Jan. 27, 2009
#4/3 Baylor (17-1, 5-0) vs. #2/2 Oklahoma (16-2, 5-0)
Wednesday, Jan. 28 - 7 p.m. (CST)
Ferrell Center (10,284) Waco, Texas
OVER THE AIRWAVES
TV: Sooner Sports Network
Webcast: BaylorBears.com
live audio (free) and video (free)
Radio: ISP Sports Network
1660 AM-KRZI/ESPN
www.baylorbears.com
Radio Talent:
Rick May (Play-by-play)
Lori Fogleman (Color analyst)
Live Stats: www.baylorbears.com
BAYLOR SEEKS TO EXTEND WIN STREAK TO 12
No. 4/3 Baylor puts its 11-game win streak and its 10-0 Ferrell Center record on the line when it hosts second-ranked Oklahoma on Wednesday, Jan. 28, at 7 p.m. (CST). Baylor is 17-1 overall, 5-0 in the Big 12 and 2-0 in league home games.
With a perfect conference record, Baylor has started Big 12 play at 5-0 for just the second time in the league's 13-year history. The Lady Bears began their 2008 Big 12 slate at 8-0 en route to a 12-4 finish.
The Lady Bears' 2008-09 campaign marks just the third time the squad has started the season at 17-1 or better, as the 1975-76 team began at 19-1 and the 2007-08 squad raced to a 20-1 start.
Oklahoma is 16-2 on the season and 5-0 in league play after posting an 89-69 win over 14th-ranked Texas on Sunday afternoon at Norman. OU's two losses have come at the hands of then-No. 2 North Carolina (80-79) and to top-ranked Connecticut (106-78).
Wednesday's matchup features the Big 12's two remaining undefeated teams, both with 5-0 marks and will be the highest-ranked conference matchup in Big 12 history. In conference games only, Oklahoma and Baylor rank No. 1 and 2, respectively, in scoring offense (74.6/69.2), scoring margin (+16.6/+11.4) and rebounding offense (43.8/41.2).
In addition, the league's top three rebounders will take the court on Wednesday, the Sooners' Courtney and Ashley Paris rank No. 1 and 2 among the league's rebound leaders with 13.7 and 10.0 per game, respectively, while Baylor's Danielle Wilson ranks third in the league at 9.0 a contest.
The contest with the Sooners will mark Baylor's fifth ranked opponent of the year and its third top 10 foe, too. The game will mark the Lady Bears' fourth ranked opponent in their last five games. Counting the upcoming game versus Oklahoma, Baylor will face three ranked opponents in its next four contests, home game against No. 3 Oklahoma and No. 14 Texas, at Nebraska, and at home against No. 18 Kansas State.
At 4-0 versus ranked opponents on the season, Baylor downed then-No. 2 Stanford on Nov. 16, 81-65, No. 20 Iowa State, 68-57, No. 22 Oklahoma State, 75-57, and No. 9 Texas A&M, 64-61. Junior post Danielle Wilson has averaged 13.8 points, 10.3 rebounds and 3.8 blocks against the four ranked opponents.
BAYLOR LADY BEARS
IN THE POLLS
4 - Associated Press
3 - USA Today/ESPN Coaches
PROBABLE STARTERS
21 Kelli Griffin-So., G, 5-8 - 6.2 ppg, 2.9 ppg, 3.8 apg
15 Jhasmin Player-Sr., G, 5-10 - 9.7 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.8 apg
3 Jessica Morrow-Sr., G, 6-0 - 10.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg
14 Rachel Allison-Sr., F, 6-1 - 11.7 ppg, 6.6 rpg
11 Danielle Wilson-Jr., P, 6-3 -15.1 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 3.2 bpg
TOP RESERVES
5 Melissa Jones-So., G, 5-10 - 7.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg
55 Morghan Medlock-Jr., F, 6-2 - 7.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg
HEAD COACH Kim Mulkey
When Women's Basketball Hall of Famer Kim Mulkey accepted the position of women's basketball head coach at Baylor University, few could have predicted the dramatic and prestigious turn the program was about to take. In just eight 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, seven NCAA Tournament appearances and eight 20-win seasons.
The 2005 national title was Baylor's first for a women's team sport and the first basketball national title, men's or women's, in the Big 12 Conference's 12-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 nine years at the program's helm, she has posted an impressive 225-61 (.787) record which ranks her No. 8 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 eight postseason appearances, including seven NCAA Tournaments and a trip to the WNIT finals.
Mulkey's autobiography, "Won't Back Down," hit bookstores on Nov. 1, 2007, the paperback edition became available on Sept. 8, 2008.
