The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
(2) 28-4, 15-3
Baylor
(1) 33-1, 17-1
No. 6 Women's Basketball drops Big 12 Tournament Final to No. 4 Baylor, 79-63
03.07.2016 | Women's Basketball
Freshman Lashann Higgs led the Longhorns with 15 points.
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Oklahoma City, Okla.— Freshman Lashann Higgs scored a team-high 15 points and senior Imani Boyette added 11 rebounds to lead No. 6/7 Texas in the 79-63 loss to No. 4/4 Baylor in the Phillips 66 Big 12 Women's Basketball Championship game on Monday night inside the Chesapeake Energy Arena.
This is the fifth time the Longhorns (28-4) have competed for the Big 12 Tournament title in program history. The Horns move to 6-4 against AP top-25 ranked teams this season. Texas leads the all-time series against the Lady Bears, 57-35.
Sophomore Brooke McCarty and senior Celina Rodrigo were named to the Big 12 All-Tournament team.
"Baylor has the ability to force you to be uncomfortable offensively and do some things that are uncharacteristic," said Texas head coach Karen Aston. "I had hoped we would be more competitive on every possession in this game, and I thought that we were for a longer period of time, but they were the better team tonight."
Higgs added two steals on the night, while Boyette posted nine points and three blocks. McCarty and junior Brianna Taylor each totaled three assists for the game.
As a team, Texas shot 39.4 percent (26-of-66) from the field and 71.4 percent (10-of-14) from the line. Baylor held a 50.9 (29-of-57) shooting percentage for the game.
Baylor (33-1) was led by junior Nina Davis with 22 points.
The Lady Bears took the first six points of the game until a McCarty three-pointer made it 6-3 at the 7:36 mark. Texas utilized its own 6-0 run in the heart of the first to keep the game within three, forcing a Baylor timeout with 2:51 remaining. The teams continued to trade baskets, but a Lady Bear jumper closed the quarter, 16-13 Baylor.
The Lady Bears pushed the margin to 11 (28-17) after a 10-0 spurt in the second, but a junior Kelsey Lang jumper ended the run at the 4:07 mark. Texas got within eight after another basket from Lang with 50 seconds remaining, but a Baylor three closed the half to give the Lady Bears the 36-25 lead.
Baylor opened the second half identical to the first, scoring the first six to push the lead to 42-25 at the 7:39 mark. Texas tried to rally back behind strong jumper play from Higgs, but the Lady Bears drained two from beyond the arc in the final two minutes of the third to jump out, 63-40.
The fourth quarter was highlighted by plays from six different Longhorns, including the first of the game from junior Sara Hattis and junior Brianna Taylor. Texas captured the last five points of the game, but Baylor took the Championship, 79-63.
The NCAA Tournament field of 64 will be announced on Monday, March 14.
