PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas — In an impressive opening game at the Battle 4 Atlantis, Baylor, ranked 18th, secured a dominant victory over Southern Mississippi, finishing with a score of 101-55. The standout performance came from Darianna Littlepage-Buggs, who contributed 19 points to the team’s successful effort. Yaya Felder also played a crucial role, recording 14 points along with eight rebounds and eight assists.

Jada Walker added to the team’s strong performance with 17 points and eight assists, while Bella Fontleroy and Sarah Andrews chipped in with 15 and 14 points, respectively. Baylor improved its season record to 4-1 with this win and is set to face the winner of the Indiana-Columbia matchup in the semifinals scheduled for Sunday.

For Southern Mississippi, Je’Mya Evans and Melyia Grayson both scored 12 points. Although the Lady Eagles began the game strong, making 8 of 13 shots in the first quarter, they still found themselves trailing 25-18. The lack of rebounding was a significant issue, as they were outrebounded 15-3 in the initial quarter.

As the game progressed into the second quarter, the disparity in rebounding became more pronounced. Baylor outscored Southern Miss 27-8 during this period, amassing a commanding 52-26 lead by halftime. The Bears displayed an impressive shooting performance, hitting 10 of 17 shots in the second quarter, which included six successful three-pointers—three each from Fontleroy and Andrews. In contrast, Southern Miss struggled, making only 3 of 9 attempts while committing seven turnovers.

By halftime, Baylor had a remarkable rebounding advantage of 22-9, which included a staggering 14-3 edge on the offensive boards and a notable 18-2 advantage in second-chance points. Through the course of the game, Baylor excelled from beyond the arc, sinking 15 of 34 three-point attempts and shooting 57% overall. They maintained a firm grip on the boards with a final rebounding tally of 42-22.

This victory sets a high bar for Baylor as they advance further into the tournament, showcasing their potential and strength as they continue the competition in paradise.