March 1, 2006
Box Score
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Baylor senior forward Sophia Young has won a national championship and a Big 12 title, too. Now she has finally beaten Texas in Austin.
Young scored 28 points and grabbed 18 rebounds to lead No. 10 Baylor to a 72-64 win over Texas on Wednesday night. She scored nine straight late in the second half to help put the game away and send the Lady Bears into the Big 12 tournament on a five-game winning streak.
"We as seniors had never won here," Young said. "We know what it's like to be in games like this. I was just open and my teammates did a good job getting me the ball."
Senior Chameka Scott added 10 points and nine rebounds and freshman Jessica Morrow scored 12 for Baylor (22-5, 12-4), including a key 3-pointer to knock out a Texas rally.
Texas senior guard Nina Norman scored a career-high 25 in her final home game for the Longhorns (13-14, 7-9), who have lost seven of their last nine.
The Longhorns need at least two wins next week in the Big 12 tournament to avoid finishing with a losing record for the first time since the 1997-98 season.
That season was also the last time Texas did not make the NCAA tournament.
"I think we took Texas' best shot on senior night," said Baylor coach Kim Mulkey-Robertson, whose team finished second in the Big 12 in the regular season.
"If you can't come in first, I guess they tell you the next best place to finish is second, and that's where we are," she said.
Young had 25 points and 15 rebounds for the defending national champions in the season's first meeting with Texas. She did it all again in the rematch, outjumping the Longhorns for rebounds and beating them to loose balls, hitting layups in the lane and stepping out for mid-range jumpers.
"Sophia just works so hard," said Texas center Tiffany Jackson, who played only nine minutes of the first half after picking up three fouls guarding Young.
"You think you have her contained and she goes another way."
Baylor led 40-32 when Norman scored six points and assisted an another basket in a 12-1 run Texas that gave the Longhorns the lead at 44-41. Her jumper in the lane gave Texas its first lead since early in the first half.
But after taking the lead, Texas missed 11 of its next 13 shots and Baylor responded with a quick 8-0 burst of its own.
LaToya White hit a shot, then air-balled a 3-pointer that went right to Young for an easy layup. Young then took a great entry pass from Abiola Wabara for another layup that put Baylor up 49-44.
Morrow hit a 3-pointer and when Young slipped behind the Texas defense for a wide open layup, Baylor led 56-46. Young scored the next seven points for Baylor to preserve the lead.
Baylor is assured of a high seed in the NCAA tournament to defend its championship. Texas players know they may have to win the Big 12 tournament to get invited.
Norman was a freshman when Texas went to the Final Four in 2003.
"I'm proud of this team," she said. "We still have a chance to make the NCAAs."
