Nov. 19, 2004
Box Score
WACO, Texas (AP) - After a one-point loss to LSU in Austin, coach Kim Mulkey-Robertson got exactly what she wanted in Baylor's home opener.
Sophia Young and Steffanie Blackmon posted double-doubles. Young had 16 points and 11 rebounds, and Blackmon 14 points and 10 boards to lead the eighth-ranked Lady Bears (1-1) to a 60-47 win over Indiana on Friday night.
"This is exactly what our program needs," Mulkey-Robertson said about the tough game. "There will be no more 40- or 50-point blowouts. In order to play with the big dogs, we must play a good non-conference schedule."
Indiana's defense gave the Lady Bears fits the entire evening, holding Baylor to a 17-for-59 performance from the field. Despite their combined 30 points, they only nine of their 34 shots.
"They're physical," Mulkey-Robertson said. "They took away our first move and bowed up to us on the inside.
"Our post players did a good job defensively contesting their post players for everything they did," Indiana coach Kathi Bennett said. "We got our defense back and set, and they (Baylor) didn't get any transition baskets."
Cyndi Valentin led Indiana (0-1) with 13 points.
Indiana closed to 33-29 five minutes into the second half and trailed 39-34 at the midway point. But Baylor reeled off seven straight points, all from free throws, and upped its margin to 46-34 with just under nine minutes remaining.
Indiana also struggled with its shooting, making 15 baskets in 55 attempts.
Baylor's biggest advantage came at the free-throw line, where the Lady Bears nailed 23 of 28 attempts. Indiana shot only 17 free throws and connected on 13.
Neither team shot well from the floor in the early stages. Baylor hit only three of its first 14 attempts, while Indiana went 2-of-13.
