Wednesday, October 30
Waco, Texas
7:00 PM
Baylor
98
vs
63
Lubbock Christian
No. 2 WBB Wins Final Exhibition over Lubbock Christian, 98-63
10/30/2019 9:28:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Cox scores 24, Cooper adds 21 in final tuneup
By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
Towering over her younger sister by three inches, Baylor All-American forward Lauren Cox was almost giddy about getting the chance to play against Whitney in Wednesday's exhibition game at the Ferrell Center.
"It's the last time we'll ever be on the same court again," said 6-4 Lauren Cox, a 6-4 senior who scored a game-high 24 points to go with eight rebounds, six assists and two blocks in the Lady Bears' 98-63 win over Lubbock Christian. "I was just messing with her, saying little stuff. Like when we were on the free throw line, I was like, 'I'm about to push you under the basket.' She's got a little muscle on her now, so she's a little stronger."
In a matchup of last year's NCAA Division I and Division II national champions, Baylor not surprisingly held the upper hand on the visiting Lady Chaps from the opening tip. But, LCU was much more of a test than the Langston team that fell 149-32 in the Lady Bears' exhibition opener last Friday.
"That team is setting themselves up to win another national championship," Baylor coach Kim Mulkey said.
Before the Type 1 Diabetes Awareness game, there was an on-court presentation that included a donation of $3,000 to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation from Melvin Bruggeman, Lauren's and Whitney's grandfather, who died on Sept. 27 in Hays, Kan. Whitney, a 6-1 freshman forward at LCU, was diagnosed with T1D two years ago, while Lauren has dealt with it since she was 7 years old.
"That was special," Lauren said of the pregame ceremony where she was joined on the court by her parents, Doug and Brenda Cox, and three younger sisters, Whitney, Kaylee and Madison. "My grandpa was such a big supporter, and we're really sad that he couldn't be here, but we know that he's got the best seat in the house now."
Mulkey said Bruggeman "didn't miss much" in the basketball and volleyball careers of his granddaughters, Lauren and Whitney.
"I know this was an important game that he had probably circled on his calendar, according to (Lauren's) grandmother," said Mulkey, who also donated $5,000 each in the honor of Lauren and Whitney to the JDRF.
"What better game to choose to do this than. Against the defending national champions in Division I, the defending national champions in Division II, and two sisters playing against each other. I don't know that we'll ever see it again."
Complementing Lauren Cox's inside attack was grad transfer point guard Te'a Cooper from South Carolina, who knocked down 4-of-5 from 3-point range and scored 14 of her 21 points in the second half after picking up two first-quarter fouls.
"Late in the game, she started feeling it and getting in the flow," Mulkey said of Cooper. "She made some really good passes, and some of those we missed, we'll catch them and finish. We've just got to get used to it."
After Cooper picked up her second foul at the 2:59 mark in the first quarter, 6-1 junior DiDi Richards had to handle the point guard duties the rest of the first half and finished with eight points, five assists and four steals.
"With the guards we have, we all kind of have experience at the point guard," said Richards, who actually started at forward with sophomores NaLyssa Smith and Queen Egbo still sitting out. "We kind of play point guard by committee. Whoever gets it, Lauren included, goes."
Senior center Erin DeGrate, a 6-foot-6 grad transfer from Texas Tech, recorded her second-straight double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds and was an efficient 7-of-9 from the floor. LCU had four players in double figures, led by 6-2 senior forward Maddi Chitsey with 16 points.
Trailing by 23 at halftime, the Lady Chaps hit three 3-pointers and scored 19 points in a fairly even third quarter. Madelyn Turner and Allie Schulte added 14 points apiece, while Emma Middleton had 12 points and five rebounds.
"Nothing tonight surprised us at all," Mulkey said. "They came out on fire, hit a lot of shots – I thought contested shots – when they would make little reverse pivot moves and just shoot it right in our face. They're not going to drive by you, but just enough to create a shot for themselves and a teammate. It was a joy to play against them, and it was nn honor to be a part of Diabetes Awareness tonight."
After sweeping through the two exhibition games, Baylor will tip off the regular season with a 6 p.m. matchup next Tuesday against New Hampshire. Prior to the game, the Lady Bears will be presented their national championship and Big 12 championship rings.
