No. 14 Baylor heads to Fifth Third Arena tonight looking to bounce back from a disastrous showing at West Virginia against a Cincinnati Bearcats team fresh off a heartbreaking buzzer-beater loss to Houston. Our Baylor vs. Cincinnati prediction has the projected starting lineups, how to watch, and a score forecast for the matchup.
Baylor vs. Cincinnati Projected Lineups and Key Matchups
Baylor Bears Starting Lineup
- Jana Van Gytenbeek
- Taliah Scott
- Bella Fontleroy
- Kyla Abraham
- Darianna Littlepage-Buggs
Cincinnati Bearcats Starting Lineup
- Caliyah DeVillasee
- Dee Alexander
- Reagan Jackson
- Jillian Hayes
- Destiny Thomas
Baylor vs. Cincinnati Prediction and Preview
The Bears (19-4, 8-2 Big 12) didn’t just lose to West Virginia on Sunday; they got completely rattled. Nicki Collen’s squad committed turnovers at a rate that defied belief, giving West Virginia 38 points off giveaways and getting dominated 34-8 in the paint.
That’s not the Baylor team that won 10 consecutive road games or steamrolled through January with a seven-game winning streak. The good news? This Cincinnati matchup should serve as a palate cleanser.
The Bearcats (8-14, 3-7 Big 12) have struggled mightily in conference play, and while they stunned Iowa State earlier this season for their first win over a ranked opponent in nearly 15 years, that performance has been the exception rather than the rule.
Katrina Merriweather’s team lost a gut-wrenching game at Houston on Sunday when Kyndall Hunter buried a three at the buzzer to steal a 72-70 win.
Darianna Littlepage-Buggs should feast inside against Cincinnati’s undersized frontcourt. The senior forward just joined Baylor’s elite 1,000-rebound club and has recorded 10 double-doubles this season.
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She’ll need to assert herself early after managing just eight points on 3-of-12 shooting against West Virginia’s physical defense.
Taliah Scott led Baylor with 18 points in the loss, and the Auburn transfer has been the Bears’ most reliable scorer in Big 12 play. Bella Fontleroy adds defensive presence with over 100 career blocks, and her energy on that end typically sets the tone for Baylor’s identity.
Cincinnati will lean on Jillian Hayes, the program’s all-time leader in games played, blocks, and free throws made. The sixth-year forward averaged 15.6 points and 9.5 rebounds last season and earned All-Big 12 Third Team honors. Point guard Caliyah DeVillasee has emerged as a secondary threat, dropping 21 points at Houston.
But the Bearcats’ struggles from three-point range (they shot just 8% from deep against Houston) will hurt them against a Baylor defense that excels at taking away the paint. The Bears should win this comfortably if they simply protect the basketball.
Prediction: Baylor 74, Cincinnati 58
How to Watch Baylor vs. Cincinnati
- Date: Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026
- Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Cincinnati, OH
- Arena: Fifth Third Arena
- TV Channel: ESPN+
- Streaming: ESPN+
