Baylor Easily Handles California
March 20, 2017
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Davis, one of four Baylor seniors, also had six rebounds and five assists in her last game at the Ferrell Center, where the top-seeded Lady Bears have won 12 consecutive NCAA Tournament games. Prince added five rebounds and six assists, while Kristy Wallace had 10 points and nine assists.
Baylor (32-3) took control with a 13-0 run in the second quarter, including freshman Natalie Chou hitting consecutive 3-pointers in a 17-second span during which coach Kim Mulkey emphatically pumped her fists. After a California timeout and then a missed shot, Prince hit a run-ending jumper that put Baylor up 35-16.
Kristine Anigwe had 20 points and 11 rebounds for ninth-seeded California (20-14), which for the second time in five seasons lost a second-round NCAA Tournament game against the Big 12 champions on their home court. After their 12th consecutive NCAA Tournament victory at home, including that record-setting 119-30 win over Texas Southern on Saturday, the Lady Bears are headed to Oklahoma City for their third Sweet 16 matchup against Louisville in nine seasons. The fourth-seeded Cardinals advanced with a 75-64 victory at home earlier Monday over fifth-seeded Tennessee.
There were six lead changes between Baylor and Cal in the first 3 minutes of their game, including five baskets scored in a 45-second span. But Davis' strong drive for a layup put the homestanding Bears up 8-7, and started a 9-0 run.
California had a longer scoring drought in the second quarter, going 6 1/2 minutes between their only field goals of the quarter while Baylor put the crowd and its coach into a frenzy.
Wallace had the ball and moved to the right side, near Chou, and motioned the freshman to move to the other corner. A couple of passes later, Chou buried the long shot from in front of the Cal bench, and then on the next trip down the court hit a 3 from the right wing.