Tony Gutierrez | Associated Press
By Stephen Hawkins
Associated Press Basketball Writer
WACO — Brittney Griner had 28 points with 11 rebounds and top-ranked Baylor remained undefeated with a 71-44 victory over Oklahoma State on Wednesday night.
Baylor (16-0, 3-0 Big 12) never trailed, but led only by two at the half before a 20-4 run in the first 7 minutes of the second half to put the game out of reach. The Lady Bears won their 33rd consecutive home game.
Baylor pushed ahead 46-28 after consecutive baskets by Destiny Williams. After making a layup and then an Oklahoma State turnover, Williams missed badly on a break before she grabbed the rebound and followed up her own shot.
Williams finished with 11 points and 13 rebounds, her sixth career double-double. Griner had her 34th double-double, along with eight blocked shots, while Odyssey Sims had 21 points, eight assists and six rebounds.
Freshman Liz Donohoe led Oklahoma State (9-3, 1-2) with 19 points and eight rebounds. Toni Young had 13 points.
The Cowgirls were coming off a 70-51 victory over then-No. 23 Texas, but have lost three of their last four games. Before that, they had won seven in a row since coach Kurt Budke and assistant Miranda Serna were killed in a plane crash Nov. 17 while on a recruiting trip in Arkansas.
Orange ribbons were given to fans entering the arena in memory of Budke and Serna.
When Cowgirls coach Jim Littell came out on the court just ahead of his team, Baylor fans responded with a standing ovation and a polite round of applause. Baylor coach Kim Mulkey walked out a few moments later, and shared a hug with Littell near the Oklahoma State bench.
The two teams gathered at midcourt for a prayer after the game.
Baylor is the only Division I school with both of its men’s and women’s teams undefeated. The fourth-ranked Bears team is also 16-0 after a win at Kansas State on Tuesday night.
The game was played only hours after Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Robert Griffin III announced that he was bypassing his senior season at Baylor to enter the NFL draft.
Griner, a 6-foot-8 junior phenom, would be eligible for the WNBA draft if she chose to leave after this season. The AP All-America pick told The Associated Press that she hasn’t even thought about leaving Baylor early.
The Lady Bears led only 26-24 at halftime, when Griner had half of their points. She was 6-of-10 shooting, and the rest of the team had only five field goals combined.
The Cowgirls were even at 22 with 1:54 left in the half when Young had a short jumper.
Mulkey stood obviously frustrated, but Williams then hit a long jumper and Griner blocked a shot by Donohoe. Sims grabbed the ball and converted a breakaway layup.
Donohoe’s 12 points at halftime accounted for half of Oklahoma State’s total. Donohoe, the Cowgirls’ top scorer this season, is the reigning Big 12 freshman of the week for the third time this season.
