THE RUNDOWN
WACO, Texas - The eighth-ranked Baylor women's basketball team opened exhibition play with a decisive 99-56 win over Midwestern State on Tuesday evening at the Ferrell Center.
Sophomores Khadijiah Cave (26) and Alexis Prince (20) led a BU scoring effort that included a total of five players in doubles figures.
Cave sparked an 8-0 run for the Lady Bears to start the game with two layups. The trend of scoring in the paint continued throughout the night as Baylor continued to attack the basket, ending the game with a 58-18 advantage in paint points.
After the Mustangs cut the early lead in half, the Lady Bears ran off 11 straight points to establish a double-digit lead they would never relinquish.
Head coach Kim Mulkey began her 15th season at Baylor with nine players, including three starters, returning off last season's 32-5 team that swept its fourth straight Big 12 regular and tournament crowns. Starters Sune Agbuke (senior post), Nina Davis (forward) and Niya Johnson (junior guard) all return off last season's NCAA Championship Elite Eight team.
Johnson, the lone returning starter to play, was a solid scoring option with 11 points, but was even better in the passing game, handing out 15 assists. The junior was one of two Lady Bears with a double-double as Cave had 18 rebounds to go along with her 26 points.
Bolstered by a 60 percent (21-of-35) shooting performance, Baylor led 53-26 at the half.
The second half was much of the same with freshman Kristy Wallace scoring 11 points in the final 20 minutes to finish with 13 as BU extended the lead to cruise to the win.
The eight Lady Bears that played all scored and had at least three rebounds. Agbuke, Davis as well as sophomores Ieshia Small and Imani Wright were all held out of Wednesday's game.
HIGHLIGHTS
*The Lady Bears shot 57.6 percent for the game (38-of-66).
*Baylor's size differential helped create a 53-30 rebounding edge.
*Baylor held edges over MSU in shooting percentage (57.6-25.0), assists (23-9), blocks (7-1), steals (10-6), points off turnovers (20-16), second chance points (18-6) and bench points (22-13).
*Baylor had five players score in double figures in Khadijiah Cave (26), Alexis Prince (20), Kristy Wallace (13), Chardonae Fuqua' (11) and Niya Johnson (11).
*Baylor had 13 assists on 21 first half baskets, led by Niya Johnson's 10.
*Baylor only shot five 3-point baskets in the game, making only two.
*Micayla Buckner (two points, three rebounds), Dekeiya Cohen (nine points, three rebounds), and Kristy Wallace (13 points, three rebounds, five assists) made their first appearances in a Baylor uniform.
STAT OF THE GAME
12 - The number of seconds that the game was tied. Baylor led for the remaining 39:48 of game time.
TWEET OF THE GAME
TOP QUOTE
"I just started getting used to being on the floor more and learning out to play with each teammate. And, over time, I just felt comfortable on the floor day after day, game after game." - BU sophomore post Khadijiah Cave
WHAT'S NEXT
Baylor will close exhibition action Monday, Nov. 10, versus Tarleton State at 7:00 p.m. The Lady Bears open the regular season on Friday, Nov. 14 at 6 p.m., on FOX Sports Southwest Plus, when they host Oral Roberts.
