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Baylor Women's Basketball

Preview and Game Thread: Lady Bears at UConn

January 9, 2020
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Two legendary programs and coaches square off Thursday night on ESPN. Kim Mulkey and Geno Aureiema are first and second in winning percentage over their careers and also active national championships. The game could be a precursor to the Final Four in New Orleans, but that is getting ahead of the game. What this game will show is the weaknesses and strengths of both programs and what it will take to get to New Orleans and possibly take home another title. 

The Lady Bears stumbled without All-American Lauren Cox against #6 South Carolina during a grueling Thanksgiving tournament for their lone loss. Connecticut has remained unbeaten, but also less battle tested by only facing one other ranked opponent, while this will be the fourth for the Lady Bears. 

With Cox’s return, the Lady Bears will have their full assortment of weapons on offense and defense to push UConn and beat them, but they will need to slow 6-1 junior forward Megan Walker (21.0 ppg, 9.4 rebounds), senior guard Crystal Daingerfield (15.0 ppg, 4.4 assists) and 5-11 sophomore guard Christyn Williams (16.3 ppg, 5.2 assists). Look for DiDi Richards to draw the assingment of frustrating Walker. Juicy Landrum and T’ea Cooper will need to take Daingerfield and Williams out of rhythm and force the Huskies to the guard beyond the three point line. 

Inside, Cox will face a talented big in 6-5 Olivia Nelson-Ododa. Nelson-Ododa has struggled recently and look for Baylor to go inside to get Cox and NaLyssa Smith going offensively. UConn is predominantly a guard oriented team, but Nelson-Ododa does score 13 a game. 

The Lady Bear defense holds opponents to 34.4% shooting on the season, while UConn is shooting 55.3% from the field. If the Lady Bears hold UConn under 40%, look for Mulkey to come out the victor to even the series at 4-4. If not, the Huskies will remain the top team in the country and leaving Baylor with more tape to correct the flaws.

How To Watch:

ESPN 6PM CST

Keys To The Game:

Baylor: Guarding the three point line, staying out of foul trouble, pounding the paint on offense and defense

UConn: Guarding the paint, staying out of foul trouble, hitting the three, stopping Baylor breaks

Discussion from...

Preview and Game Thread: Lady Bears at UConn

29,435 Views | 253 Replies | Last: 4 yr ago by Bearpaws
DanaDane
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8:07p, 1/9/20
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SmallVol1
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8:11p, 1/9/20
Congratulations! What else can be said? Oh, you got them at home!
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Born_A_Bear
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8:13p, 1/9/20
They deserve the Ritz. No coach speak for Kim.
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UBBY
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8:17p, 1/9/20
Wow wow wow. Other than the TO's Te'a was great. Even on defense she played well. Lauren is starting to get her feet back under her. She played great at both ends of the floor.

Nalyssa. Freaking. Smith. She was magic tonight.
She raises her play when the lights are brightest. She's really raised her defensive play which sometimes goes unnoticed. I'm so glad she chose Baylor. Uconn didn't know what to do with her.
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geoman
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8:19p, 1/9/20
I thought Tuesday night's MBB thread may have been the best ever on this site in terms of reportage and commentary but this one takes the cake. Excellent job by all and much appreciated.
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gobears20
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8:20p, 1/9/20
Staff
Great Baylor Merchandise -> https://bit.ly/2M8DuHk
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HoustonBear15
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In reply to Eball • 8:21p, 1/9/20
Eball said:
72-58 Bears win...

Truly prophetic
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whitetrash
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8:22p, 1/9/20
BU is now 4-4 all time against UConn (4-2 in the last 6 meetings). We are the only school that UConn does not have a winning record against.
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Casual Observer
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8:22p, 1/9/20
NaLyssa Smith does so much better on offense when she faces the basket.
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slimecap
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8:27p, 1/9/20
Mulkey stated on post-game radio interview that she was tired of Andy Landers calling Baylor old-school. Mulkey said "we are timeless".
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CHP Bear
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In reply to Mulder • 8:29p, 1/9/20
Mulder said:
The defending National Champions are the Number One Team in the Nation.
Yes they are! Was a pleasure watching the Lady Bears put the rest of College WBB on notice tonight.
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Jacques Strap
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8:35p, 1/9/20
Just watched the 4th quarter again. Man that was fun to watch the second time too!
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MommaBear
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8:36p, 1/9/20
LOVED that little scoring run we went on in the 4th quarter to make it clear that our Lady Bears were the superior team on that court. Now to see how this shuffles the rankings next week. I'm guessing Oregon State moves back up to 1 being the only undefeated team above us. I'm thinking Baylor moves up to the Top 3 or 4 next week.
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BuinmyBlood
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In reply to HoustonBear15 • 8:42p, 1/9/20
HoustonBear15 said:
Eball said:
72-58 Bears win...

