By Jeffrey Swindoll
Sports Writer
No. 6 Baylor Lady Bears opened conference play with a 61-45 comeback win over No. 18 Oklahoma State at the Ferrell Center on Saturday, extending their undefeated run to 11 regular season games.
OSU led for most of the game, and held a 35-27 lead at halftime. The Lady Bears stormed back right from the opening play of the second half though, cutting the OSU lead to 39-37. OSU sat in the lead, but the Cowgirls would eventually crumble to the Lady Bears’ unrelenting effort. Baylor blew out OSU 34-12 in the second half.
Sophomore forward Nina Davis tallied 22 points and 11 rebounds, the most in both categories for the Lady Bears. Sophomore post Khadijiah Cave followed up Davis with 15 points. Freshman guard Kristy Wallace continues to show promise, scoring 11 points in the first Big 12 Conference game of her career.
OSU senior forward Liz Donohoe totalled 13 points and senior post LaShawn Jones added 11 points to the Cowgirls’ effort.
Even before being named the Florida Sunshine Tournament MVP last week, Davis has been aware her significance to the Lady Bears’ success. Davis looks to be the Bears’ heart and soul at the dawn of only her second season in conference play.
Junior guard Niya Johnson is also fitting in to her respective role as the team’s main distributor. Johnson dished out a team-leading 9 assists against the Cowgirls.
Next up, the Lady Bears face the Kansas State Wildcats at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Manhattan, Kan.