WACO, Texas — Decked out in pink from head to toe, stylish Baylor coach Kim Mulkey mostly just watched from her signature crouch on the sideline while Brittney Griner and plenty of reserves put the Lady Bears on the brink of another Big 12 title.
Griner had 22 points and 10 rebounds in just 23 minutes, No. 1 Baylor held TCU to 26-percent shooting and the Lady Bears clinched at least a share of the league’s regular season championship with a 78-45 victory on Saturday.
Mulkey didn’t have to say much once Baylor went on a 17-2 run for a 27-10 lead, which allowed the coach to get at least eight minutes for every player on the roster with Baylor visiting No. 3 Connecticut on Monday night.
“Was it a game plan to do it because we have a quick turnaround with Connecticut?” Mulkey said. “I guess it’s a game plan in every game, but not every game allows you to do it.”
This one did.
The Lady Bears extended their nation-leading streaks to 53 home wins, 36 league victories and 22 straight this year while keeping TCU (7-17, 0-13) without a league win in its first Big 12 season.
Nobody scored in double figures for the Horned Frogs, who were 17 of 65 from the field and 6 of 27 from 3-pointer range. Kamy Cole led TCU with nine on 3-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc.
“We just had trouble getting off any open looks,” TCU coach Jeff Mittie said. “They have a protector at the rim and they guard the arc very well, and we struggled all day with that.”
Griner spent almost half the game on the bench near Mulkey’s bright pink pants and high heels on Baylor’s “Play 4Kay” day in honor of late N.C. State coach Kay Yow, who died of breast cancer in 2009.
No. 25 Oklahoma St. 80, Kansas St. 45: Toni Young had 23 points and 18 rebounds Saturday to lead No. 25 Oklahoma State to an 80-45 victory over Kansas State.
All five starters were in double figures for the Cowgirls (18-6, 7-6 Big 12). Kendra Suttles also had a double-double, with 19 points and 10 rebounds.
Liz Donohoe had 13 points, eight rebounds and six assists, and Tiffany Bias had 13 points, five rebounds and six assists. Brittney Martin finished with 11 points.
Brianna Craig led the Wildcats (13-12, 4-9) with 17 points, including five 3-pointers.
Oklahoma State shot 54 percent from the field and outscored Kansas State 38-12 in the paint.
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