Baylor's Griner keeps Oklahoma at bay

BY GUERIN EMIG World Sports Writer
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
2/26/13 at 7:01 AM

NORMAN - Oklahoma can beat Baylor next season. That became clear Monday night at the Lloyd Noble Center, when senior center Brittney Griner missed the last 12 minutes of the first half with two fouls and OU took advantage with a 24-16 run.

Until Griner graduates? No chance.

Baylor won 86-64 Monday because of the 25 minutes Griner did play. She had 15 points, 15 rebounds, seven blocks and five assists.

Her offense clicked when she was on the floor. Witness Baylor's 68-percent shooting (22-of-32) after halftime, when she played 17 minutes.

At the other end, Griner made a mess of OU's offense. The Sooners started the game 2-for-17. Then Griner retired to the bench with her second foul, and OU improved to 8-for-15 to pull within 37-30 at the break.

The second half started. Griner defended Nicole Griffin's first two shots. The Sooners went scoreless on their first nine possessions.

Meanwhile, Griner hit a short baseliner over Griffin, then a short turnaround from the middle of the lane. She drew most of OU's defense and found Kimetria Hayden for a wide-open 3-pointer. She drew another crowd and spotted Jordan Madden for a layup.

Five minutes into the half, Baylor was rolling again, 49-32. OU was behind by 12 or more the rest of the way.

The Sooners (19-8, 9-6 Big 12) showed some guts.

"I thought we really fought for 40 minutes," coach Sherri Coale said. "I'm proud of our guys."

Four of Coale's starters scored in double figures, led by Aaryn Ellenberg's 19.

Short of fouling Griner out, however, there was little they could do to affect the outcome. As OU forward Sharane Campbell put it: "There isn't much you can do when the ball is in her hands."

Or when she's lurking around the rim on defense. Griner accounted for the night's most telling statistic: Baylor's 54-16 advantage in points in the paint.

Griffin, the Sooners' 6-6 center, finally had someone she could score over after Griner's second foul. Ellenberg, Campbell and Morgan Hook could drive within eight feet of the basket and not worry about someone extending an arm and swatting their shot.

Think of the relief it will be next year when those Sooners don't have Griner to worry about. Imagine how it will feel for the Lady Bears, now 26-1 overall, 16-0 in the Big 12 Conference and about to defend their 2012 national championship.

Coach Kim Mulkey referred to Griner's first-half absence Monday as "weathering the storm." She should enjoy the next six weeks, when she can still call on college basketball's most dominant force to rain terror on opponents like OU.

"We came out in the second half and we started the half like we did the game, extended the lead," Mulkey said.

There was one huge reason for that.

"I knew I had to come out and start out strong and attack," Griner said, "do something to give my team a spark."

OU up next

Vs. Kansas 7 p.m. Saturday

TV: FSOK-27

Radio: KAKC am1300

Original Print Headline: Griner proves big over OU

Guerin Emig 918-581-8355
guerin.emig@tulsaworld.com

Associated Images:

Baylor's Brittney Griner defends as Oklahoma's Nicole Griffin eyes the basket Monday in Norman. ALONZO ADAMS / AP

OU guard Aaryn Ellenberg (center) goes to the basket between Baylor forward Chardonae Fuqua' (left) and Brooklyn Pope during the second half Monday. ALONZO ADAMS / Associated Press