No. 6/6 WBB Blows Past Kansas, 93-67

Saturday, March 6

Lawrence, Kan.

4 p.m.

Baylor

21-2,16-1Big 12

Kansas

7-17,3-15Big 12

Baylor

Kansas

Photo by: AP

No. 6/6 WBB Blows Past Kansas, 93-67

3/6/2021 6:58:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score WBB_23_KU

Five Lady Bears in double figures for second time in Big 12 play

By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
            LAWRENCE, Kan. – Even at full strength, the Kansas Jayhawks would have a hard time stacking up against third-ranked Baylor's post rotation of NaLyssa Smith, Queen Egbo, Caitlin Bickle and Hannah Gusters.
            Already shorthanded because of player opt-outs, the Jayhawks (7-17. 3-15) were down another post player for Saturday's game with 6-2 freshman forward Ioanna Chatzileonti out with an injury. The two remaining interior players, Katrine Jessen and Chisom Ajekwu, both fouled out.
            Kansas' five-guard lineup had no chance.
            Smith and Egbo both recorded double-doubles in helping Baylor (21-2, 16-1) dominate the boards, 59-24, and cruise to a 93-67 victory to win its 13^th in a row and 15^th-straight against the Jayhawks.
            "It's not a team you want to play shorthanded," said Kansas coach Brandon Schneider, whose team lost its eighth in a row and 12^th in the last 13. "Not having Ioanna as a player that could help us with frontline depth today was definitely a factor. . . . (Playing five guards most of the second half) was not the most ideal situation, but I thought our kids competed really hard. That's all you can ask for."
            Smith was a rebound shy of a double-double by halftime and finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds in just 24 minutes, while Egbo had her second-straight and 15^th career double-double with 10 points and 11 boards.
            With Bickle and Gusters combining for 20 points and 17 rebounds, Baylor almost matched the Jayhawks' 24 total rebounds on the offensive glass (20) and finished with a 22-2 edge in second-chance points.
            "When Lys and Queen are making shots and getting offensive rebounds, and they're out there having fun, it makes everybody else have fun," sophomore guard Jordyn Oliver said. "We're post-dominant. And when they're playing good, we're all playing good. So, that's a great start."
            DiJonai Carrington knocked down four 3-pointers and poured in 20 points in 18 minutes for the Lady Bears, who had already clinched their 11^th-consecutive Big 12 regular-season championship and the No, 1 seed for next week's Big 12 tournament in Kansas City.
            Led by Carrington and Bickle (13 points, 8 rebounds), Baylor's bench outscored the Kansas reserves, 46-31. For the second time this season in Big 12 play, the Lady Bears had five double-figure scorers, with senior guard Moon Ursin chipping in with 10 points, four assists and three rebounds.
            Up by just eight after the first quarter, Baylor outscored Kansas, 24-10, in the second period and then blew it open with a 34-point third quarter. Smith was a perfect 6-of-6 from the floor in the second quarter, outscoring the Jayhawks 12-10, while the Lady Bears were 13-of-15 from the line in the third period and stretched the lead to 76-37.
            With Baylor's starters sitting out the fourth quarter, Kansas' trio of Utah grad transfer Julie Brosseau (11), Zakiyah Franklin (10) and Holly Kersgieter (9) scored all 30 of the Jayhawks' points against the Lady Bear backups.
            "We know we have to get back tomorrow and get to practice and look at film, everybody individually and together," Oliver said, "see what we did wrong and see how we can defend better."
            In the Big 12's final game of the regular season, Baylor will host 20^th-ranked West Virginia (19-4, 13-4) at 7 p.m. Monday at the Ferrell Center. The Mountaineers have won 15 of their last 17 games and are locked in as the No. 2 seed for the Big 12 tournament with their series sweep of fifth-place Texas.
            Baylor will honor Carrington, Ursin and DiDi Richards during Monday's Senior Day celebration.

-BaylorBears.com-