"Y'all are going to die, they're nice," Mulkey said. "You need to come see them."
Baylor Bear Insider
Towering over her younger sister by three inches, Baylor All-American forward Lauren Cox was almost giddy about getting the chance to play against Whitney in Wednesday's exhibition game at the Ferrell Center.
"It's the last time we'll ever be on the same court again," said 6-4 Lauren Cox, a 6-4 senior who scored a game-high 24 points to go with eight rebounds, six assists and two blocks in the Lady Bears' 98-63 win over Lubbock Christian. "I was just messing with her, saying little stuff. Like when we were on the free throw line, I was like, 'I'm about to push you under the basket.' She's got a little muscle on her now, so she's a little stronger."
In a matchup of last year's NCAA Division I and Division II national champions, Baylor not surprisingly held the upper hand on the visiting Lady Chaps from the opening tip. But, LCU was much more of a test than the Langston team that fell 149-32 in the Lady Bears' exhibition opener last Friday.
"That team is setting themselves up to win another national championship," Baylor coach Kim Mulkey said.
Before the Type 1 Diabetes Awareness game, there was an on-court presentation that included a donation of $3,000 to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation from Melvin Bruggeman, Lauren's and Whitney's grandfather, who died on Sept. 27 in Hays, Kan. Whitney, a 6-1 freshman forward at LCU, was diagnosed with T1D two years ago, while Lauren has dealt with it since she was 7 years old.
"That was special," Lauren said of the pregame ceremony where she was joined on the court by her parents, Doug and Brenda Cox, and three younger sisters, Whitney, Kaylee and Madison. "My grandpa was such a big supporter, and we're really sad that he couldn't be here, but we know that he's got the best seat in the house now."
Mulkey said Bruggeman "didn't miss much" in the basketball and volleyball careers of his granddaughters, Lauren and Whitney.
"I know this was an important game that he had probably circled on his calendar, according to (Lauren's) grandmother," said Mulkey, who also donated $5,000 each in the honor of Lauren and Whitney to the JDRF.
"What better game to choose to do this than. Against the defending national champions in Division I, the defending national champions in Division II, and two sisters playing against each other. I don't know that we'll ever see it again."
Complementing Lauren Cox's inside attack was grad transfer point guard Te'a Cooper from South Carolina, who knocked down 4-of-5 from 3-point range and scored 14 of her 21 points in the second half after picking up two first-quarter fouls.
"Late in the game, she started feeling it and getting in the flow," Mulkey said of Cooper. "She made some really good passes, and some of those we missed, we'll catch them and finish. We've just got to get used to it."
After Cooper picked up her second foul at the 2:59 mark in the first quarter, 6-1 junior DiDi Richards had to handle the point guard duties the rest of the first half and finished with eight points, five assists and four steals.
"With the guards we have, we all kind of have experience at the point guard," said Richards, who actually started at forward with sophomores NaLyssa Smith and Queen Egbo still sitting out. "We kind of play point guard by committee. Whoever gets it, Lauren included, goes."
Senior center Erin DeGrate, a 6-foot-6 grad transfer from Texas Tech, recorded her second-straight double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds and was an efficient 7-of-9 from the floor. LCU had four players in double figures, led by 6-2 senior forward Maddi Chitsey with 16 points.
Trailing by 23 at halftime, the Lady Chaps hit three 3-pointers and scored 19 points in a fairly even third quarter. Madelyn Turner and Allie Schulte added 14 points apiece, while Emma Middleton had 12 points and five rebounds.
"Nothing tonight surprised us at all," Mulkey said. "They came out on fire, hit a lot of shots – I thought contested shots – when they would make little reverse pivot moves and just shoot it right in our face. They're not going to drive by you, but just enough to create a shot for themselves and a teammate. It was a joy to play against them, and it was nn honor to be a part of Diabetes Awareness tonight."
After sweeping through the two exhibition games, Baylor will tip off the regular season with a 6 p.m. matchup next Tuesday against New Hampshire. Prior to the game, the Lady Bears will be presented their national championship and Big 12 championship rings.
"Y'all are going to die, they're nice," Mulkey said. "You need to come see them."
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Basketball
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