Months after their season opener in Paris, Baylor and Duke will square off again in the NCAA Tournament. While the Bears knocked off the Blue Devils in November, Sunday’s meeting carries far greater stakes, as they’ll look to do it again with a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line.
Browsing: Kiersten Johnson
After three seasons at Oklahoma, Kiersten Johnson arrived at Baylor with a winning résumé. But in Waco, the senior forward found something even greater in her final season: a fresh start and renewed purpose on a team that felt like home.
After uneven December results, Baylor responded with an undefeated January marked by road wins, roster depth and program milestones. The stretch has reshaped the Bears’ early Big 12 run as conference play takes hold.
Behind a red-hot start and a lineup that produced from top to bottom, No. 14 Baylor powered past Southeastern Louisiana 112–47 in an all-hands performance for the third game of its five-game homestand.
Senior forwards led the way for the Bears in a dominant outing, with Bella Fontleroy scoring her 1,000th career point and Darianna Littlepage-Buggs adding a 26-point double-double. The Bears cruised past Le Moyne 99-43 for the Bears’ 24th win in Foster Pavilion.
Back on the court and back in command, Jana Van Gytenbeek guided a fast-paced Baylor squad that found its rhythm and closed strong, cruising past West Texas A&M 86-46 in its preseason tune-up at Foster Pavilion.
Auburn rising sophomore Yuting Deng, who reportedly held 50 offers when she entered the transfer portal, chose Baylor over others like UConn and Notre Dame Sunday night, according to multiple reports. The 6-foot guard joins Oklahoma rising senior forward Kiersten Johnson and North Dakota rising junior forward Kiera Pemberton as April additions.

