Women’s Basketball Wins Big 12 Outright as Smith Sets Career-High on Senior Day
WACO, Texas — The Baylor women’s basketball team (25-5, 15-3) beat the Texas Tech Red Raiders (11-18, 4-14) 82-57 to take sole possession of the 2021-2022 Big 12 regular-season championship.
NaLyssa Smith scored a career-high 35 points as she, Queen Egbo, and Jordan Lewis were honored on senior day at the Ferrell Center.
Smith also got another double-double, grabbing 12 rebounds. Egbo registered eight points and five rebounds before fouling out in the fourth quarter. Lewis also posted a solid five point and six assist game.
The Bears got off to a good start this afternoon building a six-point lead before the first media timeout and a 23-10 lead by the end of the first quarter.
Smith was single-handedly outscoring Texas Tech 16-10 in the first and tied them with 22 at halftime.
After the half, Baylor took their 45-22 lead and kept growing it. At the end of the third, it was a 28-point lead, and it topped out at 32 early in the fourth quarter.
Caitlin Bickle and Jaden Owens were key reasons why that lead got so high. Bickle had a great all-around game, scoring six, grabbing four rebounds, dishing six assists, and playing great defense on Vivian Gray for 32 minutes.
Meanwhile, Jaden Owens flirted with her career-high (15 points) by scoring 13. That offensive showing should give Baylor fans reason to believe she can consistently step up her offensive output next year to help replace the outgoing seniors.
The only drama towards the end of the game was whether or not NaLyssa Smith would break her career-high. It took her into the final couple minutes of the quarter, but with a smooth jumper, she netted her 34th and 35th points of the night, making her senior day and the championship ceremony afterward extra-special.
After the game, when asked about the stretch run and the championship, Nicki Collen said “Beating Texas, that was relief. This last week has been more joy.”
There is obviously still much more to play for, but coach Collen is very appreciative of this team and the year they’ve had, saying “I want to cherish every day I have with this group.”
Now the Bears have time to rest up a little before they play their first postseason game in the Big 12 tournament on Friday. That game will be against either Texas Tech or Oklahoma State and it will tip-off at 1:30 PM CT on ESPNU.