Lady Bear-Texas Tech Game Notes
1/8/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 8, 2001
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#23 Baylor Lady Bears (13-0, 2-0)
at
#11 Texas Tech (11-2, 2-0)
Wed., Jan. 10 - 7:00 p.m. (CST)
United Spirit Arena - Lubbock, TX
No. 23 Baylor will face two ranked opponents this week in NO. 11 Texas Tech and No. 17 Oklahoma. Wednesday's game marks the third Big 12 of the season for both teams. Both teams come into the contest with 2-0 marks. Both squads are coming off Saturday road victories, Texas Tech defeated Oklahoma State(67-55) in Stillwater and Baylor beat Kansas (85-80) in Lawrence. After playing six consecutive home games the Lady Bears will play their second of three road games in four contests.
BEST START SINCE...
At 13-0, the Lady Bears have vaulted off to the best start in Lady Bear history. Twice, 1974-75 and 1980-81, Baylor posted 9-0 records to start the season. The Lady Bears have already surpassed their season win total of last season (7-20).
They also broke the school record for most consecutive wins with 13. The previous mark of 12 was set in the 1975-76 season.
BROKE IN...
For the first time in 23 years, Baylor is ranked among the nation's elite, breaking into the AP Top 25 at No. 23. They also received 87 votes in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll which puts them at 26th.
Since the beginning of NCAA competition in women's basketball (1981-82), Baylor had never been ranked in the top 25 but had received votes during the 1997-98 season and at the beginning of the 1998-99 campaign.
Back in the days of AIAW competition Baylor was ranked in the AP's Top 20. During the 1976-77 season Baylor was ranked as high as 12th nationally (twice). The last time they were ranked 12th was on Mar. 16, 1977. They began the 1977-78 season ranked 15th but fell out of the rankings for good after being ranked No. 18 on Jan. 25, 1978.
LAMBERT EARNS DOUBLE HONOR...
Baylor's Sheila Lambert was named Big 12 Women's Basketball Player of the Week in a vote of a media panel for games played from Jan. 1-7.
Lambert led Baylor to Big 12 Conference wins over Oklahoma State and Kansas with averages of 34.5 points, 9.5 assists, 4.5 steals and 5.5 rebounds. The 5-7 junior guard from Seattle, Wash., posted her third double-double of the season with a career-high 37 points and 10 assists vs. Kansas. Her two 30-point games were her third and fourth this season. Lambert's 37 points against Kansas was the eighth-highest total in Baylor history. She leads the Big 12 in scoring and ranks among Big 12 leaders in assists, steals and rebounds.
In addition, Lambert was tabbed Big 12 Rookie of the Week for holiday break. She averaged 22.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 4.0 steals in helping Baylor to a 4-0 record during the holidays. It was Lambert's second Rookie of the Week Honor.
AND THEN THERE WAS ONE...
Baylor University is the only school in the nation that has yet to suffer a defeat - by either its men's or women's basketball team. In addition to the 13-0 record the Lady Bears own, the Baylor men are a perfect 12-0 this season.
Also, the Lady Bears are the only Big 12 women's team to go through pre-conference competition undefeated. Iowa State was undefeated prior to their loss at Duke.
AND AGAIN... At 13-0, first-year Baylor head coach Kim Mulkey-Robertson is the only undefeated first-year head coach in NCAA Division I. Only two other programs (UCONN & Notre Dame) are currently undefeated and neither of those coaches are first-year head coaches.
LAMBERT ON THE LOOSE...
Sheila Lambert is showing why, with just two Big 12 games under her belt, she's a serious contender for Big 12 Player of the Year honors...The 5-7 junior guard is averaging 34.5 points 5.5 rebounds, 9.5 assists and 4.5 steals in Big 12 games...On the season she ranks #1 in the Big 12 in scoring at 24.5 points a game, which is also among the nation's leaders, and the speedster is among the league's top four in assists and steals...Also, she's among the conference's top 20 in rebounding at #18.
Lambert has scored in double figures in every game this season and has produced four 30-point performances. She has three double-doubles to her credit, two with points/assists and one with points/rebounds.
NATIONAL ATTENDANCE STATISTICS...
Once again the Lady Bear program is among the top programs in the nation for home attendance. With an average of 2,603 a game so far this season the Lady Bears rank #26 in the nation. Figures show that at this point in the season the Lady Bears are averaging 1,000 more fans a game than they were at this time last season. Also, last season's biggest home crowd was 2,485 (Texas Tech) while they've already had three crowds above that figure this season.
