Jan 14, 2004
Box Score
By JIM VERTUNO
AP Sports Writer
WACO, Texas (AP) - Baylor saw the target on Texas' back and nailed it for a bull's-eye.
The No. 24 Lady Bears shocked the defending Big 12 champs 78-64 Wednesday night with an overwhelming offensive surge and a defense that never let the third-ranked Longhorns get rolling.
The win snapped Texas' 15-game conference winning streak and served notice throughout the Big 12 that Baylor expects to be a force in the league after a seventh-place finish last season.
"We never backed down," said Baylor coach Kim Mulkey-Robertson. "We bowed our necks and went at them. The defense was very tough. That (Texas) team out there can win a national championship."
It was huge difference from the start of the conference season. The Lady Bears (14-2, 2-1) lost to No. 15 Colorado and barely got by lightly regarded Texas A&M by three points last week.
But Baylor put Texas (14-2, 2-1) on its heels early and looked like the team more deserving of the No. 3 ranking in taking a 42-32 lead into halftime.
Freshman Emily Niemann scored 11 of her game-high 15 points as Baylor shot 61 percent in the half. She hit three 3-pointers in the half and the front line of Sophia Young, Steffanie Blackmon and reserve forward Dionne Young consistently beat Texas defenders in the post.
"We were a confident team shooting," Mulkey-Robertson said. "Emily spreads the floor and sometimes we got some mismatches with our switches."
Young and Blackmon scored 14 points apiece and Brown added eight points and six rebounds.
"We were very energetic from the tip-off and that made it easier," Brown said. "It also helps keep the coach off our back."
Defensively, Baylor forced 20 Texas turnovers and kept the Longhorns from getting good looks at the basket. Even when they did, the Longhorns misfired badly.
"It was all Baylor on both ends," said Texas coach Jody Conradt, who watched her team notch four wins over ranked opponents but stood with her hands on her hips in frustration throughout most of this game.
"We got off to a shaky start and they hit from every spot on the floor," Conradt said. "Baylor didn't surprise me. I had a feel for what might happen. We knew Baylor would come out hot and we took some things for granted."
Even when Baylor cooled off, Texas couldn't find the offense it needed to make a run. The Longhorns shot just 32 percent in the second half and were 1-for-10 from 3-point range for the game.
The Longhorns went scoreless for the first four minutes after halftime and the Lady Bears built the lead to as many as 19 points. Texas had just two baskets over the first nine minutes of the half.
Tiffany Jackson led Texas with 14 points and sparked a late charge that cut the lead to 67-56 with 4:23 to play before Baylor quickly pushed the advantage to 14 points with four straight free throws by Niemann and Jessika Stratton.
Baylor next plays at No. 2 Texas Tech on Saturday. The Red Raiders lost 64-63 to Iowa State on Wednesday night.
"We're celebrating tonight," Brown said. "But we've got Texas Tech on Saturday and Texas again in Austin, so we've got to do it again."
