WACO, Texas — In a thrilling matchup, Baylor Women’s Basketball overcame No. 23 Utah with a final score of 70-61 on Tuesday night, showcasing a strong performance by their players. Aaronette Vonleh took center stage by scoring 19 points, shooting impressively at 9-of-12 from the field. Meanwhile, Bella Fontleroy and Jada Walker each recorded double-doubles, contributing significantly to the victory. Fontleroy notched a personal best of 17 points, along with 10 rebounds and a career-best five steals. Walker added her own 12 points and set a new career high with 12 assists. Yaya Felder also made her mark by scoring 12 points for the Bears, pushing their season record to 15-3, with a conference tally of 5-1 in the Big 12.
The game turned tense in the final stretch when Ines Vieira’s jumper brought Utah within one point at 60-59 with just 3:46 remaining. However, Vonleh quickly responded with a crucial layup just 17 seconds later, fueling a dominant 10-0 run that stretched Baylor’s lead to 11 points with only 23 seconds left on the clock. Gianna Kneepkens and Maty Wilke led the effort for Utah, each contributing 17 points, while teammate Reese Ross added 12 points to the scoreline. Utah now sits at 13-4 overall, with a conference record of 4-2.
Baylor initially jumped out to a 43-32 lead just four minutes into the second half. However, Wilke’s three consecutive 3-pointers sparked a 16-4 surge for Utah that allowed them briefly to take a 49-48 lead going into the fourth quarter. Despite the pressure, Baylor regained control and never looked back, maintaining their edge throughout the final minutes of the game.
This victory marked Baylor’s fourth consecutive win and their 11th triumph in the last 12 games, effectively solidifying their position as one of the strongest teams just outside the AP Top 25. In another notable achievement, fifth-year senior Sarah Andrews set a new program record by playing in her 150th game during the NCAA era, surpassing the previous record held by Nina Davis. The all-time record for games played remains with Suzie Snider Eppers, who appeared in 162 games during the Bear’s time in the now-defunct Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW).
Baylor played without their scoring and rebounding leader, Darianna Littlepage-Buggs, who is currently serving a one-game suspension after being ejected during a recent victory against Arizona State. Littlepage-Buggs averages 14.4 points per game, shooting at an impressive 53%, along with 10.1 rebounds, highlighting her impact on the team’s overall performance this season.
