Feb. 9, 2007

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#15/#15 Baylor (20-4, 7-3) vs. Iowa State (17-6, 5-5)

Saturday, Feb. 10 - 7 p.m. (CT)
Ferrell Center - Waco, Texas

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Video: Live video stream at BaylorBears.com

Audio: Live audio stream at BaylorBears.com

Radio: KRZI/ESPN - 1660 AM - Waco

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

BAYLOR VS. IOWA STATE...
Saturday's matchup between No. 15 Baylor (20-4, 7-3) and Iowa State (17-6, 5-5) will feature the Big 12's top 3-point shooting team (ISU) and the league's top shot blocking squad (BU).

The Iowa State Cyclones have made a league-high 171 3-pointers, 30 more than Kansas State's 141 and more than twice Baylor's 87. On the other hand, Baylor has blocked a conference-high 181 shots this season, 61 more than Oklahoma (120) who sits at No. 2 in shot rejections and 105 more than the Cyclones.

After playing four of the last five games on the road and posting a 4-1 record during that span, the Lady Bears will now enjoy a three-game homestand. In fact, four of Baylor's six remaining conference games will be played in the Ferrell Center, where Baylor is 13-2 this year and 39-3 since the start of the 2004-05 season.

NO. 1 IN NCAA BLOCKING STATISTICS...
The Lady Bears come into the contest ranked No. 1 in NCAA Division I statistics (through games of Feb. 4) in blocked shots per game at 7.69. Undefeated and top-ranked Duke is No. 2 (7.2) while second-ranked North Carolina sits at No. 3 with 7.1 an outing. In total blocks through games of Feb. 4, Baylor's 175 rejections rank No. 1, four blocks ahead of North Carolina's 171.

With its 181 blocks, Baylor has rejected 54 more shots on the season than its nearest Big 12 opponent (Kansas State, 127).

BAYLOR LADY BEARS

IN THE POLLS
15 - Associated Press
15 - USA Today/ESPN Coaches

PROBABLE STARTERS
Angela Tisdale - Jr., G, 5-5- 10.8 ppg, 4.0 apg
Jhasmin Player - So., G, 5-10 - 7.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg
Jessica Morrow - So., G, 6-2 - 9.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg
Rachel Allison - So., P, 6-1 - 7.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg
Bernice Mosby - Sr., P, 6-1 - 18.2 ppg, 9.3 rpg

IOWA STATE CYCLONES

IN THE POLLS
NR - Associated Press
NR - USA Today/ESPN Coaches

PROBABLE STARTERS
Lyndsey Medders - Sr., G, 5-9 - 12.6 ppg, 6.4 apg
Heather Ezell - So., G, 5-9 - 7.9 ppg, 3.9 rpg
Megan Ronhovde - Sr., G, 6-1 - 7.2 ppg, 4.6 rpg
Toccara Ross - Jr., F, 5-11 - 11.7 ppg, 7.4 rpg
Nicky Wieben - So., C, 6-4 - 12.0 ppg, 5.9 rpg

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 seven 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 177-49 (.783) 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.

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. 9 LSU, No. 12 Purdue, No. 22 BYU) and two others who were receiving votes (Hofstra, UCLA). All told, Baylor has played eight ranked opponents, including five during Big 12 Conference action (No. 8 Oklahoma, No. 19 Texas A&M, No. 22 Nebraska, No. 24 Texas, No. 25 Kansas State).

Through 24 games, two players are averaging double-digit scoring but the Lady Bears have plenty of balance as seven players contribute 7.0 or more points a game.

Senior All-America candidate Bernice Mosby leads the way with 18.2 a game, ranking No. 3 among Big 12 players, and junior point guard Angela Tisdale scores 10.8 points. Sophomore guard Jessica Morrow manages 9.5, freshman post Danielle Wilson scores 8.8 an outing while freshman Latara Darrett tallies 7.9, sophomore Jhasmin Player manages 7.7 and sophomore post Rachel Allison scores 7.2.

Mosby is averaging a team-leading 9.3 rebounds a game while Allison is the squad's second-leading rebounder with 6.5 a contest and is followed by Wilson's 5.4.

20 VICTORIES AGAIN...
For the seventh straight season and 13th in school history the Lady Bears, with their 80-67 victory at Texas Tech on Wednesday, have achieved a 20-win season. Baylor has posted 20-win campaigns in each season since Coach Mulkey assumed the program's helm.

ALL-AMERICA CANDIDATE Bernice Mosby...
Senior transfer Bernice Mosby, an All-America candidate, was named Preseason Newcomer of the Year by the Big 12 coaches and was recently one of four players added to the WBCA's 2007 Wade Trophy watch list. Mosby, in her two-plus seasons at the University of Florida, averaged 13.5 points and 7.5 rebounds a game. She averaged a team-leading 15.5 points, 8.6 rebounds and 30.3 minutes a game as a junior before leaving the team in late March. She amassed 1,124 points and 625 rebounds at Florida and was voted 2004 Southeastern Conference Sixth Woman of the Year. Mosby was also named to the 2003 SEC All-Freshman team and second-team All-SEC by the coaches and media in 2005.

Since her arrival at Baylor she has stepped up her averages and leads the Lady Bears and is one of the Big 12's top players at 18.2 points and 9.3 rebounds a game. She has produced 81 double-figure scoring, 33 double-figure rebounding games with 28 double-doubles throughout her career.

Even more impressive this season are her numbers versus Baylor's eight ranked opponents, 22.1 points and 11.1 rebounds per game.

MOSBY ADDED TO WADE WATCH LIST AND WOODEN MIDSEASON AWARD LIST...
Senior forward Bernice Mosby was one of four players recently added to the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's Wade Trophy watch list and one of five players added to the Wooden Award Midseason list.

