Oklahoma State tests Baylor in semifinals of Big 12 Tournament, Lady Bears win 77-69
DALLAS – Once again Baylor is in the championship game of the Big 12 tournament after beating a non-stop feisty and defensive-minded Oklahoma State, 77-69. A three-pointer from Baylor senior Jordan Madden with 38 seconds left in the game halted the momentum of the Cowgirls.
While the lead never changed during the contest, Oklahoma State recovered from a 17-point first half deficit to get within three with 1:34 left in the game.
The Cowgirls’ push to even up the game began about halfway in the second half with a steal by Brittney Martin which led to a layup by Toni Young. The offensive onslaught also had fuel from Liz Donohoe and Tiffany Bias. Another steal by Kendra Suttles led to a layup from Bias to put the deficit at 10. After a 10-3 run from Oklahoma State, Madden nailed the three-point shot to help put Baylor in the clear and come away with the win.
Four Baylor players finished in double figures including center Brittney Griner who scored 30 points, pulled down 10 rebounds and blocked seven shots. Brooklyn Pope and Odyssey Sims finished with 12 each. Pope also had seven rebounds. Destiny Williams contributed 10 points plus six rebounds.
Young led Oklahoma State with 22 points and 11 rebounds. Donohoe scored 20 and added seven rebounds. Tiffany Bias finished with 19 points, six assists and four steals.
Baylor had a season-high of 24 turnovers, the result of poor ball handling and Oklahoma State’s defense.
“I think we just faded a little bit on offense,” said starting point guard Sims about the turnovers. “I think we let Oklahoma State’s defense beat us up on offense, couldn’t get the ball to Brittney. No one took charge. So I felt like we all stood around and was waiting for that one person to step up.”
Baylor is also unaccustomed to tight games but Sims saw the battle with OSU as a positive experience to help her team stay focused.
“Close games, it does help us. We needed a game like this. We’ve been beating teams by 30-plus. We’ve been getting bored out there sometimes. Having a close game like this wakes us up. Makes us realize that just because we’re the No. 1 team doesn’t mean we can’t be beat. We handled it not as well as we should have, but we’ll clean it up and get it together.”
Baylor faces Iowa State in the title game on Monday at 8 p.m. ET. The game will be televised on FSN.
- This is the third straight year with Baylor in the championship game; the Lady Bears have played in six of the last eight title games.
- BU leads the series 28-10 and has won seven straight and 10 of the last 11 games.
- OSU’s last victory over BU came on Jan. 9, 2010, in Stillwater, 78-65.
- Baylor is a league-best 187-89 (.678) in 17 seasons of Big 12 Conference regular season play.
- Baylor owns the nation’s longest win streak in 2012-13 with 28 straight victories.’
- Brittney Griner has scored in double figures in 111 straight games and in 141 of 143 career games.
