WACO, Texas (Interstat) — The Baylor Lady Bears used a dominant third-quarter surge to pull away from the Southern Lady Jaguars and secure a 77-60 victory in a nonconference women’s basketball game Thursday night at the Ferrell Center.

A crowd of 3,074 watched as Baylor, improving to 11-2, shook off a sluggish start to methodically build its lead after halftime. Southern, which fell to 4-6, kept the contest close for a half but could not sustain its effort against Baylor’s size and offensive execution.

The most important segment of the game arrived in the third quarter. Leading by just nine points at halftime, Baylor opened the second half with increased defensive intensity and a more fluid offensive attack. The Lady Bears outscored Southern 23-16 in the period, transforming a competitive game into a comfortable double-digit advantage. The run was fueled by balanced scoring and stifling defense that forced Southern into difficult shots and turnovers, preventing any sustained comeback attempt.

Baylor’s Bella Fontleroy, a 6-foot guard from Springfield, Missouri, led all scorers with 21 points, showcasing an efficient all-around game. She added four assists and two blocks, bouncing back strongly from a four-point performance in Baylor’s loss to Texas five days prior. Fontleroy’s scoring, particularly from beyond the arc, was instrumental in stretching the Lady Bears’ lead.

She was supported by a strong frontcourt performance from Kayla Nelms of Miami, Florida. The 6-1 forward contributed 15 points and two blocks in 20 minutes of action. Darianna Littlepage-Buggs, a 6-1 forward from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, provided a steady presence with 13 points and played a game-high 33 minutes.

The Lady Bears’ offense was expertly directed by point guard Jana Van Gytenbeek. The senior from Greenwood Village, Colorado, played the full 40 minutes, dishing out 10 assists to go with seven points, orchestrating the offense and finding open shooters throughout the night. Yuting Deng, a 6-0 guard from Hunan, China, also reached double figures with 11 points off the bench.

Southern was led by Jaylia Reed, a 5-6 guard from Hot Springs, Arkansas, who scored 11 points. Demya Porter of Bogue Chitto, Mississippi, and Jestiny Dixon of Foley, Alabama, each added 10 points for the Lady Jaguars. Southern struggled with consistency, unable to put together a significant run after halftime against Baylor’s defensive pressure.

The game began with both teams trading baskets in a tightly contested first quarter, which ended with Baylor holding a narrow 17-14 lead. The Lady Jaguars hung tough in the second period, but Baylor managed to extend its margin to 35-25 by the intermission. The decisive third-quarter push by the Lady Bears then put the game out of reach, allowing them to cruise through the final quarter.

Baylor finished the game shooting effectively from the field, while Southern’s shooting percentages were lower. The Lady Bears also controlled the rebounding battle, creating numerous second-chance opportunities that Southern could not match.

Baylor now looks ahead to its Big 12 Conference opener, hosting Texas Tech on Sunday. Southern continues its challenging road stretch with a game at SMU on Sunday before beginning Southwestern Athletic Conference play in the new year.