Browsing: Darianna Littlepage-Buggs

Two years after the game was taken from her, Ines Goryanova didn’t rush her first steps back onto the floor — she waited for the moment to feel earned. When she finally checked in for No. 15 Baylor women’s basketball, it was more than a substitution. It was the quiet end of a long, unseen fight.

Tied for first place in the Big 12 standings, No. 14 Baylor sits alongside No. 12 TCU as the conference race tightens. Elite defense, balanced production and road success have kept the Bears firmly in the title hunt as the push continues for a lone No. 1 spot.

From freshman phenom to senior heartbeat, Darianna Littlepage-Buggs has stacked double-doubles, big-time accolades and steady dominance across four seasons in green and gold. Her climb has already placed her among Baylor women’s basketball greats — and her story, her impact and her legacy are still unfolding.

Even after graduating six seniors, Baylor women’s basketball opens the season with experience at its core. Four-year veterans are carrying the culture and expectations that head coach Nicki Collen believes will define the program.

The fourth-seeded Bears (27-7) will open their tournament run against No. 13 seed Grand Canyon, a squad riding a 30-game winning streak, at 2:30 p.m. Friday at Foster Pavilion. Friday will mark the first matchup between the two teams with the longest active winning streak in Division I on the line for the Antelopes (32-2).