Game 9: No. 1 Baylor 76, No. 2 West Virginia 50
Box Score - Notes - Quotes - Photos
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The No. 1-seed Baylor picked up their third-straight Phillips 66 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Championship title after taking down No. 2-seed West Virginia, 76-50, at the 2021 Phillips 66 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Championship at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City. The Lady Bears are bringing their 11th and third-straight championship back to Waco.
Baylor has the most championships amongst any program in the conference to date. BU has won 23 Big 12 Women’s Championships combined, 12 regular season and 11 tournament titles.
The Mountaineers started scoring with a mid-range jumper from junior forward Kari Niblack, but the tough defense from the Lady Bears held the Mountaineers to only 12 points in the first quarter. The scoring drought tied for second-lowest in a quarter of the championship game and lowest since 2019.
Baylor’s NaLyssa Smith picked up two personal fouls late in the first quarter, but the Lady Bears managed and went on an 11-1 run to end the first quarter. Baylor outrebounded West Virginia 21-11 in the first to open up the second half and ended the quarter with a 21-12 advantage.
The second quarter saw solid defense from the Mountaineers, picking up four blocks and forcing seven turnovers. The Lady Bear’s offense bounced back behind Queen Egbo and DiDi Richards, who combined for eight points and gave the Lady Bears a 10-point lead at the half.
Baylor got off to a quick start with a 5-0 run right out of halftime. The Mountaineers fired back with a seven-point quarter from Kristen Deans and a strong and-one play from Kysre Gondrezick to end the third with Baylor up 52-42.
The Lady Bears’ strong play continued in the fourth quarter as Baylor went up 14 with five minutes left to play. Baylor ended the game with a rebound margin of +13, putting them fourth in tournament history. With a stellar performance by Dijonai Carrington, Egbo and the help from the 28 point performance from the bench, Baylor was able to close out the game, 76-50.
The 2021 Big 12 Player of the Year Smith from Baylor earned another accolade for her resume after being named the Most Outstanding Player. She ended the 2021 tournament with an overall total of 55 points and 24 rebounds, adding to her career Big 12 tournament numbers shooting an impressive 59.3% with 84 points and 39 rebounds.
West Virginia and Baylor have now met in the final round three times, with Baylor boasting the 2-1 advantage. The last matchup between these two basketball powerhouses came back in 2017, where the Mountaineers bested the Lady Bears in the final round to win their first title.
The Lady Bears and Mountaineers are not finished this season, along with several other Big 12 teams awaiting their seeding for the 2021 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship. The bracket will be announced Monday, March 15, at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN and the ESPN App.
2021 Phillips 66 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Championship All-Tournament Team
Natasha Mack, Sr., Oklahoma State
Kysre Gondrezick, R-Sr., West Virginia
Dijonai Carrington, Sr., Baylor
Moon Ursin, Sr., Baylor
NaLyssa Smith, Jr., Baylor - Most Outstanding Player