Baylor's Taliah Scott Ready to Shine in NCAA Tournament Debut
In the world of college basketball, shooting slumps happen, even to the best of them. Baylor's Taliah Scott knows this all too well, having hit a rough patch recently.
But if you think this will shake her confidence, think again. Baylor coach Nicki Collen isn't losing any sleep over it.
"She's had her ups and downs, but she always bounces back," Collen remarked as the sixth-seeded Bears gear up to face 11th-seeded Nebraska in the NCAA Tournament's first round at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Scott, a first-team All-Big 12 pick and WBCA All-America finalist, brings an impressive 20.0 points and 2.9 assists per game to the table, along with a solid 34.0% shooting from beyond the arc and a stellar 90% from the free-throw line. Despite recent struggles, Scott's been back in the gym, putting in the work.
"Seeing the ball go in over the past week has been huge for my confidence," she shared. "I'm ready to get back out there and make an impact."
Senior forward Darianna Littlepage-Buggs, who dominates the boards with a double-double average, knows the team needs Scott firing on all cylinders. "We believe in her," Littlepage-Buggs said.
"She needs to score for us, so we're going to keep feeding her the ball. Whether it's a layup, a three, or a jump shot, we'll find her."
Baylor's opponent, Nebraska, comes in hot after a 75-56 victory over Richmond, where they exploded for 27 third-quarter points. Sophomore guard Britt Prince, who averages 17.6 points, led the charge with 22 points. Despite a rocky stretch, Nebraska's ability to shoot the three makes them a formidable foe.
Coach Collen recognizes the challenge ahead. "Prince has become the centerpiece for them.
She's a 50-40-90 player and a consistent threat," Collen noted. "Their three-point shooting is something we need to watch."
Nebraska's coach, Amy Williams, has been studying Scott's play closely. "She's dynamic," Williams said.
"Once she gets going, she's hard to stop. Any mistake, and she'll make you pay."
The winner of this matchup will advance to face either third-seeded Duke or 14th-seeded Charleston for a shot at the Sweet 16 in Sacramento. Coach Collen is excited about the opportunity.
"This is my fifth year at Baylor, and our fifth tournament appearance. We're ready to compete."
Catch all the action on ESPN, with Jenn Hildreth and Kelly Gramlich bringing you the play-by-play. It's set to be an exciting showdown as Baylor looks to make their mark in this year's tournament.