketball on their official social media platforms: @BaylorWBB.