Truly prophetic
Actually I believe it was 74 to 58. Don't be shorting us!
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DanaDane
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8:42p, 1/9/20
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fubar
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In reply to whitetrash • 8:48p, 1/9/20
whitetrash said:
BU is now 4-4 all time against UConn (4-2 in the last 6 meetings). We are the only school that UConn does not have a winning record against.
We're signed to play again next year, aren't we?
Gunter gleiben glauchen globen
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Jack Bauer
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In reply to 4yrletterbear • 8:55p, 1/9/20
4yrletterbear said:
Nobody was "dumped"...if you feel that way you have some serious issues .


If you took my post seriously, then you have issues.
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Yogi
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8:58p, 1/9/20
But can you coach football, Kim?
"Smarter than the Average Bear."
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Mulder
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In reply to DanaDane • 9:02p, 1/9/20
DanaDane said:
Lady Bears took Geno's breath away.
An Objective Fan of The Former Baylor Lady Bears.
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Jack Bauer
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In reply to DanaDane • 9:02p, 1/9/20
DanaDane said:


That moment when you have flustered Geno...wow.
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bawitdaball
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9:05p, 1/9/20
Well be #4 and will move up ton#3 after the Oregon/Oregon St. game.
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57Bear
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In reply to MommaBear • 9:14p, 1/9/20
MommaBear said:
LOVED that little scoring run we went on in the 4th quarter to make it clear that our Lady Bears were the superior team on that court. Now to see how this shuffles the rankings next week. I'm guessing Oregon State moves back up to 1 being the only undefeated team above us. I'm thinking Baylor moves up to the Top 3 or 4 next week.
Oregon State was ranked behind Oregon this week, so that criteria may not stand up - BUT it's hard to anticipate how the voters will vote. If he votes, I think that I know how Geno will vote.
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fubar
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In reply to bawitdaball • 9:17p, 1/9/20
bawitdaball said:
Well be #4 and will move up ton#3 after the Oregon/Oregon St. game.
It's gonna be some wacky polls coming up in a couple of days.

We could be anywhere from #4 to #1.
Gunter gleiben glauchen globen
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bawitdaball
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9:21p, 1/9/20
We could also be #9 with how we get treated in the polls
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bearbone11
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9:25p, 1/9/20
We should be the clear number 1. Beating UConn by that much on their own floor is unprecedented. It's clear that we only lost to USCe because Lauren was hurt. None of the teams in front of us have that sort or signature win. Some voters will put us on top, but poll politics may keep us down a bit longer. If the bracket was set today, I believe we would be the clear overall number 1.
R11
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geoman
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9:27p, 1/9/20
At this point in the season, I'd be pleased to see them remain below #1 until April 4.
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Jack Bauer
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9:40p, 1/9/20
If the men win at Kansas, that would be a historic week for Baylor basketball
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Jacques Strap
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10:02p, 1/9/20
No other team has a road win like this one,
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Osodecentx
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In reply to DanaDane • 10:03p, 1/9/20
DanaDane said:
Class
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HoustonBear15
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11:25p, 1/9/20
Something I haven't seen mentioned is that Cox played all 40 minutes. Truly spectacular in only her third game back given her injury and her medical condition. The heartbeat of this team.
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slimecap
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4:53a, 1/10/20

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3rdgenbear
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In reply to HoustonBear15 • 7:02a, 1/10/20
HoustonBear15 said:
Eball said:
72-58 Bears win...

Truly prophetic


That was truly an amazing prediction. Lady Bears win it going away - Nice!!

As Cooper said after the game, they are at 75 to 80% and that seems to be where they were going into the game. I didn't see this kind of win while being at that level, but as EBall predicted, it did.

Wow, this team can be really good when they put it all together!

Outstanding defensive effort as usual by a very well coached team.

Moon played some valuable minutes. Good to see Bickle back. Passing is looking a little better. Lauren Cox blocks and alters shots like no one else. Te'a Cooper is flat out amazing and Nalyssa just won"t be denied.

Congrats Lady Bears on a signature win!

Sic'em!

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hitmanmw
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In reply to Jacques Strap • 9:21a, 1/10/20
Jacques Strap said:
Who else came off their couch when Smith took over?!
Yes!!! I came out of my Lazy Boy with a mighty "Let's go!!!" Haha...
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hitmanmw
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9:43a, 1/10/20
It's worth repeating what the Lady Bears did in that 4th quarter. With 1:17 left in the game, UCONN had scored TWO POINTS........TWO!!! The really exciting thing is what Cooper said in post-game - we are only running at about 80% right now. Much like Chloe last year, Cooper is still finding her way, but it's coming. Kim will get hr there. That was a rough start for her but she made me eat crow after the first quarter.

Moon is another one with so much untapped potential. I lost count of how many times she got back-doored, and on the offensive end, she is just way too passive. I would love to see her in attack mode just once. I think she would be unstoppable. She is one of the few we have that can create her own shot off the dribble with a pull up. Channel your high school years Moon!

And welcome back Lauren!!
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Jack Bauer
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9:54a, 1/10/20
This was UConns worst home loss since 2005!!
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