LAST TIME OUT...
The Lady Bears won their second straight Big 12 game and their first win in Lawrence with an 85-80 over the Kansas Jayhawks. Baylor was led by Sheila Lambert's career-high 37 points. She also added five rebounds, 10 assists and two steals. Freshman Chanelle Fox led BU in rebounding with a career-high 12 boards, she was followed by Danielle Crockrom's 11 rebounds. Crockrom also tallied 23 points to record her 10th double-double of the season. The victory was Baylor's first Big 12 road win since Feb. 20, 1999 when they defeated Colorado in Boulder.
RPI RANKINGS...
Baylor is ranked 30th in the latest RPI published by College Basketball News on Jan. 7. RPI ratings are derived from three component factors: Division I winning percentage (25%), schedule strength (50%) and opponent's schedule strength (25%). The Lady Bears rank sixth behind Iowa State (9th), Texas (13th), Texas Tech (15th) and Oklahoma (19th).
In the Women's Basketball Coaches (WBCA)/Summerville RPI the Lady Bears are No. 35.
ON THE SEASON...
Baylor's leader, six games into the season, is Sheila Lambert. The Seattle native is averaging 24.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.92 steals and 6.08 assists a game.
Danielle Crockrom, the fourth week of the season, reached the double-digit mark in season scoring and rebounding. Crockrom, a 6-2 forward, checks in at 21.5 points and a team and league leading 12.9 rebounds while Monica Arnold (Austin/Johnston HS), a 6-2 post, tallies 11.1 points and 6.7 boards.
NEVER BEFORE...
Never before in the history of Lady Bear basketball have two players scored 30 or more points in the same game. It's happened twice this season, against Denver University and Loyola Marymount. Against Denver Danielle Crockrom and Sheila Lambert combined for 67 points. Crockrom poured in a career-high 34 points. She was 13-of-17 from the floor (.764) and 8-of-10 (.800) from the free throw line. Lambert also tallied a career high with 33 points. She popped in eight field goals and was 16-of-18 (.889) from the charity stripe.
The feat was duplicated against Loyola Marymount when Crockrom scored 32 and Lambert tossed in 30.
IT HASN'T HAPPENED SINCE...
In Baylor's victory over Oral Roberts three Lady Bears scored 20 points or more. Danielle Crockrom led the way with 23, Monica Arnold added 22 and Sheila Lambert tallied 21. The feat has been accomplished seven other times, the most recent coming on Feb 28, 1998 when Lara Webb scored 32, Kacy Moffitt tallied 21 and Toya Ellis added 20 points against Texas A&M. In fact, that trio duplicated the performance against the Aggies again that same season (Feb. 4, 1998) when Webb scored 26, Ellis 25 and Moffitt 23.
CROCKROM BREAKS 20 YEAR OLD RECORD...
With her 23 rebounds against USC, Danielle Crockrom broke Debbie Polk's 20 year old single game rebounding record. Polk set the mark of 22 rebounds on Nov. 11, 1980 against Huston-Tillotson.
LAMBERT DOUBLES...
In Baylor's 13 games this season Sheila Lambert has scored in double figures in every game. Her lowest point output in a game is 15 (UMKC), she's scored 19 points three times, she's had five 20-point performances and four 30-point games.
ONE-TWO PUNCH...
The tandem of Sheila Lambert and Danielle Crockrom rank No. 1 and No. 2 in the Big 12 Conference in scoring. Lambert checks in at 24.5 points a game while Crockrom manages 21.5.
MULKEY-ROBERTSON ON THE NATIONAL SCENE...
First-year head coach Kim Mulkey-Robertson is among the nation's leaders for first year coaches at 13-0. As a result, she and the program are getting some national recognition. She recently (Dec. 7) participated in a live chat on ESPN.com and ESPN.com also had an article on her that same day. For a copy of the article go to: http://espn.go.com/ncw/dish2000/5.html. To see a transcript of the live chat, log onto Baylor's official website (www.GoBaylorBears.com) and go to the women's basketball page. On the lower left side click on the transcript of the live chat.
IN THE BIG 12...