LADY BEAR LEADERS
With 18 games under its belt, Baylor continues to lead the Big 12 Conference in rebounding and the nation in rebounding margin (+13.4). Four players haul down 5.1 or more rebounds a contest, junior post Danielle Wilson leads the way with 9.0, senior post Rachel Allison follows with 6.6, sophomore guard Melissa Jones comes off the bench to haul down 5.8 and senior guard Jhasmin Player averages 5.1 an outing. The Lady Bears average 45.4 rebounds a contest while limiting their opponents to just 32.0.
Wilson leads the team in both scoring and rebounding at 15.1 points and 9.0 boards a game while Allison ranks second in both categories with 11.7 points and 6.6 rebounds an outing. Senior guard Jessica Morrow completes Baylor's double-digit scoring trio at 10.9 a game while Player isn't far behind at 9.7 a contest.
VERSUS TOP 10 TEAMS
For the first time in program history, with wins over No. 2 Stanford (81-65) and No. 9 Texas A&M (64-61), the Lady Bears have posted two regular season victories over top 10 teams. In eight of head coach Kim Mulkey's nine seasons, Baylor has managed one top 10 win in the regular season. En route to the 2005 NCAA championship, the Lady Bears ended the year with four top 10 wins, three of which came in the NCAA Tournament.
BAYLOR QUICK HITS
- All three of Baylor's seniors, Rachel Allison, Jessica Morrow and Jhasmin Player, are scheduled to graduate in May 2009.
- Baylor's Jan. 10 victory at Colorado marked Kim Mulkey's 100th win versus Big 12 teams, she is 104-47 (.689).
- Six Lady Bears were named to the fall Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll. - Rachel Allison was one of five players added to the Wade Trophy watch list, Jan. 21.
- BU has led by double-digits in 17 of 18 games this season, the largest lead was 48 versus Lamar. The Lady Bears have led by double-digits 39 times in their 18 games this season and only trailed by double-digits in one game (Oregon, four times, largest Duck lead 12).
- Baylor has not been outrebounded this season and has led at the half in every game except two (tied 35-35 vs. No. 2 Stanford, trailed 39-36 at Oregon). The Lady Bears went on to win both contests.
- Baylor has not been out-rebounded this season and owns a +13.4 rebounding advantage over its opponents. The Lady Bears rank No. 1 nationally in rebound margin.
- BU leads the Big 12 in two of three rebounding categories, rebound offense (45.4) and rebound margin (+13.4). The Lady Bears are third in the league in rebound defense (32.0).
- The Lady Bears own the Big 12's top two team rebounding marks this season. They hauled down 70 against Florida Atlantic (Nov. 14) and 64 versus Lamar (Dec. 8).
- Baylor has topped the 50-rebound mark six times this season (Florida Atlantic-70; Rice-52; UCF-50; Lamar-64; UT-Pan Am-50, Oklahoma State-51).
- Over the past two games the Lady Bears have been hot from the free throw line, raising their free throw percentage from .666 to .684. They are 37-of-43 (.860) over the past to games including a season-high 88.5 percent (23-26) at Texas Tech.
- Baylor tallied a school record 70 rebounds versus an NCAA opponent in its win over Florida Atlantic.
- Junior post Danielle Wilson blocked six shots against Stanford. Currently, at the 18-game mark, she has rejected 58 shots and totals 224 for her career to extend her school record. She is over half-way to her Baylor single-season record of 86 blocks she set as a rookie in 2006-07.
- Wilson currently ranks No. 4 on the Big 12's career shot block chart.
- Over the past 12 games, Wilson has averaged 17.3 points, 9.9 rebounds, 3.8 blocks and a .580 (83-143) shooting percentage. In addition, she has posted a double-double in nine of the last 12 games.
- Wilson ranks No. 2 in the Big 12 Conference in blocks per game (3.2) and No. 6 nationally.
- Wilson leads the team in double-doubles with nine (Wisconsin, Lamar, Samford, UT-Pan Am, Oregon, Iowa State, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, Texas Tech).
- Allison has two double-doubles to her credit this season, both have been recorded by halftime (Florida Atlantic, Rice).
- Allison saw her 46 consecutive starts and 109 consecutive games-played streaks halted when she sat out the UT-Pan American game with an injured left ankle.
- Jessica Morrow became the 25th Lady Bears to score 1,000 career points when she achieved the feat on Dec. 8 versus Lamar. She now has 1,115 career points to rank 21st on Baylor's all-time list.
- Rachel Allison became the 26th Lady Bears to score 1,000 career points when she achieved the feat on Jan. 3 versus Texas State. She now has 1,036 career points to ranks 24th on Baylor's all-time list.
