Nov. 23, 2004

Box Score

By JOEDY McCREARY
AP Sports Writer

STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) - Steffanie Blackmon scored 23 points to lead eighth-ranked Baylor over poor-shooting Mississippi State 66-49 Tuesday night.

Sophia Young added 13 points and 12 rebounds for Baylor (2-1), which led by as many as 21 points in the second half and was never threatened in its second straight rout of the Bulldogs.

Tan White scored 23 points for Mississippi State (1-1), which made only 27 percent (20-of-73) of its shots and lost for just the fourth time in 55 non-conference home games under coach Sharon Fanning.

Tiania Burns added 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Bulldogs, who haven't beaten a top-10 team since upsetting No. 9 Florida 79-75 four seasons ago.

Baylor took care of the Bulldogs in a hurry, using an 18-2 spurt early in the first half to take control.

Mississippi State led once, 5-4 on a 3-pointer by Doceide Warren in the opening moments. Young's short jumper 20 seconds later gave the Bears the lead for good.

Chameka Scott had 13 rebounds for the Bears.

After the Bears built a 22-7 lead midway through the half, Mississippi State didn't get closer than six points before halftime.

Baylor - whose remaining non-conference schedule includes games against Penn State, Washington and Florida - has won two straight since a season-opening, 71-70 loss to second-ranked LSU.

The Bears routed Mississippi State 88-45 last year in Waco, but are 7-21 all time against Southeastern Conference teams.