DENVER, CO – Faced with a stiff challenge for one of the very few times this season, the Baylor Lady Bears responded like the champions they are one win away from becoming.
Leading Stanford by just two points after a sluggish first half, the Bears turned things around in the second half and put away a tough Cardinal team making their fifth consecutive appearance in the Final Four. Baylor improved to 39-0 after a 59-47 victory to set up a national championship showdown on Tuesday night against Notre Dame, making their second straight trip to the national title game.
Baylor star Brittney Griner had a productive night, with 13 points and 9 rebounds, but was not nearly the dominant presence that she’s been all season for the undefeated Lady Bears. Baylor was picked up by Terran Condrey, who scored 13 points off the bench, and Odyssey Sims, who added 11.
Stanford was led by Nnemkdai Ogwumike, who led all scorers with 22 points, but her sister Chiney struggled mightily, scoring only four points before becoming the first Stanford player to foul out this entire season. No other Cardinal player cracked double-figures in scoring against the stingy Lady Bears defense.
With one more victory, Baylor will become the first team in the history of college basketball – men’s or women’s – to finish the season 40-0.
Dave Ryan, Debbie Antonelli and Krista Blunk called the action on the Westwood One Radio Network.
