Unbalanced logo

Part IV: Who We Checkin'

Baylor versus West Virginia is What We Checkin'

By Winners OnlyPublished 3 years ago 3 min read
Like
Kysre, DiJonai, Kirsten, DiDi, Esmery, Queen, Madisen, NaLyssa & Kari

Welcome to our series, "Who We Checkin'?" In this edition we are previewing a big game that you should check out on Thursday, Dec. 10.

For various reasons, women's basketball has the opportunity to really explode over the next few seasons and we're going to do our best to make you aware about the amazing women that you may not know but should as we share their basketball journey and growth as student athletes.

#7 Baylor at West Virginia

These two Big 12 opponents clash in an important match that will answer a few questions.

Baylor was ranked fourth in the nation when it fell to 16th ranked Arkansas. There is no crime in losing to the talented Razorbacks but the former fourth best team in the land, now ranked seventh is not supposed to lose two in a row.

Enter the last unbeaten team in the Big 12. The West Virginia Mountaineers are riding high at 4-0, with three blowout wins and one overtime thrilling victory versus Tennessee.

Leading the way for West Virginia is Kysre Gondrezick who is shooting 51 percent overall, 48 percent from three and averaging 23 points per game. The Dec. 6 win over Tennessee was the first time that she shot less than 50 percent this season. Gondrezick shot 10-25, for 40 percent in the overtime win where she scored a career high 27 points. The combo guard has yet to score under 20 points this season.

Baylor will counter Gondrezick with DiJonai Carrington, who after starting the season shooting 5-18 and averaging 7.5 points in the first two games, heated up against Arkansas. She shot 8-16 on her way to 24 points in the loss to the Razorbacks. Carrington is averaging 13 points and four boards per game overall.

The two teams have an interesting frontcourt battle to watch as well. Junior forward NaLyssa Smith leads Baylor in scoring (15.7), rebounding (10.7) and blocked shots (2.3). The 6-2 Texan, is coming off of a productive 2019-20 season where she was named All-American Honorable Mention and All-Big 12 First Team. While her point, rebounding and blocked shot averages are at a career best, this season she is off to a slow start when it comes to field goal shooting. So far Smith is connecting on 31 percent of her shots, however she is knocking down a career best 82 percent from the free-throw line.

West Virginia's top frontcourt performer has been a 6-2 sophomore forward of the Dominican Republic. Esmery Martinez leads her team with an average of 13.5 rebounds per game. She is second on the squad in scoring (11.5), blocks (1.3) and steals (1.0). Martinez's most impressive performance was a 22-rebound and 17-point output against North Alabama.

Other players to watch for West Virginia are Kari Niblack, Madisen Smith and Kirsten Deans. Niblack is a rugged 6-1 junior who is coming around as the season progresses. After going 1-6 with two points, six rebounds, one assist and one block in game one, she has a averaged 9.6 points eight rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.3 blocks in the three games afterwards.

Smith is coming off of a masterful performance against Tennessee. She scored 16 points, dished out six assists and turned the ball over just once. Smith also shot 4-6 from three. In the first two games of the season she had six assists and eight turnovers. The last two games she has tallied 14 assists and three turnovers. Smith is first on the team at five assists per game and third in scoring at 11.3 points.

Deans is a chaotic hustler who is averaging 10.8 points, while connecting on 44 percent of her three-point shots this season. She has scored double figures in all but one of her team's four games.

Baylor is armed with royalty. Queen Egbo is a 6-3 junior center that is averaging 15.5 points and nine boards per game. She's also a more than capable shot blocker which is a potential problem to WVU. Egbo had a big game to start the season as she put up 25 points and 11 rebounds against South Florida.

DiDi Richards is a big 6-1 guard who can dish dimes. WVU will hope to force her into the turnover filled game that she had in the loss to Arkansas. In that game she has eight assists and six turnovers. Her defense is a major of concern for WVU. The reigning Naismith Defensive Player of the Year will probably spend her share of time on Gondrezick in an effort to stifle the West Virginia offense.

Tip-off for tonight's game is 7 pm eastern.

basketball
Like

About the Creator

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments

There are no comments for this story

Be the first to respond and start the conversation.

Sign in to comment

    Find us on social media

    Miscellaneous links

    • Explore
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Support

    © 2024 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.