As individuals and as a team, Baylor ranks at the top of the Big 12 in several categories:
Team: #1 in scoring (84.5), #1 in scoring margin (+25.7), #1 in field goal defense (.361), #1 in rebounding (49.9), #1 in rebounding margin (+16.2), #2 in steals (14.85), #3 in scoring defense (58.8), #3 in free throw pct. (.721) and #3 in turnover margin (+6.69).
Sheila Lambert: #1 in scoring (24.5), #3 in steals (3.92), #3 in assists (6.08), #10 free throw percentage (.789) and #18 in rebounding (6.2).
Danielle Crockrom: #1 in offensive rebounds (5.69), #1 in rebounding (12.8), #2 in scor- ing (21.5), #2 in defensive rebounds (7.08) and #4 in field goal percentage (.605), #14 in steals (2.08).
Monica Arnold: #4 in blocked shots (1.62), #15 in rebounding (6.7), #27 in scoring (11.1).
Jessika Stratton - #15 free throw percentage (.765).
A LOOK AHEAD...
After playing six consecutive home games the Lady Bears take to the road for three of their next four games. They will travel to Kansas and Texas Tech, play Oklahoma at home then play at Texas A&M over that four game span.
Starting with Baylor's game with Texas Tech the Lady Bears will play three ranked teams in the next four games. Texas Tech (11th), Oklahoma (17th), Texas A&M and Texas (14th).
THE OPPOSITION...
Texas Tech Red Raiders The Texas Tech Red Raiders come into Wednesday's game with a record of 11-2. The and the Lady Bears both own 2-0 Big 12 marks. The Raiders have won 37 straight home games which is the second-longest home court winning streak in the nation.
The Red Raiders are led by 5-6 senior guard Katrisa O'Neal's 13.5 points a game. Sophomore forward Plenette Pierson ranks second in scoring at 13.1 and leads the team in rebounding with 6.5 a game. Jia Perkins, a freshman guard, comes off the bench to average 11.7 a game while Amber Tarr manages 10.5 a contest.
Texas Tech is coached by Marsha Sharp who is in her 19th year as Texas Tech's head coach. She is 445-136 in her 19 years there. Sharp has spent her head coaching career at Texas Tech.
SERIES RECORD...
Texas Tech leads the series 39-8. The Red Raiders have won 36 straight games against the Lady Bears. Baylor's last victory over the Red Raiders (62-56) was on March 11, 1983 in the Southwest Conference Tournament in Austin. Baylor's last win over Texas Tech (66-65) in Lubbock was on Jan. 23, 1982.
LAST YEAR...
The Red Raiders won both games last season, posting a 65-49 win in Waco and drubbing the Lady Bears 105-52 in Lubbock. In Waco Plenette Pierson scored 15 points and Katrisa O'Neal tallied 10 while Nicole Collins led Baylor with 12 points and Danielle Crockrom added 10. Hilary Akromis had a career-high 10 rebounds in that game. In Lubbock no Baylor players scored in double figures while six Red Raiders scored in double figures
BIG 12 RECORD...
Since the inception of the Big 12, the Lady Bears have posted a 29-37 record. The Red Raiders are 55-11 in four years of Big 12 action.
PROBABLE STARTERS...
Baylor (13-0, 2-0)
PG - #3 Nicole Collins - (5-3, Jr., Houston/Dobie HS) 4.5 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 3.0 apg
G - #31 Sheila Lambert - (5-7, Jr., Seattle, Wash./Grayson CC) 24.5 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 6.08 apg
F - #5 Chanelle Fox - (5-11, Fr., Houston/Westfield HS) 4.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg
F - #34 Danielle Crockrom - (6-2, Jr., Houston/North Shore HS) 21.5 ppg, 12.8 rpg
P - #40 Monica Arnold - (6-2, Sr., Austin/Johnston HS) 11.1 ppg, 6.7 rpg
Texas Tech (11-2, 2-0)
G - #24 Katrisa O'Neal - (5-6, Sr., Plainview, TX) 13.5 ppg, 2.7 rpg
G - #11 Candi White - (5-7, Jr., Canyon, TX) 5.1 ppg, 2.5 rpg
G - #32 Amber Tarr - (6-0, Jr., Ozona. TX) 10.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg
C - #34 Tanisha Ellison - (6-1, Jr., Houston) 5.5 ppg, 7.0 rpg
F - #54 Plenette Pierson - (6-2, So., Kingwood) 13.1 ppg, 6.5 rpg
