Oklahoma's Big 12 Run Ends in Semis

Saturday, March 12

Municipal Auditorium

12 p.m.

University of Oklahoma

24-8,12-6Big 12

Baylor

27-5,15-3Big 12

Oklahoma

Baylor

Photo by: Ty Russell

March 12, 2022 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Highlights Box Score Photo Gallery

By: OU Athletics Communications

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — NaLyssa Smith had a career-high 37 points as No. 4 Baylor routed No. 21 Oklahoma 91-76 in the first semifinal of the Phillips 66 Big 12 Women's Basketball Championship Saturday.

Smith's previous career high was 35 earlier this year vs. Texas Tech.

The Bears used a 28-16 advantage in the third quarter to blow open a close game. Smith accounted for 14 points in the quarter, giving her 33 for the game.

The Bears will face the winner of Saturday's second game between No. 10 Iowa State and No. 7 Texas.

Baylor (27-5) also got a career-high 21 points from Caitlin Bickle. Smith pulled down 11 rebounds. Queen Egbo had 11 points.

Oklahoma (24-8) was led by Madi Williams with 33 points. Taylor Robertson added 17.

Baylor pulled away quickly in the second half, scoring the first seven points of the third quarter and led 61-42 after Sarah Andrews hit a 3-pointer and Smith converted an alley-oop layup.

The lead ballooned to 24 points before Oklahoma finished the quarter on a 9-6 run. But it was too big of a deficit to overcome.

Baylor's first half was all about its bigs, as Smith led all scorers with 19 points and Bickle added 15. Williams had 15 points to lead Oklahoma, which also got 11 points from Robertson.

The Sooners now wait for Sunday's NCAA Selection Show at 7 p.m. CT on ESPN to learn who they'll play next. The 21st-ranked Sooners were tabbed as the No. 16 overall seed by the committee in its final reveal a few weeks ago. If the Sooners hold onto that top-16 spot, they would host in the first two rounds of the NCAA Championship.