This past Tuesday night, April 3, the Baylor Women’s Basketball team won the Division 1 NCAA championship. The Lady Bears became the first NCAA basketball team ever to win 40 games in one season. This victory was Baylor’s second championship victory, their last one being in 2005. With the help from standout post, junior Brittney Griner, Baylor was able to top the Notre Dame Fighting Irish by 19 points, with a final score of 80-61.
The Fighting Irish were in the Division 1 NCAA championship for the second year in a row, unable to convert their dreams into reality. They lost to Texas A&M last year by a mere 6 points. Notre Dame could not figure out how to stop Griner and the rest of the Lady Bears, which ultimately cost them the trophy.
Notre Dame’s 6’2″, Devereaux Peters, was no match for Griner, towering 6’8″, and was forced to sit on the bench due to foul trouble early in the first half. This hurt the Fighting Irish because Peters was the best match-up with the Lady Bear’s center, and she was one of Notre Dame’s go-to scorers. Without Peters on the floor, junior Skylar Diggins knew that she had to step up her play in order to keep the game close. Diggins lead the Fighting Irish in scoring, with 20 points, but need help from her teammates, such as Natalie Novosel— who went 0 for 11 from the field— to win the much sought after championship.
Another factor that greatly played into the Lady Bear’s victory is that they out rebounded the Fighting Irish 46-27. Baylor was able to exploit these extra opportunities by getting many second and third chances on the offensive end for easy layups.
Sophomore Odyssey Sims was faced with the challenge of guarding Notre Dame’s Diggins, and successfully did so, along with adding 19 points on the offensive end. Along with her 26 points, Griner added 13 rebounds and 5 blocks. She will return to Baylor for her senior year next year, in hopes to recreating her record breaking season this past season.
With their 40-0 record, the not only did the Lady Bears become the first NCAA team to win 40 games in one season, but also set a NCAA women’s single season record of points scored — 3,136 points. With Baylor returning all five starters for their 2012-13 season, there are high hopes for another record breaking year ending with a NCAA championship.
