The University of Arizona women’s basketball team (11-6, 2-2 in Big 12) staged an impressive second-half comeback but ultimately fell short in an 81-76 overtime loss to Baylor University on Wednesday, Jan. 8 in McKale Center.
Isis Beh led Arizona, recording a season-high 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting, six rebounds, and four assists before fouling out. Breya Cunningham notched her second double-double of the season with 10 points, 12 rebounds and four steals.
Lauryn Swann and Jada Williams tallied 16 points apiece, while Paulina Paris added 14 points off the bench to round out Arizona’s top contributors.
After a tight first quarter that ended with the Wildcats leading 14-13, Baylor took control early in the second period, holding Arizona to just 13 points. University of Florida transfer Aliyah Matharu and Bella Fontleroy played well early for Baylor, knocking down back-to-back 3-pointers in the second quarter to help give Baylor a 39-26 halftime lead.
Swann led the Wildcats in the first half, recording 9 points on 3-for-6 shooting and adding a steal. Baylor held Arizona to just 37 percent shooting from the field, compared to the Bears’ 41.9 percent.
Arizona began to chip away at the deficit in the third quarter, ignited by baskets from Cunningham and Beh. The Wildcats carried that momentum into the fourth quarter, where they outscored Baylor 22-15.
Key contributions from Swann and Paris helped Arizona complete a 17-point comeback. Beh scored a layup, tying the game at 71 in the final seconds of regulation, sending the game to extended play.
In overtime, Darianna Littlepage-Buggs, who was limited to just seven minutes through the first three quarters due to foul trouble, took over for Baylor. The 6-foot-1 junior scored 8 of Baylor’s 10 overtime points and grabbed three rebounds in the extra period. Her layup with 1:41 left sealed the win for the Bears. Arizona managed just one point in the final two minutes of overtime.
Arizona shot an efficient 46.6 percent from the field and 45.5 percent from beyond the arc but struggled to match Baylor’s physicality on the glass. The Bears out-rebounded the Wildcats 46-30 and capitalized with 15 second-chance points compared to Arizona’s 2.
Looking ahead
The Wildcats aim to rebound and get back in the win column against Iowa State University on Saturday, Jan. 11 at 2 p.m. in McKale Center as they continue conference play after their second Big 12 loss.
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