10:06am: Talkline with Hoppy Kercheval

West Virginia women topple Baylor to complete stunning Big 12 title run

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — Tynice Martin’s teammates kept insisting No. 2 Baylor couldn’t stop her, and Martin’s coach gave her the green light.

It added up to an MVP performance for the sophomore guard, whose 32 points lifted West Virginia to a 77-66 upset in the Big 12 women’s championship game Monday night, ending the Bears’ six-year title reign.

The Mountaineers (23-10) hadn’t won a conference tournament since 1989 in the Atlantic 10, and this one seemed unlikely as they had to survive No. 19 Oklahoma and No. 12 Texas before facing Baylor (30-3).

“They knew coming down here that we had to win at least one, two games” to gain an NCAA bid, said West Virginia coach Mike Carey. “And I told them after the second game, hell, we might as well win the third one since we’re here.”

Martin, coming a 29-point performance against Texas, made 4-of-9 from 3-point range and 12-of-15 at the free-throw line to end Baylor’s 20-game winning streak at the event. Martin’s three-game scoring average of 27.3 placed her third all-time in the tournament.

“When you have my teammates behind me saying nobody can guard you and my coach saying attack them, you have no choice but to do what they say and to believe in yourself,” she said.

While Baylor’s man-to-man defense had been stellar all season, coach Kim Mulkey regretted not switching to the zone earlier and trying to deter Martin.

“Very few times in 31 years of coaching, I can ever think of one player took her team on her shoulders and won three games and Tynice Martin did that,” Mulkey said. “She did it in every game here. She can just elevate over people and make shots.”

Teana Muldrow added 15 points and nine rebounds and Chania Ray added eight assists for West Virginia, which committed only seven turnovers while forcing 15.

The Mountaineers, who lost by 35 points to Baylor in Morgantown on Jan. 4, took control in the third quarter to lead 65-44. The Bears, who had been allowing only 55 points per game, held WVU to 2-of-13 shooting in the final quarter to draw within six.

“Why didn’t we play with that sense of urgency when the game started?” Mulkey asked. “If you play with that sense of urgency when the game started and you get every loose ball and you’re productive the first five minutes of the game, you might not have lost.”

Kalani Brown scored 19 and Kristy Wallace had 17 points and nine rebounds for Baylor.

Katrina Pardee scored 11 points, helping West Virginia set a championship game record with 11 3-pointers. Lanay Montgomery had six points, seven rebounds and three blocks.

“I think we came down here and had our mindset right and the girls knew it was all or nothing,” said Montgomery, the only senior in WVU’s rotation. “Our backs were against the wall and we had to give it our all. I think we came out and played strong, tough and physical for three games.”

Mulkey praises Carey

Though disappointed Baylor failed to win another championship, Mulkey said she was happy the streak ended against Carey’s team.

“Mike and I just talk the same language. He’s not petty. He just wants to coach,” she said. “He’s not into who his best friends are. He just wants to go out and coach hard-nosed basketball, and I just enjoy visiting with him.

“I think he teaches man-to-man defense as good as anybody that I’ve ever coached against and I just love that. I just love how he challenges his girls, and he coaches ’em just like he coached guys. You know, he’s out there to help ’em win. He doesn’t mind getting on ’em.”





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