MANHATTAN, Kan. — Aaronette Vonleh delivered a stellar performance, chalking up a season-best 24 points along with 12 rebounds, marking her third double-double of the season. This impressive showing powered No. 17 Baylor to a 79-62 victory over No. 14 Kansas State on Monday night, extending their winning streak to nine games, the longest of the season.
Vonleh sparked Baylor’s early momentum by scoring the team’s initial 10 points. The Bears took control with a 23-12 lead, capitalizing on a 7-2 spurt as the second quarter commenced. Sarah Andrews contributed significantly by nailing her third three-pointer within the opening 15 minutes, advancing the score to 32-19. At halftime, Baylor enjoyed a comfortable 36-26 advantage, having hit 6 out of 16 three-point attempts, while Kansas State struggled with just 1 of 8.
The Bears maintained their lead through strategic plays in the third quarter, with Vonleh adding eight more points, starting with a basket at 4:27 that led to an 11-2 run, resulting in a 54-41 scoreline. Baylor, boasting a 25-5 overall record and 15-2 within the Big 12 conference, strove to secure an outright championship, with a pivotal matchup against No. 10 TCU looming on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Kansas State, sharing an identical overall record of 25-5 but 13-4 in the conference, experienced its first home defeat of the season. Contributions from Aliyah Matharu and Yaya Felder, each scoring 15 points, solidified Baylor’s dominance, complemented by Jada Walker’s game-leading 11 assists alongside her eight points. Vonleh excelled defensively as well, blocking three shots.
During the third quarter, Bella Fontleroy of Baylor had a collision with Kansas State’s Serena Sundell, resulting in Fontleroy receiving ice treatment on her right shoulder. For Kansas State, Sundell scored 20 points, while Kennedy Taylor provided an additional 16 points. Three-point shooting proved crucial, with Baylor making 11 of 28 shots compared to Kansas State’s 2 of 15.
Kansas State will conclude its regular season with a game at Iowa State on Sunday.
