TAMPA, Fla. – DiDi Richards scored four points and added seven assists in her return from a scary spinal cord injury five weeks ago, Queen Egbo had a game-high 25 points and No. 4 Baylor beat South Florida 67-62 on Tuesday night.

The Lady Bears (2-0) became the 15^th women's program in Division I history to reach 1,000 wins. Baylor coach Kim Mulkey improved to 606-101 in her 21 seasons at the school.

South Florida (1-1) got 18 points from Maria Alvarez and Bethy Mununga added 13.

Richards entered three minutes into the game and quickly scored an in-close basket. The senior guard was hurt on Oct. 24 after colliding in mid-air with teammate Moon Ursin during a practice scrimmage and briefly lost feeling below her knees.

All the Baylor players wore Richards t-shirts during pregame drills.

Mununga got USF even at 53 early in the fourth with a trey but Richards then started an 8-0 BU run with a pair of free throws.

Trinity Oliver scored four of her 14 points in consecutive possessions to put the Lady Bears ahead 65-58 with 2 ½ minutes left.

Despite shooting just 28.9 percent (11-for-38), Baylor led 29-28 at halftime.

BIG PICTURE
Richards' quick return was remarkable considering she required a walker to assist her in walking at first due to the spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormality. Still, in mid-November she was completing individual drills and workouts with the training staff.

UP NEXT
The Lady Bears will travel to Arkansas on Sunday before opening up Big 12 play at West Virginia on Dec. 10.