March 8, 2007

OKLAHOMA CITY - #18/#17 Baylor (25-6) vs. #11/11 Oklahoma (24-4)

Thursday, March 8 - 8:30 p.m. (CT)
Cox Convention Center - Oklahoma City, Okla.

Semifinals - March 8 (Thursday)
Game 9: No. 1 Texas A&M vs. No. 5 Iowa State, 6 p.m. • FSN
Game 10: No. 2 Oklahoma vs. No. 3 Baylor, 8:30 p.m. • FSN

Championship - March 10 (Saturday)
Game 11: Winner G9 vs. Winner G10, 6 p.m. • FSN

OVER THE AIRWAVES

TV: FSN
Kevin Eschenfelder, play-by-play
Debbie Antonelli, color analyst

Internet Feeds
Audio: Live audio stream at BaylorBears.com

Radio: KLRK - 92.9 FM - Waco

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

BAYLOR IN THE BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP...
Baylor is 4-3 in first round games, 5-3 in quarterfinal round games, 3-1 in semifinal games and 1-2 in the finals. The Lady Bears are 13-9 all-told in Big 12 Championship games, including 12-5 under head coach Kim Mulkey. BU has won its first Big 12 Championship game in each of Mulkey's seven seasons and has played in the last two title games.

For the third consecutive season and fourth time under Coach Mulkey's direction, Baylor has earned a top four seed and received a first-round bye. The Lady Bears were a No. 2 seed in 2002, No. 1 in 2005, No. 2 in 2006 and No. 3 this year.

Baylor has now advanced to the semifinals of the Big 12 Championship for the fourth straight season and five of the last six years.

Prior to tonight's contest Baylor and Oklahoma have met twice previously in the Big 12 Championship, both in the title game. OU won both contests, 84-69 in 2002 and 72-61 last season.

THE LADY BEARS...
The Baylor Lady Bears concluded 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 10 ranked opponents, including seven during Big 12 Conference action (No. 8 Oklahoma, No. 16 Texas A&M, No. 22 Nebraska, No. 24 Texas, No. 25 Kansas State).

Through 31 games, two players are averaging double-digit scoring but the Lady Bears have tremendous balance as seven players contribute 7.0 or more points a game.

Senior All-America candidate Bernice Mosby leads the way with 17.8 a game, ranking No. 2 among Big 12 players, and junior point guard Angela Tisdale scores 11.0 points. Sophomore guard Jessica Morrow manages 8.9, freshman post Danielle Wilson scores 8.5 an outing while sophomore Jhasmin Player manages 7.8, freshman Latara Darrett tallies 7.4 and sophomore post Rachel Allison scores 7.1.

Mosby is averaging a team-leading 9.3 rebounds a game, which ranks No. 3 in the conference and includes 13 double-doubles, while Allison is the squad's second-leading rebounder with 6.2 a contest and is followed by Wilson's 5.1.

FOUR LADY BEARS GAIN BIG 12 RECOGNITION...
Four Baylor players were honored recently by Big 12 Conference coaches. Senior Bernice Mosby was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and was a first-team All-Big 12 selection. For the second straight season Angela Tisdale, a junior, was named to the All-Big 12 second-team. Sophomore Jhasmin Player was named to the league's All-Defensive team and freshman post Danielle Wilson received All-Rookie team honors.

MOSBY A WOODEN AWARD FINALIST...
Bernice Mosby was named one of 16 Wooden Award finalists on March 6. She and OU's Courtney Paris were the only two Big 12 players named to the final list.

Baylor's Big 12 Championship History...

1997 (1-1)
First round - defeated Oklahoma State, 68-62
Quarterfinals - lost to Kansas, 66-54

1998 (0-1)
First round - lost to Kansas State, 71-66 OT

1999 (0-1)
First round - lost to Missouri, 60-55

2000 (0-1)
First round - lost to Nebraska, 82-61

2001 (1-1)
First round - defeated Kansas State, 60-44
Quarterfinals - lost to Iowa State, 73-48

2002 (2-1)
Quarterfinals - defeated Texas Tech, 75-60
Semifinals - defeated Iowa State, 91-83
Finals - lost to Oklahoma, 84-69

2003 (1-1)
First round - defeated Texas A&M, 80-61
Quarterfinals - lost to Kansas State, 77-60

2004 (2-1)
First round - defeated Kansas, 86-71
Quarterfinals - defeated Texas Tech, 80-72
Semifinals - lost to Texas, 63-59

