Baylor finishes season series against Iowa State

With her 11th career dunk, Brittney Griner led the No. 1 Lady Bears to a 66-51 victory to complete the season series against No. 24 Iowa State.

Three players finished in double-digits, including senior post Brittney Griner with 22. Junior guard Odyssey Sims followed with 12 points while freshman guard Alexis Prince had 11 for the Lady Bears.

In addition to scoring in double figures for 98 straight games, Griner also crept closer to an NCAA record after she stepped on the court. With six blocked shots tonight, Griner now has a Big 12 record 657 career blocks.

In the first seven minutes of the game, Griner had four blocks in helping her team open an early 15-point lead. She now needs only seven more blocks to break the NCAA D1 record of 663 blocks in a season set by Louella Tomlinson of Saint Mary’s.

“Normally, I really don’t pay attention to such things,” Griner said. “But blocked shots are my favorite thing, my favorite part of the game. I look every now and then.”

The Cyclones stayed scoreless for over 11 minutes in the first half as Baylor took control early scoring 17 straight points. Before that, Iowa State had taken a quick 6-4 lead, but didn’t score again until Baylor was up 21-6.

To top off the series with another win, the Lady Bears played typical fast-paced defense to create turnovers. They also got Griner in the middle where she dominated the night hitting a variety of turnaround jumpers and intimidating opposing defenders.

Baylor held Iowa State to 36 percent shooting and forced 18 turnovers that set the tone on the defensive end. The Cyclones had only three field goals in the first 16 minutes.

“We’re going to guard you,” Baylor head coach Kim Mulkey said. “I thought our 2-2-1 (defense) helped us from having to be in a half court defense against an Iowa State team that picks you to death and controls temp.”

Anna Prins, a 6-7 senior center, led Iowa State with 17 points. Sophomore guard/forward Brynn Williamson scored all 11 of her points in the second half. Iowa State did, however, keep Baylor to a season-low point total by slowing the pace to shorten the game. But in the end, Iowa State’s poor shooting made the team its own worst enemy.

“It’s called basketball for a reason,” Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said. “You have to make shots.”