Game Preview: #4 Texas vs. #6 Baylor

The University of Baylor travels to the Frank Erwin Center Sunday to challenge Texas’ undefeated record.

The No. 6/7 Bears are 17-1 on the season and 4-1 in Big 12 play. They barely scratched by West Virginia University at home Tuesday night with a 69-64 win. Baylor’s only loss came against Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, 45-52 – the same Oklahoma State team that Texas beat 78-48.

The No. 4 Longhorns recently beat Kansas 75-38. Texas jumped out to a 17-0 lead against the Jayhawks in the first quarter and never looked back. Senior guard Empress Davenport scored 11 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, recording her first career double-double. Head coach Karen Aston received her 175^th career victory.

Texas’ key to victory in its conference games so far has been gaining a lead early. The Longhorns have only trailed a total of 16 seconds in all five conference games combined.

“We start fast, and it starts with our defense,” senior guard Celina Rodrigo told texassports.com.

Against Kansas, junior guard Briana Taylor recorded five steals, giving her a new career-high. The Longhorns as a team stole the ball four times and forced six turnovers before Kansas made a basket.

Baylor will be Texas toughest opponent in Big 12 play so far; however, the Longhorns did face three ranked opponents during non-conference play.

The Bears average 79.3 points per game but only 64.4 points during Big 12 play. All-American junior forward Nina Davis and junior guard Alexis Jones lead Baylor in scoring. Davis averages 16.6 points per game, and Jones 14.6 points.

Texas key to victory against the Bears would be to stop Davis and/or Jones. The Mountaineers held Davis to 6 points, but Jones scored 20. Baylor only won by 5 points. Against Oklahoma State, the Bears only loss, Davis scored 18 points, and Jones was held to five.

Texas averages 75.0 points per game and is winning conference games by an average of 24.6 points. Senior center Imani Boyette continues to lead the Longhorns in scoring, averaging 12.9 points per game. Sophomore guard Brooke McCarty comes in second with an average of 10.9 points, and sophomore guard Ariel Atkins comes off the bench, averaging 9.4 points a game.

On the defensive side, Texas continues to outrebound its opponents. The Longhorns average 44.38 rebounds per game, led by Boyette who averages 9.6 boards. Texas outrebounds its opponents by an average of 13.0 rebounds per game.

Baylor will put Texas’ rebounding to the test. The Bears average 46.1 rebounds per game and outrebound opponents by 15.9 boards. Freshman post player Beatrice Mompremier averages 6.3 rebounds a game, leading the Bears. Junior post Khadijiah Cave averages 6.0.

Texas leads the all-time series record, 57-32, between the two schools. But, Baylor has won the last 11 meetings. The last time the Longhorns beat the Bears was in 2010 in Waco with a score of 70-54.

Texas will look to extend their undefeated record and end their losing streak against Baylor on Sunday. Tip-off is set for 2:30 CT on ESPN2.