Mosby goes cold, but Baylor prevails

Lady Bears' star can't explain recent slump

? Baylor senior Bernice Mosby doesn’t know why her shots haven’t been falling the last two games.

“I’m in the gym working,” Mosby said after No. 14 Baylor held off the Colorado Buffaloes for a 75-67 win on Wednesday night. “I’m trying to fix it. I don’t know why I’ve been off.”

Her teammates don’t even notice.

“She’s not struggling,” junior Angela Tisdale said in Mosby’s defense. “She’s playing really good.”

That’s because Mosby isn’t dwelling on her missed shots while playing defense. However, when informed she was 6-of-19 from the floor against Colorado, Mosby cringed. She was 3-for-14 against Texas last Sunday.

“Maybe I’m concentrating too hard?” said Mosby, who finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds. “Maybe I need to relax? My teammates are stepping up big so I don’t have to worry about my shot.”

The Lady Bears have won five straight and nine of their last 10. They remained in a first-place tie with Oklahoma and Texas A&M, who both won Wednesday night. Baylor hosts the Aggies on Sunday and then visits the Sooners three days later.

Colorado has now lost 22 straight games to ranked opponents. The Buffaloes haven’t beaten a Top 25 team since a 69-59 win over then-No. 24 Baylor on Jan. 7, 2004.

Tisdale scored 18 points for Baylor and Rachel Allison finished with 12.

“We have players who can step up,” Mosby said. “To have that is very good for us in the long run. A team like this can go far in the (NCAA) Tournament.”

Kara Richards tied a season high with 22 points for Colorado before fouling out with 6:09 remaining. She also had 10 rebounds. Jackie McFarland had 20 points and 10 rebounds, moving into fifth place on Colorado’s all-time rebounding list with 729.

The two were a handful down low.

“I really thought our posts were as strong as I’ve seen them,” Colorado coach Kathy McConnell-Miller said. “I thought they did a nice job.”

And that frustrated Baylor coach Kim Mulkey.

“I challenged our post players, ‘You’ve got your hands full with McFarland,”‘ Mulkey said. “Then they go and let Richards have a career night. Our post defense has to get better.”

The Buffaloes took a 53-52 lead on a 3-pointer by Jasmina Ilic with 11:20 remaining, but Baylor answered with a layup by Mosby on its next possession. The Lady Bears wouldn’t lose the lead again.

No. 16 Texas A&M 67, Texas Tech 51

College Station, Texas – Morenike Atunrase had 18 points and five rebounds to lift Texas A&M.

Atunrase recorded her 1,000th career point, going 5-of-8 from the field and 6-of-7 from the free-throw line. Danielle Gant added 13 points and seven rebounds, while A’Quonesia Franklin had 11 points and seven rebounds for the Aggies.

La Toya Micheaux led Texas A&M with career highs of 13 rebounds and five blocks.

Jordan Murphree had 19 points and six rebounds to lead the Lady Raiders. She hit 6-of-14 from the field and made all seven of her free throws.

Missouri 69, Kansas St. 61

Columbia, Mo. – EeTisha Riddle had 26 points and 13 rebounds to lead Missouri.

Alyssa Hollins added 16 points, Tiffany Brooks had 15 and Carlynn Savant had 10 for the Tigers, who shot 43 percent from the field despite going only 2-of-12 from three-point range.

Kansas State had three players in double figures, led by Ashley Sweat with 18.

Oklahoma St. 64, Texas 52

Austin, Texas – Andrea Riley scored 18 points and sparked a decisive second-half run to lift Oklahoma State.

Earnesia Williams led the Longhorns with 12 points, but Texas couldn’t overcome its 22 turnovers.

The Cowgirls trailed 28-24 at halftime, but went on a 22-2 second-half run and took a 41-40 lead on a Riley layup with 10:10 left.