By Jeffrey Swindoll
Sports Writer
The No. 3 Lady Bears stayed perfect in the Big 12 after they eked out a 70-68 victory against the Texas Longhorns on Sunday in Austin. Baylor (22-1, 11-0) is well atop the Big 12 with a two-game lead over the second-place Oklahoma Sooners.
The Lady Bears successfully held off a feisty comeback from the Longhorns that came down to the very last possession with just 14 seconds left in regulation. Baylor completed their season sweep of the Longhorns with Sunday’s win.
Baylor’s triple-threat of sophomore forward Nina Davis, junior guard Niya Johnson and sophomore guard Imani Wright were the only players to score in double figures for the Lady Bears, but it was enough to trump the Longhorns’ unrelenting effort.
In their meeting against the Lady Bears this season, the Longhorns lost star forward Nneka Enemkpali after suffering a season-ending ACL tear. Had Enemkpali been in the lineup for the Longhorns on Sunday, the turnout of the game could have been much different.
Davis scored 15 of her 20 points in the second half. Wright shot 6-for-19 from the field, earning 16 points. Johnson showed off her shooting skills, totaling 17 points against the Longhorns and dishing out four assists.
Texas forward Kelsey Lang led the Longhorns with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Lang aided the Longhorns in winning the rebound battle against the Lady Bears, 40-36. Texas guards Brady Sanders, Brooke McCarty and Brianna Taylor finished with a combined total of 35 points.
The Lady Bears had a terrible day from the three-point territory, shooting 2-of-14, while the Longhorns shot 5-for-11. The Longhorns performed well in all areas but could not make it enough to stop the Lady Bears from earning their 21st-consecutive win on the season.