Mosby is one of three Big 12 Conference players on the two lists, joining Oklahoma's Courtney Paris and Texas' Tiffany Jackson.

FRESHMAN REJECTION...
When she's in the game, freshman post Danielle Wilson has the ability to alter the opponent's game plan. In 24 games, Wilson has used her expansive wing span (82 1/4") to block a team-leading 68 shots for an average of 2.83 an outing. In fact, Wilson has recorded at least two blocks in 19-of-24 games and at least one block in every game 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. 2 in the Big 12 and No. 15 in NCAA Division I statistics in blocked shots at 2.87 per outing. In total blocks on the season, Wilson sits at No. 15 nationally with 68. Only two freshmen have registered more blocks this season than Wilson, Michigan State's 6-9 Allyssa DeHaan has 104 to rank No. 2 nationally and Xavier's Amber Harris (6-5) sits at No. 3 with 86.

With her five blocks against North Carolina A&T, Wilson cracked BU's single season top 10. Now with 68 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 one more block to crack BU's career top 10, putting her in a tie with Abiola Wabara (2003-06).

BAYLOR QUICK HITS...
- Baylor ranks No. 1 in NCAA Division I statistics in blocked shots at 7.6 a game (through game of Feb. 4).
- Since her arrival at Baylor, Kim Mulkey has posted the most victories (177) and the best winning percentage (.783) among Big 12 coaches.
- Senior All-America candidate Bernice Mosby averages 22.1 points and 11.1 rebounds a game versus ranked teams this season. The Lady Bears have played eight ranked opponents.
- Over the past three games, sophomore Jhasmin Player has averaged 17.7 points a game (21 vs. Missouri, 10 vs. Nebraska, 22 vs. Texas Tech), well above her 7.7 per game average.
- Five Lady Bears were named to the Fall 2006 Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll. Joining senior LaToya Wyatt on the list were sophomore Rachel Allison and freshmen Haylee Abbe, Kaitlin Oberg and Danielle Wilson. Abbe posted a 4.00 GPA last semester.
- Four Lady Bears have posted double-doubles this season: Bernice Mosby (11 - UNT, Hofstra, Purdue, LSU, SEMO, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Texas Tech), Rachel Allison (2, UAPB, Oklahoma State), Danielle Wilson (2 - LSU & NCAT) and Angela Tisdale (SDSU).
- Sophomore Rachel Allison recorded her first career double-double versus Arkansas-Pine Bluff with 13 points and 10 rebounds and added another against Oklahoma State (14p, 12r).
- Two freshmen, Danielle Wilson (68) and Bradley (21), have combined for just under half of Baylor's blocked shots, 89-of-181. Senior Bernice Mosby has added 31 as well while Jessica Morrow tallied 22.
- Danielle Wilson, a Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Year candidate, ranks No. 15 nationally in blocked shots (68) 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 one more blocked shot to crack Baylor's career top 10.
- Baylor is 138-12 (.920) under Mulkey when scoring 70 or more points, including 86-3 (.966) when putting 80 or more on the scoreboard. In 2006-07, the Lady Bears are 15-0 when scoring 70 or more points, 10-0 when topping the 80-point barrier.
- Baylor is 79-14 (.850) since the start of the 2004-05 season with 11 of the 14 setbacks coming at the hands of nationally ranked opponents. Baylor's last nine losses have come to ranked opponents.
- Baylor players have earned Big 12 Rookie of the Week five of the 13 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.
- In its four losses this season, Baylor is 11-of-41 (.216) from 3-point range compared to .357 (76-213) percent beyond the arc in its 20 wins.
- Since beginning Big 12 play, BU has shot .404 (237-587) 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 .310 (31-100) in conference action.

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 99-71 all-time in regular season Big 12 games. However, in Kim Mulkey's six-plus years, Baylor is 72-34 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.

Baylor is 33-9 since the start of the 2004-05 Big 12 season.

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 - 7-3

SCOUTING THE CYCLONES...
The Iowa State Cyclones, 17-6 on the season and 5-5 in conference action, come into the game well-rested after a bye on Wednesday. The Cyclones were victorious in their most recent game, a 76-68 triumph over Missouri on Sunday, Feb. 4.

Bill Fennelly is 250-116 in his 12th year as the Iowa State Cyclones' head coach, he possesses a 416-169 record in his 19 seasons as a head coach. Coach Fennelly is 5-7 versus Baylor throughout his coaching career at Iowa State.

Iowa State is led in scoring by 5-9 senior guard Lyndsey Medders' 12.6 points. Sophomore center (6-4) Nicky Wieben ranks second on the team in scoring at 11.9 and rebounding at 5.9 an outing. Junior forward (5-11) Toccara Ross averages 11.7 points and leads the squad in rebounding at 7.4.

The Cyclones are the Big 12's best 3-point team with a league-leading 171 made. Baylor, which ranks No. 12 in the league in 3-point field goal percentage defense, can't concentrate on just one player as four Cyclones have drained 27 or more treys on the season. Medders leads the way with 41, Heather Ezell follows with 37, Megan Ronhovde has 34 and Alison Lacey has drained 27 on the season.

SERIES RECORD...
Baylor leads the series versus Iowa State 7-5, including victories in five of the last six contests, two straight overall and four consecutive in Waco. In her seven seasons at Baylor, Coach Mulkey has posted a 6-2 record versus the Cyclones and has never lost to ISU in Waco (3-0).

COMMON OPPONENTS...
Due to the number of league games played thus far, Baylor and Iowa State have played several common opponents.

Both teams have posted victories over Kansas, Texas, Kansas State and Missouri and suffered losses to Nebraska and Oklahoma. Baylor has defeated Missouri and Oklahoma State while the Cyclones have lost to those two squads.