Preview: Baylor Lady Bears at Utah Utes

SALT LAKE CITY (Interstat) — A pivotal early-season Big 12 women’s basketball clash is set for Wednesday night as the Baylor Lady Bears visit the Utah Utes at the Jon M. Huntsman Center.

Baylor (15-3, 4-0 Big 12) enters on a five-game winning streak, most recently defeating Kansas 79-64 on Sunday. The Lady Bears are powered by forward Darianna Littlepage-Buggs, who is coming off a dominant 16-point, 13-rebound, 6-assist performance. Over her last three games, she is averaging 13 points and 14.3 rebounds. Guard Taliah Scott, the team’s leading scorer, added 24 points against Kansas.

Utah (13-4, 3-1) has won three straight, including an 80-73 road victory at Kansas State on Saturday. Forward Reese Ross led the way with 21 points and 10 rebounds, her third double-double in the last five contests. During this three-game streak, Ross is averaging 15.7 points and 8.0 rebounds.

The matchup features two of the conference’s top frontcourt players in Littlepage-Buggs and Ross. Baylor’s defense, allowing just 56.8 points per game in conference play, will be tested by a Utah offense that has scored 80 or more points in two of its last three outings.

Baylor’s only loss since late November was a one-point defeat to Texas Tech. Utah’s lone conference setback was a one-point loss to Arizona State.

This marks the first meeting between the programs as Big 12 opponents. The game is scheduled for a 9 p.m. EST tipoff Wednesday.

Following this contest, Baylor will travel to face BYU on Saturday. Utah will visit Houston on the same day.