Baylor Routs Oklahoma to Advance to Big 12 Championship Game

The Bears avenged a pair of regular season losses to the Sooners at the Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City.

KANSAS CITY — Baylor topped Oklahoma when it mattered the most.

Jennie Baranczyk’s Sooners (24-8 overall, 12-6 in Big 12 play) swept the regular season series against the Bears, but they couldn’t turn it into a three-peat on Saturday afternoon in Kansas City.

Behind a dominant 37-point performance from NaLyssa Smith, the top-seeded Bears blew out OU 91-76 at Municipal Auditorium to advance to the 2022 Big 12 Championship.

"I think there were moments today that we feel really good about, and there's moments today that we don't," Baranczyk said after the game. "Obviously Baylor is an incredible team... They have a lot of experience. Obviously a lot of experience (in the Big 12 Tournament), too."

The Bears (26-6, 15-3) led for a majority of the first half in a physical battle before asserting themselves in the third quarter.

Led by 14 third-quarter points from Smith, the Bears outscored Oklahoma 28-16 in the period.

"NaLyssa Smith is one of the best players in the country," Baranczyk said. "I don't know what we can do with her."

NaLyssa Smith :: Scott Weaver / Big 12 Conference

The third quarter was a microcosm of the whole game for the Sooners, as Baylor shot efficiently from the floor while turning Oklahoma over at a high rate.

Baranczyk’s team turned the ball over 13 times compared to the Bears’ two lone miscues, and Baylor cashed in for 25 points off of OU’s mistakes on the other end.

"I think a big part of that is, again, the hesitation on where those turnovers come from," Baranczyk said. "The pick six opportunities. Then also our transition defense. 

"... I thought we did a great job yesterday in terms of our transition defense. Today they got us. We need to do a better job of getting back in the paint."

Skylar Vann :: Scott Weaver / Big 12 Conference

The defeat dealt a blow to OU’s chances of landing a top-four seed in the NCAA Tournament, which would mean the Sooners would get to host the first two rounds of the Big Dance at the Lloyd Noble Center.

Entering the Big 12 Tournament, the Sooners sat as the No. 21-ranked team in the country, but still Baranczyk said the Sooners have a strong case to host in the NCAA Tournament.

"Our resume is pretty good, and I think the strength of this conference is really good," Baranczyk said. "Obviously this is my first year being in this conference, but there have been some great battles, some great games.

"... I think we have earned it. I think our non-conference strength of schedule was really good, and I think the Big 12's non-conference strength of schedules were really good."

Trailing for most of the contest, the senior duo of Madi Williams and Taylor Robertson did everything they could to drag their team back into the game.

Madi Williams :: Scott Weaver / Big 12 Conference

Williams paced the Sooners with 33 points on 13-of-23 shooting, also adding eight rebounds and two assists.

Robertson knocked down 4-of-8 attempts from 3-point range, and finished with 17 total points for the contest.

Outside of Williams and Robertson, the rest of the Oklahoma team combined to shoot just 24.2 percent from the field. Additionally, the Sooners bench was outscored 21-10 by their Baylor counterparts, allowing the Bears to pull away.

The Sooners now await their NCAA Tournament assignment ahead of Selection Sunday.

ESPN’s Selection Show will air on Sunday night at 7 p.m., and the first round of the tournament will begin on March 18.

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