PARIS — Taliah Scott debuted strongly for No. 16 Baylor, scoring 12 of her 24 points in the fourth quarter to propel her team past No. 7 Duke with a final score of 58-52 during the women’s college basketball season opener in Paris on Monday.
The game was tightly contested, with the score tied at 43-43 at the end of the third quarter, following a relentless effort from Baylor to erase a halftime deficit of 33-29. Scott took charge in the final quarter, initiating her scoring spree with a steal that led to a layup, followed by a jumper and another layup that put Baylor ahead 49-43.
Duke made a valiant attempt to close the gap, but Scott’s composure at the free-throw line proved decisive as she converted four consecutive attempts, extending Baylor’s lead to 56-48 with just over a minute remaining. In addition to her scoring, Scott contributed five defensive rebounds, three assists, and a critical game-changing steal, showcasing her all-around performance. She achieved an impressive 8 for 10 from the free-throw line and was responsible for two of her team’s three successful three-pointers.
Duke’s offense was led by forward Toby Fournier, who scored 16 points, while teammate Jadyn Donovan added two points. The Blue Devils, who captured their ninth Atlantic Coast Conference title last season, started the game strong with an early 7-0 lead at the Adidas Arena, which has an 8,000 seating capacity. This was part of a broader doubleheader, with No. 19 Vanderbilt set to face California later in the day.
The initial momentum favored Duke, who ended the first half with an impressive eight-point run, but Baylor recovered and adjusted its shooting, improving significantly in the second half. Scott’s explosive performance and key plays in the closing moments underscore her pivotal role in the victory.
Looking ahead, Duke will host Holy Cross at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Sunday, while Baylor will take on Lindenwood at Foster Pavilion, both teams eager to build on this early season momentum.