Box Score?|? Quotes?|? Notes

March 9, 2004

By JAIME ARON
AP Sports Writer

DALLAS - Steffanie Blackmon scored 17 of her 19 points in the second half to lead Baylor past Kansas 86-71 Tuesday in the first round of the Big 12 tournament.

The 14th-ranked Lady Bears (23-7) saw a 15-point lead trimmed to six with nine minutes left. Soon after, Blackmon made a pair of free throws, banked in a layup on a fast break and hit a short jumper, putting Baylor back up by 13.

The Jayhawks (9-19) were out of rallies after that, ending their season with a 10th straight loss.

Freshman Emily Niemann scored 19 points, and Sophia Young added 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Lady Bears, who play No. 10 Texas Tech on Wednesday. Chelsea Whitaker contributed nine assists and 10 rebounds, and Jessika Stratton scored 16 points.

Tamara Ransburg led Kansas with 15 points. Crystal Kemp had 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Aquanita Burras had 14 and eight.

The Jayhawks dropped 13 of their final 15 games, with the last 11 under coach Lynette Woodard. Longtime coach Marian Washington went on medical leave for eight games in late January, then retired Feb. 27.

In losing to a ranked foe for the 26th straight time, Kansas finished the season with the second-most losses in school history.

Baylor had 14 of its 21 turnovers in the second half, helping the Jayhawks' come back. The Lady Bears average 13 turnovers.

Niemann scored 16 in the first half, but took only one shot in 11 second-half minutes - a 3-pointer, which she made.

Then Blackmon - who went 0-for-2 in the first half, scoring only on a pair of free throws - got on a roll, hitting 6-of-8.

The Jayhawks shot 34 percent for the game. They went 1-of-8 on 3-pointers in the second half.