Bears’ frontcourt duo dominates Longhorns
Baylor is a beast Texas has yet to conquer.
The fifth-seeded Longhorns failed to slay the topseeded Bears 66-55 on Saturday in the Big 12 women’s tournament semifinals at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo.
“I'm not into moral victories, but I think we competed,” Texas coach Vic Schaefer said Saturday. “When they made a run at us we didn't blink, we fought back in it. And, you know, it just comes down to, we get outphysicaled when we play that group a lot of times.”
The game represented one final nightmare for Texas junior and projected 2021 No. 1 WNBA draft pick Charli Collier. She slunk to the bench with a pair of fouls just two and a half minutes into the game, then didn’t reappear until the third quarter.
Collier finished with just three points on 1-of-2 shooting, one rebound, three turnovers and four fouls in 16 minutes. She was vastly outplayed by Baylor’s frontcourt tandem of NaLyssa Smith and Queen Egbo — that pair combined for 31 points, 32 rebounds (15 offensive) and three blocks. And those tallies don’t even paint the full picture of their outright dominance.
Baylor outrebounded Texas 51-29. It corralled 22 offensive rebounds and scored 28 second-chance points. It demoralized the Longhorns every time a fleeting defensive triumph turned into Bears points.
“I think it's a combination of things,” Schaefer said of Collier’s longtime struggles with Baylor. “Really, you have to give your opponent credit. Smith is just so energetic up and down on the floor and plays really hard. And I just think that there's a real competitive spirit. So for us, you know, it's learning to compete against that type of player.”
It would’ve been easier for Texas (18-9) to wilt against No. 6 Baylor (24-2) with Collier slumped on the sideline. But sophomore guard Celeste Taylor (22 points) and junior guard Joanne Allen-Taylor (18 points) weren’t ready to give up. Physical center Lauren Ebo (seven points, 11 rebounds) was ready to scrape in the paint. And Audrey Warren was cleared to return by the team doctor, providing a surprise boost off the bench.
A shower of 3s and midrange jumpers by Taylor and Allen-Taylor sparked Texas in the second quarter as it whittled a 10-point deficit to one. Baylor guard Moon Ursin (19 points, eight rebounds) and Smith broke free for a few layups and free throws to build back up to a 37-30 halftime lead, but the Longhorns felt encouraged about weathering that first half with Collier sidelined for almost 18 minutes.
“I just think that those kids are competitors,” Schaefer said. “Audrey is just somebody that you can really feed off of. And I think those kids on the floor right now, you put anybody with them it's a good team.
“I think the thing we could take back, we stood and played behind their post players early on and you can't do that. You got to try to take away that option for them. But I’m proud of how our kids have competed through adversity.”
Collier’s third-quarter return wasn’t exactly a jolt. Texas’ offense stopped flowing and the paint turned back into a rugby scrimmage with limbs flailing and bodies flying and too many rebounds flying to green jerseys.
Texas birthed one more comeback run for itself by holding Baylor to 4-of-13 shooting over the game's final 12 minutes. Allen-Taylor pumped in five quick points, then Taylor splashed a 3 and knocked down a 15footer, slashing Baylor’s lead to 58-53 with 3:10 remaining.
But Texas, which 24 hours earlier barely overcame Iowa State in overtime of the quarterfinals, was gassed. Smith scored three more points off a couple offensive rebounds. Ursin scampered through the lane for a couple layups. And Texas just couldn't create decent looks or score fast enough to avoid a third loss to Baylor.
Now, Texas will await its NCAA Tournament seeding Monday. ESPN projects the Longhorns as a No. 7 seed, though Schaefer hopes they slot in a bit higher.
“I think we’ve played our way to a six (seed),” Schaefer said.
NO. 17 WEST VIRGINIA 59 OKLAHOMA STATE 50
Esmery Martinez scored 19 points and grabbed 15 rebounds and West Virginia’s reigning hero Kirsten Deans hit another critical shot and the 17th-ranked Mountaineers (21-5) held off the Cowgirls (18-8).