Scott scores 24, Baylor beats Duke in season opener in Paris
PARIS (AP) — Taliah Scott scored 12 of her 24 points in the fourth quarter to lead No. 16 Baylor past No. 7 Duke 58-52 in the women’s college basketball season opener in Paris on Monday.
The score was tied 43-43 at the end of the third quarter as Baylor kept finding a way back against the Blue Devils, who had led 33-29 at the end of the first half.
Scott then took over with a blur of points following a steal and layup, a jumper and another layup to put Baylor up 49-43.
With Duke fighting back, Scott made four straight free throws as the Lady Bears went up 56-48 with just over a minute left.
Scott added a couple more free throws to get to 24 points and added five defensive rebounds, three assists and that game-changing steal. She was 8 for 10 from the free throw line and had two of her team's three 3-pointers.
Forward Toby Fournier led Duke with 16 points. Jadyn Donovan scored two.
The Blue Devils, who won their ninth Atlantic Coast Conference title last season, opened up a 7-0 lead at the 8,000-capacity Adidas Arena, where No. 19 Vanderbilt was to play California later Monday as part of a doubleheader.
After Baylor led 29-25, Duke ended the first half almost like it had started: an eight-point run to go into the break up by four. Baylor made only 1 of 9 3-pointers in the first half.
Scott — who else? — improved those stats when she floated one in from the left and then Kyla Abraham's free throw tied it at 43-43 at the end of the third quarter.
Duke hosts Holy Cross at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Sunday. Baylor is also at home Sunday and will face Lindenwood at Foster Pavilion.
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