WACO, Texas — Confetti fell on No. 3 Baylor as it celebrated a perfect 18-game stretch in the Big 12 regular season that West Virginia was in no shape to derail.
Juicy Landrum scored a career-high 20 points and Dekeiya Cohen had 18 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks as the Bears used only six players in a dominant 80-54 win Monday.
What coach Kim Mulkey called “an absolutely wonderful night” for Baylor (28-1, 18-0) was tempered somewhat by guard Kristy Wallace, the team’s third-leading scorer and top assist-maker, suffering an apparent knee injury.
“There’s a lot of emotion,” Mulkey said. “The culmination of an undefeated season — the third in the history of this program — and playing only five players tonight. Disciplining two freshmen for very minor things, things other coaches wouldn’t discipline them for, and then Kristy Wallace, yeah, a lot of emotion.”
The Mountaineers (20-10, 8-10) shot just 33 percent, were out-rebounded 52-32 and may have no path to an NCAA big aside from repeating as Big 12 tournament champs.
I think, last year, we were a 6 seed, and we’re a 6 seed here,” said West Virginia coach Mike Carey. “Last year we played at 8:30 (in the first round), and we play at 8:30 this year too. But last year we had Lanay Montgomery and Tynice Martin, and this year we don’t.”
Naomi Davenport led West Virginia with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Teana Muldrow added 16 points.
Baylor was locked in a 21-19 game in the second quarter before separating with a 19-3 run. Ten blocked shots made inside scoring tough for the Mountaineers.
“It seems like every time we took it in the paint, we ate a Nike,” Carey said. “I don’t know if they have enough leather left to play a game next time they play, because we ate enough of it.”