2005 (3-0)
Quarterfinals - defeated Missouri, 70-52
Semifinals - defeated Texas Tech, 58-57
Finals - defeated Kansas State, 68-55

2006 (2-1)
Quarterfinals - defeated Kansas State, 79-74 OT
Semifinals - defeated Texas A&M, 53-52
Finals - lost to Oklahoma, 72-61

2007 (1-0)
Quarterfinals - defeated Kansas, 71-54
Semifinals - vs. Oklahoma

ATTENDANCE RECORD BROKEN...
For the second straight season, Baylor cracked the 100,000 barrier and set a single-season total attendance record. Last year the Lady Bears drew 100,316 fans and they finished the 2006-07 campaign with 119,603 fans passing through the turnstiles.

The Lady Bears also broke the all-time Ferrell Center total attendance record (men's or women's) of 109,494 set in 2001-02 with 119,603 fans this past 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 March 4) in blocked shots per game at 7.6 while third-ranked North Carolina and top-ranked Duke sits at No. 2 with 6.7 each. In total blocks through games of March 4, Baylor's 228 rejections rank No. 1, seven blocks ahead of Duke's 221.

BIG 12 CONFERENCE BLOCKING RECORD...
Against Kansas in the Big 12 Championship quarterfinals, Baylor, with its school-record 233 blocks on the season, set a new Big 12 single season blocks record, breaking Texas Tech's 2005 record of 232. With its 233 blocks Baylor has blocked 67 more shots on the season than its nearest Big 12 opponent (Oklahoma, 166, 5.9 bpg).

All-Time Big 12 Single-Season List: 1. 233, Baylor (2007)
2. 232, Texas Tech (2005)

ALL-AMERICA CANDIDATE Bernice Mosby...
Senior transfer Bernice Mosby, an All-America candidate, was named 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 and was named one of 16 finalists for the Wooden Award.

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 17.8 points and 9.2 rebounds a game. She has produced 88 double-figure scoring efforts, 35 double-figure rebounding games with 30 double-doubles throughout her career.

Even more impressive this season are her numbers versus Baylor's 10 ranked opponents, 21.6 points and 10.3 rebounds per game with six double-doubles.

FRESHMAN REJECTION...
When she's in the game, freshman post Danielle Wilson has the ability to alter the opponent's game plan. In 31 games, Wilson has used her expansive wing span (82 1/4") to block a team-leading and school season record 83 shots for an average of 2.67 an outing. In fact, Wilson has recorded at least two blocks in 24-of-31 games and at least one block in every game but one (Colorado) this season with four or more blocks 10 times.

In addition, Wilson ranks No. 2 in the Big 12 and No. 17 in NCAA Division I statistics in blocked shots at 2.67 per outing. In total blocks on the season, Wilson sits at No. 11 nationally with 83. Only two freshmen have registered more blocks this season than Wilson, Michigan State's 6-9 Allyssa DeHaan has 138 to rank No. 2 nationally and Xavier's Amber Harris (6-5) sits at No. 3 with 131.

With her five blocks against North Carolina A&T, Wilson cracked BU's single season top 10. Wilson recorded two blocks against Texas A&M on Feb. 25 to break Carol Reeves Brandenburg's 27-year-old single season blocks record of 76. Wilson now has 83 in her rookie season. At Oklahoma, Wilson blocked four shots to move her up to No. 9 on BU's career top 10, surpassing Danielle Crockrom's 80.

The rookie currently ranks No. 4 on the Big 12's single season blocks list, just seven behind Crystal Boles' (Texas Tech 1997) 90.

