March 7, 2002
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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Sheila Lambert's performance in the semifinals of the Big 12 conference tournament Thursday night wasn't much different from her play the night before.
Only this time she had plenty of help.
Lambert, who had 30 points in a 75-60 win over Texas Tech on Wednesday, had 20 points and 11 assists to lead five players in double-figures as seventh-ranked Baylor beat No. 11 Iowa State 91-83.
Lambert sat out the final 10 minutes of the first in foul trouble, but scored seven points in the final two minutes to give the Lady Bears their first Big 12 Conference tournament title game appearance.
"You come out in the second half determined," Lambert said. "You've got that fire and sometimes you have to let the game come to you."
The second-seeded Lady Bears (26-4) will play top-seeded and fourth-ranked Oklahoma on Saturday in the championship game.
Baylor shot 53.7 percent and forced 21 turnovers by Iowa State (23-8) to win its eighth straight game. Danielle Crockrom added 18 points, Stasha Richards 17 and Stephanie Blackmon 16. Nicole Collins had 10 points and 10 assists.
"That's the big statistic," said Baylor coach Kim Mulkey-Robertson. "We had two guards in double figures. This was a big win and another first for our program."
Angie Welle paced Iowa State with 22 points and 11 rebounds. Lindsey Wilson scored 24 points and Tracy Gahan 19.
"If you turn over the ball against a team that is that fast, it turns into points," said Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly. "We got tired of Sheila Lambert driving by us. We couldn't catch her to foul her."
Baylor started the second half with a 12-1 run over three minutes to turn a four-point halftime deficit into a 50-42 lead. But Iowa State stayed close. Wilson's 3-pointer with 11 minutes to play evened the score at 58.
Blackmon scored six straight points and Richards hit two 3-pointers to put the Lady Bears back up by 11 with three minutes to play.
Iowa State closed it to five points, but Nicole Collins hit one free throw and Lambert two with six seconds left to seal the game for Baylor.
The loss ended the Cyclones' streak of two straight tournament championships and eight consecutive victories in Big 12 postseason play.
