WACO, Texas (Interstat) — Baylor survived a low-scoring affair to defeat Colorado 56-52 in a Big 12 women’s basketball game Thursday night at Ferrell Center. The Lady Bears used a strong defensive effort, blocking 12 shots, to overcome 20 turnovers. Colorado’s Zyanna Walker scored a game-high 16 points, while Bella Fontleroy led Baylor with 11. The Buffaloes, who shot just 28.4% from the field, closed a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to two in the final minute before Fontleroy sealed the win with two free throws. Baylor improved to 14-3, while Colorado fell to 11-5.

WACO, Texas (Interstat) — In a defensive struggle defined by missed shots and relentless rim protection, the Baylor Lady Bears escaped with a 56-52 victory over the Colorado Buffaloes in a Big 12 women’s basketball game Thursday night at Ferrell Center. The game, played before a crowd of 3,172, was a far cry from a typical offensive showcase. Both teams combined to shoot just 28.5% from the field, with Colorado’s offensive woes proving particularly acute in a decisive second quarter. The Buffaloes managed only seven points in that period, a scoring drought from which they could never fully recover. Baylor improved to 14-3 overall, while Colorado fell to 11-5. The most important sequence of the game unfolded in the final chaotic minute. Trailing 54-52, Colorado had multiple opportunities to tie or take the lead. With 28 seconds remaining, Colorado’s Anaëlle Dutat saw a potential tying jump shot blocked by Baylor’s Darianna Littlepage-Buggs. The Buffaloes retained possession and drew a foul on a 3-point attempt by Desiree Wooten with 26 seconds left. Wooten, however, could only convert one of her three free throws, cutting the deficit to 54-53. After a Baylor timeout, the Lady Bears’ ensuing inbounds play resulted in a held ball and a turnover, giving Colorado one final chance with six seconds left. The Buffaloes inbounded and found Jade Masogayo for a jumper that tied the game at 54 with just three seconds remaining. The celebration was short-lived. On the ensuing inbounds play, Colorado’s Zyanna Walker fouled Baylor’s Bella Fontleroy, sending her to the line for two shots with two seconds on the clock. Fontleroy, a 6-foot guard from Springfield, Missouri, calmly sank both free throws to seal the victory for the Lady Bears. Fontleroy finished with 11 points and five blocks, part of a staggering 12-block team effort by Baylor that anchored its defense. Kiersten Johnson contributed five of those blocks, while Kyla Abraham added another. The interior defense consistently disrupted Colorado, which scored 32 points in the paint but on a high volume of attempts. Colorado was led by Zyanna Walker’s 16 points. Desiree Wooten added 13 points, and Anaëlle Dutat chipped in nine. The Buffaloes’ effort was fueled by defensive pressure of their own, forcing 20 Baylor turnovers and converting them into 17 points. They also dominated the offensive glass, grabbing 15 rebounds to Baylor’s 12, which led to 18 second-chance points for the Lady Bears. Baylor’s offense, while also inefficient, found just enough production. Yuting Deng led the Lady Bears with 13 points, including three 3-pointers. Darianna Littlepage-Buggs recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds, and Jana Van Gytenbeek dished out seven assists. The game’s tempo was grinding from the start. Baylor led 18-16 after a first quarter that saw both teams trade mini-runs. The Lady Bears then held Colorado to 2-of-16 shooting in the second quarter, outscoring the Buffaloes 5-7 to take a 23-20 lead into halftime. The third quarter saw Baylor extend its lead to as many as nine points before Colorado clawed back, setting the stage for the tense final period. The win was Baylor’s second in a row in conference play, while Colorado saw a two-game winning streak snapped. The Buffaloes will look to rebound Sunday at Oklahoma State, while Baylor will host Kansas on Sunday.

Preview: Colorado Buffaloes at Baylor Lady Bears WACO, Texas (Interstat) — A pivotal early-season Big 12 women’s basketball showdown is set for Thursday afternoon as the Baylor Lady Bears host the Colorado Buffaloes at the Ferrell Center. Baylor (13-3, 2-1 Big 12) enters riding momentum from a hard-fought 72-70 road victory at Iowa State last Sunday, powered by a dominant performance from forward Darianna Littlepage-Buggs. The junior recorded a staggering 20 rebounds to go with 13 points, showcasing the interior presence that will challenge Colorado. The Lady Bears’ three losses have come against ranked opponents Texas and Texas Tech, and an overtime scare against Davidson. Colorado (11-4, 1-1) arrives after a 79-68 home win over Cincinnati, where Desiree Wooten led the way with 19 points. The Buffaloes have shown resilience but have struggled away from home, with road losses to Arizona State and Texas A&M. Their success in Waco will likely hinge on the consistency of forward Anaëlle Dutat, who is averaging 11.2 points and 7.5 rebounds over her last five games. The matchup inside will be critical. Littlepage-Buggs is averaging a double-double over her last five contests (12.2 points, 11.0 rebounds), including a 20-board effort. Colorado will counter with Dutat and Jade Masogayo, who had 10 points and six rebounds against Cincinnati. Baylor holds a significant home-court advantage, having won all nine of its games at the Ferrell Center this season by an average margin of 33.2 points. Colorado, however, boasts a defense that has held opponents to 60 points or fewer in eight of its 11 victories. This contest marks the first meeting between the programs as Big 12 conference foes. A win would give Baylor a key resume-building victory and solidify its top-tier conference standing, while Colorado aims to secure a statement road win to bolster its own postseason credentials. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CST Thursday. Baylor will host Kansas on Sunday, while Colorado travels to face Oklahoma State.