BAYLOR QUICK HITS...
- All six of Baylor's losses have come against ranked opponents (Purdue, Oklahoma twice, Texas A&M twice, Nebraska).
- For the second straight season, Baylor has cracked the 100,000 barrier and set a single-season total attendance record. Last year the Lady Bears drew 100,316 fans and they finished the 2006-07 campaign with 119,603.
- The Lady Bears broke the all-time Ferrell Center total attendance record (men's or women's) of 109,494 set in 2001-02 with 119,603 this season.
- Baylor ranks No. 1 in NCAA Division I statistics in blocked shots at 7.6 a game (through games of March 4).
- In its six losses this season, Baylor is 17-of-75 (.227) from 3-point range compared to .371 (101-272) percent beyond the arc in its 25 wins.
- Since her arrival at Baylor, Kim Mulkey has posted the most victories (182) and the best winning percentage (.781) among Big 12 coaches.
- Senior All-America candidate Bernice Mosby averages 21.6 points and 10.3 rebounds a game versus ranked teams this season. The Lady Bears have played 10 ranked opponents.
- With 233 blocks registered so far this season, if the Lady Bears continue their current pace of 7.6 blocks a game, they have a chance to break the NCAA single-season block record of 250 set in 1995 by Connecticut. BU needs just 18 more to break the record.
- Angela Tisdale's seven treys versus Iowa State rank as the Big 12's best single-game mark this season and second-best in Lady Bear history all-time.
- Since Feb. 7, Baylor has risen from No. 12 in the league in 3-point percentage defense to No. 7. In the eight games since then (Texas Tech, ISU, OSU, Texas, Colorado, Texas A&M, OU, Kansas), Baylor has limited its opponents to 29-of-113 (.257) from beyond the arc, improving its 3-point percentage defense from .324 to the present .316.
- Four Lady Bears have posted double-doubles this season: Bernice Mosby (13 - UNT, Hofstra, Purdue, LSU, SEMO, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Texas Tech, Colorado), Rachel Allison (2, UAPB, Oklahoma State), Danielle Wilson (2 - LSU & NCAT) and Angela Tisdale (SDSU).
- Two freshmen, Danielle Wilson (83) and Bradley (25), have combined for just under half of Baylor's blocked shots, 108-of-233. Senior Bernice Mosby has added 46 as well while Jessica Morrow tallied 26.
- Danielle Wilson, a Big 12 All-Rookie Team selection, ranks No. 17 nationally in blocked shots (83) and is No. 1 on Baylor's single season top 10, recently passing Carol Reeves Brandenburg's 76 during the 1979-80 season.
- Wilson now ranks No. 9 on Baylor's career top 10 in blocked shots with 83.
- Tisdale ranks No. 6 on Baylor's career charts in assists (369) and No. 7 in treys made (97).
- Wither her two blocks against Kansas on March 7, Wilson's 83 blocks ranks No. 4 on the Big 12 single season list. Texas Tech's Crystal Boles (1997) sits at No. 3 with 90.
- Baylor is 143-12 (.923) under Mulkey when scoring 70 or more points, including 87-3 (.967) when putting 80 or more on the scoreboard. In 2006-07, the Lady Bears are 20-0 when scoring 70 or more points, 11-0 when topping the 80-point barrier.
- Baylor is 84-16 (.840) since the start of the 2004-05 season with 13 of the 16 setbacks coming at the hands of nationally ranked opponents. Baylor's last 11 losses have come to ranked opponents.
- Baylor is 98-15 (.867) all-time in the Ferrell Center under Mulkey, including 42-4 (.955) since the start of the 2004-05 season and 16-3 this year.
- 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.

20 VICTORIES AGAIN...
For the seventh straight season and 13th time in school history the Lady Bears, with their 80-67 victory at Texas Tech on Feb. 7, have achieved a 20-win season. Baylor has posted 20-win campaigns in each season since Coach Mulkey assumed the program's helm. Baylor's 25 wins equal the 10th-most in school history.

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.

MULKEY VERSUS RANKED OPPONENTS...
With Baylor's loss to 12th-ranked Oklahoma on Feb. 28, head coach Kim Mulkey is now 34-35 against ranked opponents, including a 4-6 record this season.

Since a 69-55 loss to No. 15 Texas A&M during the 2004-05 season, Baylor is 18-11 versus ranked opponents.

SCOUTING THE SOONERS...
The 11th-ranked Oklahoma Sooners, 24-4 on the season, enter the contest on a six-game win streak and winners of seven of their last eight contests.

Head coach Sherri Coale is in her 11th year at Oklahoma. She is 228-117 (.661) in her career, all of which have come as the Sooners' head coach.

Oklahoma is led in scoring and rebounding by 6-4 sophomore center Courtney Paris' 23.7 points and 16.1 rebounds a game, both marks lead the Big 12 Conference. Two other Sooners, seniors Chelsi Welch and Leah Rush, average 9.4 and 9.3 points a game, respectively. Courtney Paris' twin sister, Ashley, is the squad's second-leading rebounder at 6.8 an outing.

SERIES RECORD...
Oklahoma holds an 19-8 series lead over Baylor. The Sooners have won five straight over the Lady Bears. In fact, the series seems to go in streaks. Oklahoma won three straight to begin the series, Baylor took the next four, then OU reeled off 11 straight before Baylor won four in a row. Baylor and Coach Mulkey are 0-2 versus Oklahoma in games played at a neutral site. Mulkey is 4-12 versus Oklahoma.