You know that feeling when a team just decides nobody is scoring on them? That was the vibe in Salt Lake City on Wednesday night. If you’ve been hunting for the latest baylor lady basketball score, here is the short version: No. 18 Baylor basically put the clamps on Utah, walking out of the Jon M. Huntsman Center with a 61-45 win.
It wasn't a track meet. It wasn't a shooting clinic—at least not for the Utes. Honestly, it was a defensive masterclass that moved the Bears to 16-3 overall and 5-1 in the Big 12.
Breaking Down the Baylor Lady Basketball Score from Wednesday
The final 61-45 tally doesn't even tell the whole story of how suffocating this game actually felt. Baylor started a bit slow, leading only 21-18 after the first quarter. But then the second quarter happened. Utah went more than six minutes without a single field goal. Imagine that. Six minutes of empty trips while Nicki Collen’s squad slowly built a cushion.
By the time the half rolled around, Baylor was up 35-24, thanks to a 10-0 run to close the period. Taliah Scott was the engine, finishing with 14 points. She didn't have her most efficient night from the floor—going 5-of-21—but she hit three triples that seemed to sap the energy right out of the building.
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Key Stats from the Victory
- Total Points: Baylor 61, Utah 45
- The Shooting Gap: Baylor hit 38.7% of their shots; Utah was held to a dismal 26.2%.
- Arc Protection: This is the big one. Utah is usually lethal from deep, but the Bears held them to 3-of-25 (12%) from three-point land.
- Inside Presence: Darianna Littlepage-Buggs put up 11 points and grabbed 9 rebounds, mostly being a nuisance in the paint.
What This Score Tells Us About the Big 12 Race
The Big 12 is a meat grinder this year. You've got Texas Tech currently sitting at the top of the standings at 6-0, and Baylor is right there in the chase pack with TCU. Winning on the road in this conference is notoriously difficult, yet Baylor has now won nine straight "true" road games dating back to last season.
Coach Nicki Collen mentioned after the game that she was "super proud" of how they didn't give up back-cut layups. If you watch Utah play, that’s their bread and butter. Taking that away is like taking the keys to the car.
Lani White and Chyra Evans both put up 14 for the Utes, but they had to work for every single inch. Evans had a double-double with 11 boards, but Baylor's length—specifically from Bella Fontleroy and Kiersten Johnson—made every look in the paint feel contested.
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The Taliah Scott Factor
It’s kinda interesting to see how this team adapts when their leading scorer isn't having a "lights out" shooting night. Scott is averaging over 20 points a game this season. When she goes 5-of-21 and the team still wins by 16 on the road? That's a scary sign for the rest of the conference. It means the floor isn't just dependent on one person's heater.
Jana Van Gytenbeek stepped up big time in the distribution department, finishing with 10 points and 6 assists. She’s basically the steady hand that keeps the offense from spiraling when the shots aren't falling.
What’s Next for the Lady Bears?
The road trip through the Beehive State isn't over yet. They have a massive test coming up this Saturday, January 17, against BYU in Provo. The Cougars are 14-3 and coming off a bye, so they'll be fresh.
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If you're keeping an eye on the baylor lady basketball score for that one, expect a battle of wills. BYU plays a different style than Utah, but after seeing Baylor's "lock-down" performance on Wednesday, the blueprint for a Big 12 title run is becoming pretty clear: defense travels.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Watch the BYU Matchup: Tip-off is set for 3:00 PM CT on Saturday. It’ll be streaming on ESPN+.
- Monitor the AP Poll: Expect the Bears to climb or at least solidify their spot in the top 15 if they sweep this Utah road swing.
- Check the Standings: Keep an eye on the Texas Tech vs. TCU results this week, as those games will directly impact Baylor's path to the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament.