Jan. 19, 2007

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#13/#12 Baylor (15-3, 2-2) vs. #25/RV Kansas State (14-3, 2-2)

Saturday, Jan. 20 - 1:05 p.m. (CT)
Ferrell Center - Waco, Texas

OVER THE AIRWAVES
TV: Fox Sports Net
Bill Land, play-by-play
Brenda VanLengen, color analyst

Internet Feeds
Video: Live video stream at BaylorBears.com
Audio: Live audio stream at BaylorBears.com

Radio: KLRK - 92.9 FM - Waco
KVCE - 1160 AM - Dallas

Radio Talent:
Rick May, play-by-play
Lori Fogleman, color analyst

BAYLOR LADY BEARS

IN THE POLLS
13 - Associated Press
12 - USA Today/ESPN Coaches

PROBABLE STARTERS
Angela Tisdale - Jr., G, 5-5 - 10.9 ppg, 4.22 apg
Jhasmin Player - So., G, 5-10 - 6.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg
Jessica Morrow - So., G, 6-2 - 9.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg
Rachel Allison - So., P, 6-1 - 7.1 ppg, 6.6 rpg
Bernice Mosby - Sr., P, 6-1 - 18.1 ppg, 9.3 rpg

KANSAS STATE WILDCATS

IN THE POLLS
25 - Associated Press
RV - USA Today/ESPN Coaches

PROBABLE STARTERS
Kimberly Dietz - Jr., G, 5-9 - 13.2 ppg, 3.3 rpg
Claire Coggins - Sr., G, 5-11 - 12.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg
Shalee Lehning - So., G, 5-9 - 7.0 ppg, 6.5 rpg
Danielle Zanotti - So., F, 6-2 - 3.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg
Marlies Gipson - So., F, 6-0 - 12.8 ppg, 8.3 rpg

BAYLOR VS. KANSAS STATE...
Saturday afternoon's matchup between Baylor and Kansas State pits two teams against each other with identical 2-2 league records.

Baylor, 15-3 on the season and 2-2 in Big 12 play, dropped to No. 13 in the most recent AP poll after consecutive losses to No. 8 Oklahoma and No. 19 Texas A&M. Baylor ranks No. 1 nationally in blocked shots and will try to maintain that ranking as it plays the Wildcats.

Kansas State, 14-3 on the season and 2-2 in conference action, broke into the AP top 25 this week for the first time in two years, checking in at No. 25.

Today's contest marks Baylor's sixth game against a top 25 opponent this season, and the third of four straight contests versus rated foes.

LADY BEARS ON TELEVISION...
Saturday's game will be broadcast on Fox Sports Network (FSN) and marks Baylor's third appearance on national television in four games. The game will be seen live by the following FSN regions: Florida, Midwest, New England, North (Wisconsin), Pittsburgh, Rocky Mountain, SportSouth (non-Thrashers) and Southwest. All of the following FSN Regions will air the game on a delayed or repeat basis: Arizona, Bay Area, Northwest, South and SportSouth.

Bill Land will call the action while Brenda VanLengen will provide color analysis.

HEAD COACH Kim Mulkey...
When Women's Basketball Hall of Famer Kim Mulkey accepted the position of women's head basketball coach at Baylor University, few could have predicted the dramatic and prestigious turn the program was about to take. In just six years at Baylor, the former All-American and Olympic Gold medalist has guided the Lady Bear basketball program to the pinnacle of women's basketball, the 2005 NCAA national championship, five NCAA Tournament appearances and six 20-win seasons.

The 2005 national title was Baylor's first for a women's team sport and the only basketball national title, men's or women's, in the Big 12 Conference's 10-year history.

In winning the 2005 title, Mulkey became the first person, man or woman, to win a basketball national championship as a player, assistant coach and head coach.

En route to the NCAA championship, the Lady Bears won their first Big 12 Conference championship and were the league's tournament champion as well.

Mulkey has produced amazing results since taking over the reins of the program on April 4, 2000, averaging 26.1 wins a season. In her seven years at the program's helm, she has posted an impressive 172-48 (.782) record which ranks her No. 7 nationally in winning percentage.

Since taking over a squad that was just 7-20 the season prior to her arrival, Mulkey has guided the Lady Bears to six postseason appearances, including five NCAA Tournaments and a trip to the 2003 WNIT finals. In 2004, the Lady Bears made their first trip to the NCAA Sweet 16 and have now played in three straight Sweet 16s.

On Dec. 28, Mulkey became the winningest coach in Baylor women's basketball history with the squad's 89-40 victory over North Carolina A&T. Pam Bowers previously held the record with 168 wins which she accomplished in 15 seasons.

TOUGH STRETCH LOOMING FOR LADY BEARS...
Beginning with Wednesday's Jan. 10 matchup against Oklahoma, the Lady Bears face a daunting schedule over their next four games, all of which are against teams ranked in the Associated Press' top 25.

