THE RUNDOWN
WACO, Texas - The eighth-ranked Baylor women's basketball team closed out exhibition action with a dominant 102-41 victory over Tarleton State on Monday evening at the Ferrell Center.
After not playing in the season's first exhibition, 2014 Big 12 Freshman of the Year Nina Davis burst onto the scene by leading the Lady Bears with 28 points on 12-of-13 shooting.
Davis' hot shooting was contagious as BU shot a scorching 64.7 percent (44-of-68) for the game. Baylor opened the game on an 11-0 run and closed the contest on a 14-0 scoring streak. Four other Lady Bears joined Davis in double-figures, including Khadijiah Cave (14), Kristina Higgins (14), Kristy Wallace (14) and Alexis Prince (10).
However, the Baylor defense was just as impressive, forcing the TexAnns into 20 turnovers and holding them to 21.1 percent (12-of-57) shooting for the game and just 15 points in the second half.
Davis had three layups in the first 4:14 of the game to help the Lady Bears take a 15-3 advantage. Tarleton State cut the lead to nine points with 11:38 left in the half, but then the Lady Bears ran off eight straight points to take full control of the contest.
Baylor employed a press defense with time winding down in the half to bolster a defense that recorded 13 steals in the game.
Baylor had one post player make major contributions in each half as Higgins had 12 of her 14 points in the first half and Cave had 12 of her 14 points in the second period. Cave added 10 rebounds to record the only double-double of the night. The lone spot the Lady Bears struggled was on free throws, where they were just 11-of-22.
HIGHLIGHTS
*Bolstered by a 64.7 percent (22-of-34) shooting performance, Baylor led 56-26 at the half.
*Baylor's size differential helped create a 54-28 rebounding edge.
*Baylor held edges over TSU in shooting percentage (64.7-21.1), assists (32-9), blocks (5-1), steals (13-4), points off turnovers (30-10), second chance points (14-3) and bench points (29-15).
*Baylor had 32 assists on 44 made baskets, led by Niya Johnson's 14.
*Baylor only shot six 3-point baskets in the game, making three.
STAT OF THE GAME
22-of-34 - Baylor's shooting numbers in both the first and second half.
TWEET OF THE GAME
TOP QUOTE
"I think you can see there's not going to be just one superstar on the floor. I think there's a lot of players out there that understand that we've got to score at all positions." - Baylor head coach Kim Mulkey
WHAT'S NEXT
Baylor will open the regular season on Friday, Nov. 14 at 6 p.m., on FOX Sports Southwest Plus, when the Lady Bears host Oral Roberts.
