Bears Bolt Past Cowgirls into Big 12 Semis, 76-36
KANSAS CITY, Kansas — The No. 4 Baylor women’s basketball team (26-5, 16-3) rode a 23-0 first quarter to an easy 76-36 win over the Oklahoma State Cowgirls (9-20, 3-16).
Ja’Mee Asberry led the Bears with 16 points, but she was closely followed by both NaLyssa Smith and Queen Egbo with 15 each. Smith added 10 rebounds and two blocks while Egbo registered 13 boards and five blocks herself.
Baylor’s amazing 23-0 first quarter was a total team effort, with 6 players scoring for the Bears. They shot 59% from the field while Oklahoma State was a dismal 0-13 shooting.
That amazing pace was obviously unsustainable for the Bears, but the Cowgirls fought hard in quarter number two. They put up 14 points, but Baylor netted 18 to build the lead to 41-14 at halftime.
Jordan Lewis finished the half with all nine of her points plus three of her five assists and three of her four rebounds.
Sarah Andrews also had four points and three assists at the half on her way to a nine-point game as well.
Kendra Gillispie even got time in the first half registering three points in three minutes. Being able to play Gillispie should help Coach Nicki Collen keep the other forwards a bit fresher as they aim to play and win three games in three days.
In the third quarter, NaLyssa Smith and the Bears made sure that Oklahoma State had no hope of a comeback. Behind Smith’s eight points, Baylor dominated the quarter 25-7. The Bears’ lead grew to as much as 45 by the end of the quarter thanks to a 12-0 run followed soon after by an 8-0 run.
The fourth quarter was just a matter of coasting for the green and gold. While I’m sure coach Collen would not like that word, there is not much else to do with a lead that big and a roster so thin.
The lead hovered around 40 points through the final frame and settled right there with a final of 76-36.
Smith finished with 28 minutes played. Asberry ran for a team-high 32 minutes, while Gillispie and Andrea Katramados were able to take 13 and four minutes respectively to help keep starters better rested.
Overall, the most noteworthy aspect of this game was the simple and methodical way in which Baylor dominated Oklahoma State. There was no need for spectacular highlights or MVP performances. Baylor was just clearly better as a team.
Up next for the Bears is a chance to finally beat Oklahoma this year. That game is tomorrow at 12 noon on ESPN+.