Baylor lost (76-63) to No. 8 Oklahoma on Wednesday, Jan. 10, lost to 19th-ranked Texas A&M (60-52), then hosts No. 25 Kansas State (Sat., Jan. 20) and finally, play at No. 23 Texas on Wednesday, Jan. 24.

THE LADY BEARS...
The Baylor Lady Bears continue Big 12 Conference action after playing their most challenging non-conference schedule in program history. Baylor played three teams ranked among the Associated Press' top 25 (No. 12 Purdue, No. 9 LSU, No. 22 BYU) and two others who were receiving votes (Hofstra, UCLA).

Through 18 games, two players are averaging double-digit scoring but the Lady Bears have plenty of balance as six players average 7.1 or more points a game.

Senior All-America candidate Bernice Mosby leads the way with 18.1 a game while junior point guard Angela Tisdale scores 10.9 points. Sophomore guard Jessica Morrow manages 9.9, freshman post Danielle Wilson scores 9.8 an outing while freshman Latara Darrett tallies 7.6 and sophomore post Rachel Allison scores 7.1.

Mosby is averaging a team-leading 9.3 rebounds a game while Allison is the squad's second-leading rebounder with 6.6 a contest and is followed by Wilson's 6.2.

FAMILY DAY...
Saturday is Family Day for the Lady Bear basketball program. Lady Bear players, managers, student trainers and their families will be honored at halftime.

NO. 1 IN NCAA BLOCKING STATISTICS...
The Lady Bears come into the contest ranked No. 1 in NCAA Division I statistics (through games of Jan. 14) in blocked shots per game at 8.1. Undefeated and top-ranked Duke is No. 2 (7.8) while third-ranked North Carolina sits at No. 3 with 7.7 an outing. In total blocks through games of Jan. 14, Baylor's 146 rejections rank No. 2 behind North Carolina's 142.

FRESHMAN REJECTION...
When she's in the game, freshman post Danielle Wilson has the ability to alter the opponent's game plan. In 18 games, Wilson has used her expansive wing span (82 1/4") to block a team- and league-leading 59 shots for an average of 3.3 an outing. In fact, Wilson has recorded at least two blocks in 16-of-18 games this season and has blocked five or more five times (North Texas, BYU, Purdue, North Carolina A&T, Texas A&M).

In addition, Wilson ranks No. 7 in NCAA Division I statistics in blocked shots at 3.3 per outing. In total blocks on the season, Wilson sits at No. 7 nationally with 59. Only two freshmen have registered more blocks this season than Wilson, Michigan State's Allyssa DeHaan has 77 and ranks No. 2 nationally and Xavier's Amber Harris sits at No. 4 with 64.

With her five blocks against North Carolina A&T, Wilson cracked BU's single season top 10. Now with 59 on the season, she sits at No. 2 after passing Steffanie Blackmon's 58 which she achieved in the 2002-03 season. Carol Reeves Brandenburg, a recent inductee into Baylor's Athletic Hall of Fame, owns the top spot at 76 in the 1979-80 season. Wilson needs just 10 more blocks to crack BU's career top 10.

BAYLOR QUICK HITS...
- Baylor ranks No. 1 in NCAA Division I statistics in blocked shots at 8.3 a game (through game of Jan. 14).
- Since her arrival at Baylor, Kim Mulkey has posted the most victories (172) and the best winning percentage (.782) among Big 12 coaches. See box on page two for complete breakdown.
- Senior All-America candidate Bernice Mosby averages 24.4 points and 12.2 rebounds a game versus ranked teams this season. The Lady Bears have played five ranked opponents.
- Four Lady Bears have posted double-doubles this season: Bernice Mosby (8, UNT, Hofstra, Purdue, LSU, SEMO, Kansas, Oklahoma), Danielle Wilson (2, LSU & NCAT), Angela Tisdale (SDSU) and Rachel Allison (UAPB).
- Sophomore Rachel Allison recorded her first career double-double versus Arkansas-Pine Bluff with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
- Two freshmen, Danielle Wilson (59) and Bradley (18), have combined for over half of Baylor's blocked shots, 77-of-146. Senior Bernice Mosby has added 22 as well while Jessica Morrow tallied 15.
- Prior to the Oklahoma game, Angela Tisdale had hit 17-of-39 (.436) from 3-point range over the previous eight games but was 0-5 versus the Sooners and 0-2 against Texas A&M.
- Prior to the Oklahoma game, Jessica Morrow had hit 9-of-17 (.529) from 3-point range over the last eight games but was 0-4 versus the Sooners and 1-3 against Texas A&M.
- Danielle Wilson, a Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Year candidate, ranks No. 7 nationally in blocked shots (59) and is No. 2 on Baylor's single season top 10. She recently passed Steffanie Blackmon's 58, which she achieved in the 2002-03 season. Carol Reeves Brandenburg owns the top spot at 76 in the 1979-80 season.
- Wilson needs just 10 more blocked shots to crack Baylor's career top 10.
- Baylor is 135-12 (.918) under Mulkey when scoring 70 or more points, including 85-3 (.966) when putting 80 or more on the scoreboard. In 2006-07, the Lady Bears are 12-0 when scoring 70 or more points, 9-0 when topping the 80-point barrier.
- Baylor is 74-13 (.861) since the start of the 2004-05 season with 10 of the 13 setbacks coming at the hands of nationally ranked opponents. Baylor's last eight losses have come to ranked opponents.
- Baylor players have earned Big 12 Rookie of the Week five of the 11 weeks the award has been selected. Wilson has two selections under her belt while Bernice Mosby has picked up the award twice and Latara Darrett garnered one.
- Baylor is the only team in the Big 12 to have three players ranked among the top 20 in rebounding: Mosby, Allison and Wilson.
- In its three losses this season, Baylor is 6-of-40 (.150) from 3-point range compared to 35.7 percent beyond the arc in its 15 wins.
- Since beginning Big 12 play, BU has shot .367 (88-240) from the floor as opposed to .470 (427-908) in non-conference play.
- The Lady Bears shot .341 (56-164) from 3-point range in non-league play and have managed only .227 (10-44) in conference action.
- Baylor hasn't lost three straight games since the 2000-01 season when it had a pair of three-game losing streaks.

BAYLOR IN BIG 12 GAMES...
The 2006-07 season marks the 11th year of competition for women's basketball in the Big 12 Conference. Baylor has a record of 94-70 all-time in regular season Big 12 games. However, in Kim Mulkey's six-plus years, Baylor is 67-33 in Big 12 play and has never posted a losing conference record. In 2004-05 the Lady Bears claimed their first-ever Big 12 Conference championship, winning both the regular season and tournament titles.

2000-01 - 9-7
2001-02 - 12-4
2002-03 - 8-8
2003-04 - 10-6
2004-05 - 14-2
2005-06 - 12-4
2006-07 - 2-2

MULKEY VERSUS RANKED OPPONENTS...
With Baylor's loss to 19th-ranked Texas A&M on Jan. 13, head coach Kim Mulkey is now 32-33 against ranked opponents, including a 2-3 record this season.

Since a 69-55 loss to No. 15 Texas A&M during the 2004-05 season, Baylor is 16-8 versus ranked opponents.

SCOUTING THE WILDCATS...
The 25th-ranked Kansas State Wildcats, 14-3 on the season and 2-2 in conference action, bring their 5-3 road record to the Ferrell Center for a Saturday afternoon contest. The Wildcats have won 11 of their last 13 games. Their two losses during that period were at Oklahoma (78-58) and at Nebraska (70-63).

Kansas State head coach Deb Patterson is 213-115 in her 11th year as a head coach.

Kansas State is led in scoring by 5-9 junior guard Kimberly Dietz's 13.2 points. Sophomore Mariles Gibson, a 6-0 forward, ranks second on the squad in scoring at 12.8 a game and is the team's top rebounder at 8.3 a game. Claire Coggins, a 5-11 senior guard/forward, averages 12.6 points a game.

SERIES RECORD...
Baylor and Kansas State will meet for the 17th time when the two teams square off on Saturday afternoon. The series is tied at 8-8, but Baylor currently enjoys a four-game win streak. Kansas State's most recent triumph over Baylor came on Jan. 27, 2004 in Manhattan, Kan.

The Lady Bears are 4-1 versus the Wildcats in Waco. Head coach Kim Mulkey owns a 6-4 record against Kansas State.

COMMON OPPONENTS...
The Lady Bears and the Wildcats have faced two common opponents so far this season. Both teams lost to Oklahoma (BU, 76-63, KSU 78-58) while Kansas State posted a 48-45 win over Texas A&M and Baylor dropped a 60-52 decision to the Aggies.

BU PLAYERS VERSUS BIG 12 TEAMS...
With 11 players on their roster and six of them being newcomers, only five current Lady Bears have played against Big 12 opponents. Angela Tisdale and LaToya Wyatt have each played in three games against the Wildcats and three players, sophomores Jessica Morrow, Rachel Allison and Jhasmin Player, have each played twice against Kansas State.

LAST MEETING...
The Lady Bears and the Wildcats met twice last season with BU claiming victory in both contests. Baylor prevailed 79-70 in Manhattan and won an overtime game (79-74) in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Championship in Dallas.

In the overtime win, three former Lady Bears provided the bulk of the scoring with Sophia Young pouring in 35 points, Abiola Wabara nailing 14 and Chameka Scott adding 13. For the Wildcats, three players on their current roster led the team. Kimberly Dietz tallied 19, Claire Coggins scored 18 and Mariles Gipson added 11.