WACO, Texas (Interstat) — Baylor’s defense and dominance on the glass proved too much for Kansas to overcome as the Lady Bears secured a 79-64 victory in a Big 12 Conference women’s basketball game Sunday at Ferrell Center.

The game was effectively decided by Baylor’s relentless pressure, which forced 20 Kansas turnovers leading to 21 points, and a commanding 15-7 advantage in offensive rebounds that yielded 18 second-chance points. The Lady Bears, who entered as heavy favorites, leveraged those extra possessions to overcome a subpar shooting performance, converting just 28 of 68 attempts from the field.

The most critical stretch of the game came late in the first quarter and extended into the second, as Baylor transformed an early back-and-forth contest into a comfortable lead. After Kansas took a 4-0 lead on baskets from S’Mya Nichols and Lilly Meister, Baylor responded with a 17-4 run over the final seven minutes of the opening period. The surge was fueled by defensive stops and the interior play of Darianna Littlepage-Buggs, who scored six points during the run. Kansas committed six turnovers in the quarter, and Baylor capitalized by closing the period on a Taliah Scott jumper to lead 17-6.

Baylor continued to apply pressure in the second quarter, extending the lead to 44-23 by halftime. The Lady Bears’ defense held Kansas to just 30 percent shooting in the first half while forcing 12 turnovers. Scott was instrumental in the second-quarter push, scoring 12 of her 24 points before the break, including a three-pointer just before the halftime buzzer.

Kansas showed resilience after halftime, opening the third quarter with a 9-2 spurt to cut the deficit to 46-33, fueled by five quick points from Jaliya Davis. However, Baylor answered with a decisive 11-2 run of its own, capped by a Jana Van Gytenbeek three-pointer, to push the lead back to 57-35 and effectively seal the outcome. The Jayhawks never got closer than 14 points the rest of the way.

Littlepage-Buggs delivered a complete performance for Baylor, finishing with 16 points, 13 rebounds and six assists. Her work on the offensive glass, with five offensive rebounds, was pivotal in sustaining possessions. Scott led all scorers with 24 points, while Van Gytenbeek added 10 points, three assists and a game-high four steals.

For Kansas, Davis led the way with 21 points despite early foul trouble. Meister recorded a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds, and Nichols contributed 11 points and seven assists. The Jayhawks were hampered by their ball security, as their 20 turnovers offset a more efficient shooting afternoon compared to Baylor. Kansas finished shooting 45 percent from the field but attempted 16 fewer shots than the Lady Bears.

With the win, Baylor improved to 15-3 overall and 3-1 in Big 12 play. Kansas fell to 11-6 and 1-3 in the conference. The Lady Bears outscored Kansas 21-9 in points off turnovers and held a 38-26 advantage in points in the paint.

Baylor next travels to face Utah on Wednesday. Kansas returns home to host Oklahoma State, also on Wednesday.