Big 12 Women’s Basketball Tournament Baylor vs. Iowa State Preview
Here is everything you need to know about Baylor and Iowa State in our Bears vs. Cyclones Big 12 Tournament women’s basketball quarterfinal preview.
Game 3: No. 5 Baylor (24-6) vs. No. 4 Iowa State (18-10, 12-6)
Time, TV: 11 a.m. CT Saturday, Big 12 Now/ESPN+
Location: T-Mobile Center, Kansas City, MO
Season series (Iowa State 1-0): Iowa State def. Baylor, 66-63.
Tournament Results: Baylor: def. Texas Tech, 71-60 (second round); Iowa State: First game.
Winner: Advances to the semifinals on Monday at 1:30 p.m.
Here is the full Big 12 women’s tournament schedule and results.
Projected starting lineups
Baylor: G Bella Fontleroy, G Darianna Littlepage-Buggs, G Jada Walker, G Sarah Andrews, G Aijha Blackwell.
Iowa State: G Emily Ryan, G Hannah Belanger, G Arianna Jackson, C Audi Crooks, F Addy Brown.
Players to watch
Baylor
G Aijha Blackwell: She came close to a double-double in Friday’s second-round win over Texas Tech, as he scored 11 points and grabbed nine rebounds in 26 minutes. Listed as a guard, she plays like a forward. Two seasons ago at Missouri she averaged a double-double before transferring to Baylor. She missed most of last season due to injury and returned this season to average 8.7 points and 8.5 rebounds in a role where she usually starts but is just as potent coming off the bench.
Iowa State
G Emily Ryan: The long-time Iowa State guard is one of just two Cyclones that returns Big 12 Tournament experience (Nymaer Diew is the other). That will be invaluable to a starting lineup that plays three freshmen, including All-Big 12 First Team pick Audi Crooks. Ryan missed the first nine games of the season due to injury but she’s playing like the player everyone expects — averaging 10.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 6.3 assists. The best news is that Ryan is coming back for a fifth year, opting to use her COVID waiver.
Key storylines
Baylor
Baylor won its sixth straight game by beating Texas Tech, but the win wasn’t without drama. Baylor looked like it was in control at halftime but Texas Tech made it a game before Baylor pulled away in the fourth quarter. Along with Blackwell, guard Sarah Andrews had 13 points and Bella Fontleroy had 10 points. What Baylor lacks in having a true center they make up for with a versatile, athletic lineup that can give opponents fits.
Iowa State
The Cyclones expected to lean into youth this season, but with Ryan hurt for basically all of non-conference Iowa State really had to lean in. And it worked. While Ryan recuperated, Crooks, Addy Brown and Arianna Jackson excelled, while first-year transfer Hannah Belanger provided the Cyclones the kind of 3-point shooting they live and die by. The Cyclones made it clear they were going to make a run at the NCAA Tournament in January with back-to-back wins over West Virginia and Baylor, both of which were ranked. Bill Fennellly did a coach-of-the-year type of job this season, even if he didn’t get the award.
Prediction
Iowa State 71, Baylor 68. Both teams are in good shape and have winning streaks going into this game. Crooks is the differentiator. If Baylor can limit her effectiveness and get her in foul trouble, they can win. But if Crooks has a big game, the Cyclones advance.
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.
