The fifth-ranked Baylor Bears took down No. 8 Iowa State on Monday 87-62, clinching at least a share of their 12th consecutive Big 12 regular-season title.
It’s the first for head coach Nicki Collen, who replaced former coach Kim Mulkey this season after Mulkey left for LSU following 21 seasons with the Bears. Collen is 24-5 in her first season with Baylor.
A win over Texas Tech on Sunday, or an Iowa State loss on Saturday, would clinch the title outright for the Bears.
Baylor shot 51.5 percent to the Cyclones’ 35.7 percent during Monday’s matchup. They were also more efficient from 3-point range, shooting 8-for-21 while Iowa State was 4-for-22 from beyond the arc. The 25-point win was the largest margin of victory in a top-10 matchup this season.
Projected No. 1-overall pick in the upcoming WNBA Draft, NaLyssa Smith led all scorers with 28 points on 11-of-15 shooting and a career-high 20 rebounds. She is just the second DI women’s player in the past 20 seasons to have at least 25 points and 20 rebounds in a top-10 matchup, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. Former No. 1 pick and Stanford standout Chiney Ogwumike scored 32 points and added 20 rebounds in a 2013 matchup between Stanford and Tennessee.
Four other Bears scored in double-digits, with Jordan Lewis contributing 23 points and six assists while Caitlin Bickle added 13 points. Ja’Mee Asberry and Queen Egbo each had 10 points.
Ashley Joens had 19 points and five rebounds for the Cyclones through 33 minutes before fouling out. Emily Ryan was the only other Iowa State player in double-digits with 10 points.
Iowa State next plays West Virginia on Saturday while Baylor will face Texas Tech on Sunday to close out the regular season.