WACO, Texas (Interstat) — The Baylor Lady Bears used a dominant first quarter to set the tone and cruised to a decisive 76-35 victory over the Grambling Lady Tigers in a non-conference women’s basketball game Sunday at the Ferrell Center.

A crowd of 3,121 watched as Baylor improved its record to 7-1, while Grambling fell to 1-7.

The game was effectively decided in the opening period, as Baylor’s stifling defense held Grambling to a single field goal. The Lady Tigers managed just two points in the first quarter, their lowest-scoring period of the season. Meanwhile, the Lady Bears’ offense was efficient and balanced, racking up 24 points to build a 22-point lead that would never be seriously challenged.

Baylor’s Taliah Scott, a guard from Orange Park, Florida, led all scorers with 17 points in just 31 minutes of action. She was one of four Lady Bears to reach double figures, showcasing the team’s depth. Bella Fontleroy of Springfield, Missouri, added 11 points, while Darianna Littlepage-Buggs of Oklahoma City contributed 10 points and was a force on the glass with a game-high 11 rebounds.

The defensive anchor for Baylor was post player Kiersten Johnson of Duncanville, Texas. The 6-foot-4 Johnson recorded five blocked shots, altering countless others and helping limit Grambling to just 16 points in the paint compared to Baylor’s 34.

Grambling, struggling to find any offensive rhythm against Baylor’s size and length, was led by Zaria Johnson of Houston, who finished with 14 points. The Lady Tigers showed a brief spark after halftime, scoring 20 points in the third quarter, but could not sustain the momentum and were held to just five points in the final period.

Baylor’s ball movement was a key factor, with Jana Van Gytenbeek of Greenwood Village, Colorado, dishing out a game-high seven assists. As a team, the Lady Bears consistently found open shooters and capitalized on their advantages inside.

The Lady Bears’ victory was a comprehensive team effort following a tight overtime win against Davidson in their previous outing. For Grambling, the loss extends a difficult early-season stretch against a series of power-conference opponents.

Baylor’s next game is at home against Southeastern Louisiana on Wednesday. Grambling’s next contest is on the road at Louisiana Tech on Dec. 9.

According to Interstat’s ELO system, Baylor was projected with a 99.80 percent probability to win, a forecast the Lady Bears fulfilled with a commanding performance from start to finish.