Baylor takes on Incarnate Word to close out preseason play
vs. 
Nov. 7, 2009
7 p.m. CT
Waco, Texas
Live Stats: BaylorBears.com
WACO, Texas — Baylor meets Incarnate Word for the first time in its second and final exhibition game of the season. The Lady Bears beat Division II St. Edwards 97-43 on Tuesday.
The Incarnate Word Cardinals (San Antonio, Texas) are members of the Heartland Conference. Five starters and eight letterwinners return from last year’s squad that finished 21-9, their best record in 10 years. The Cardinals made their first NCAA Tournament appearance last season after a second-place league finish and a conference tournament title. With all five starters returning, Incarnate Word landed in the top spot of the Heartland Conference preseason poll. They are led by senior guard Nia Torru, last season’s Heartland Conference Player of the Year and a First Team All-Conference selection. The Houston, Texas, native averaged 18.2 points per game last season.
Baylor was selected as the preseason favorite to win the 2009-10 Big 12 women’s basketball regular season title in a vote of the league’s head coaches. Baylor lost four starters, their top three scorers and top two rebounders. Point guard Kellli Griffin is Baylor’s lone full-time returning starter from last year’s Sweet 16 team.
While freshman dunking sensation Brittney Griner had 13 points in Baylor’s win over St. Edwards, junior Melissa Jones led the team with 20 points.
Baylor’s regular season gets underway Nov. 15 when it travels to Knoxville, Tenn., to take on the Tennessee Lady Vols in the State Farm Tip-Off Classic. The contest will be televised on ESPN2 and will tip off at 4 p.m. CT.
Heartland Conference Preseason Poll
- Incarnate Word
- St. Mary’s
- St. Edward’s
- Newman
- Texas A&M Intl.
- Texas-Permian Basin
- Lincoln
- Okla. Panhandle State
Big 12 Conference Preaseason Poll
- Baylor
- Kansas Tie
- Texas Tie
- Texas A&M
- Oklahoma
- Nebraska
- Iowa State
- Kansas State
- Oklahoma State
- Texas Tech
- Colorado
- Missouri