- Baylor achieved its highest Associated Press poll ranking of the season as it checks in this week at No. 4. Baylor is No. 3 in the USA Today ESPN Coaches' Poll, its highest of the season.
- The then-19th-ranked Lady Bears downed No. 2 Stanford, 81-65, on Sunday, Nov. 16. BU's victory over No. 2 Stanford marked the program's highest-ranked regular season win.
- Senior post Rachel Allison, 6-1, scored 25 points and hauled down eight rebounds against Stanford's tall posts.
- After scoring a three-pointer in 43 straight games, dating back to Feb. 28, 2007, the Lady Bears have come up empty from behind the arch three times this season, they were 0-6 against Wisconsin and Colorado and 0-9 from 3-point range versus Samford.
- Baylor has registered a win streak of at least 10-straight games in each of the last five seasons, including 2008-09. All told, BU has had at least one 10-game win streak in Kim Mulkey's nine seasons in Waco. Prior to her arrival Baylor had only recorded once double-digit win streak in school history.
- Baylor is 127-26 (.830) since the start of the 2004-05 season with 19 of the 26 setbacks coming at the hands of nationally ranked opponents.
- Baylor is 172-13 (.930) under Coach Mulkey when scoring 70 or more points, including a 103-3 (.972) mark when putting 80 or more in the scoreboard.
- The Lady Bears have won 29 consecutive games when scoring more than 70 points since a 78-72 overtime loss to North Carolina State in the second-round of the 2007 NCAA Tournament at Raleigh, N.C. Baylor has also won 44 straight when scoring 80 or more since a 103-99 loss in triple overtime at Nebraska in 2004-05.
ALL-AMERICAN CANDIDATE WILSON ON A ROLL
Baylor's Danielle Wilson, an All-American candidate, has been on a roll recently. Over the past 12 games, the junior post has produced nine double-doubles, including eight in the last 10 games, led the team in scoring on eight occasions and rebounding in nine contests. In addition, against Texas State, she poured in a career-high 26 points and against Texas Tech she hauled down a career-high 17 rebounds.
Over the 12 games she has averaged a team-leading 17.3 points, 9.9 rebounds and 3.8 blocks while shooting 58.0 percent (83-143) from the floor.
Wilson has raised her season averages to 15.1 points and 9.0 rebounds a game, both of which lead the team, and owns the squad's top field goal percentage at 52.4 percent (108-206). She has blocked a team-leading 58 shots which ranks her No. 2 in the Big 12.
Wilson has hauled down 162 rebounds, 78 (48.2 percent) of which are off the offensive glass.
As of games through Jan. 11, Wilson ranks No. 5 nationally in blocked shots (3.3) and No. 35 in field goal percentage (.538).
SCOUTING THE SOONERS
Oklahoma is 16-2 on the season and 5-0 in league play after posting an 89-69 win over 14th-ranked Texas on Sunday afternoon at Norman. OU's two losses have come at the hands of then-No. 2 North Carolina (80-79) and to top-ranked Connecticut (106-78).
Head coach Sherri Coale is in her 13th year at Oklahoma. She is 254-127 (.667) in her collegiate coaching career, all of which have come as the Sooners' head coach.
Oklahoma is led in scoring by 6-4 senior center Courtney Paris' 16.1 points and 13.7 rebounds an outing. Ashley Paris, a 6-3 senior forward, is also averaging a double-double with 14.1 points and 10.0 rebounds a contest. Sophomore guard Danielle Robinson is the team's third scorer with 12.6 a contest and Nyeshia Stevenson comes off the bench to average 10.0 points an outing.
OKLAHOMA'S PROBABLE STARTERS (based on previous game)
13 Danielle Robinson - So., G, 5-9 - 12.6 ppg, 6.2 apg
25 Whitney Hand - Fr., G, 6-1 - 9.8 ppg, 2.4 rpg
21 Amanda Thompson - Jr., F, 6-0 - 7.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg
5 Ashley Paris - Sr., F, 6-3 - 14.1 ppg, 10.0 rpg
3 Courtney Paris - Sr., C, 6-4 - 16.1 ppg, 13.7 rpg
SERIES RECORD
Oklahoma holds a 20-10 series lead over Baylor. Prior to Baylor's two victories over the Sooners last season, Oklahoma had won six 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, Oklahoma won six consecutive, then BU took the last two.
Baylor is 5-8 versus Oklahoma in games played in Waco.
Kim Mulkey is 6-13 versus Oklahoma overall and 3-5 in Waco.
