WACO, Texas — Yaya Felder led the way with 15 points, while Bella Fontleroy contributed 14 as No. 19 Baylor achieved its eighth consecutive victory by defeating Iowa State 67-52 on Saturday.
Jada Walker added 12 points and Aaronette Vonleh scored 11 for the Bears (24-5, 14-2 Big 12 Conference), who managed another game without their top scorer and rebounder, Darianna Littlepage-Buggs, due to a leg injury. Felder, who is the only bench player in the conference averaging double-digit points, made her third consecutive start in her absence.
For the Cyclones (19-10, 10-6), Audi Crooks netted 14 points, marking her 61st straight game in double figures, although only six of those points came in the decisive fourth quarter. Iowa State, having previously enjoyed a four-game winning streak, struggled with ball control, accumulating 21 turnovers that allowed Baylor to score 26 points. In contrast, Iowa State managed just 10 points from 17 turnovers committed by the Bears.
Baylor fought through foul trouble to establish a 33-23 lead at halftime. The Bears limited Iowa State to a mere 1-of-6 shooting performance from three-point range and 26% overall, while forcing 11 turnovers. Felder was instrumental in this effort, leading her team with 11 points in the first half.
After a tight first quarter where Baylor led 15-11, Felder dominated the second quarter, scoring 10 points. The Bears found their rhythm in the third quarter, hitting 9 of 13 shots, including three from beyond the arc, which allowed them to extend their lead to 58-39 heading into the final period. Iowa State, despite making 6 of 11 field goal attempts in the fourth, struggled with seven turnovers.
Although Crooks managed to score a couple of baskets quickly in the final quarter, Iowa State never reduced the deficit to fewer than 13 points. Baylor excelled from three-point range, converting 9 of 19 attempts, while Iowa State hit only 1 of 14 attempts from behind the arc.
Looking ahead, Baylor is set to face No. 12 Kansas State on Monday, while Iowa State will take on UCF on Tuesday.
