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<p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><a name="OLE_LINK11"></a><a name="OLE_LINK12"></a><a name="OLE_LINK23"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">BAYLOR
ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – </span></b></span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">March 1, 2021</span></b></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><u><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Impact",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></u></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><a name="OLE_LINK9"></a><a name="OLE_LINK10"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK9"><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Baylor
WBB’s Richards Named to Lieberman Award ‘Final Five’</span></b></span></a></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK10"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK9"><u><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Impact",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></u></span></span></span></span></p>
<span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK9"></span><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK10"></span>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Senior Lady Bear in contention for nation’s top point guard award</span></b></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Impact",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">For more information contact: </span></b></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Kyle
Robarts, 254-405-9492, </span></span></span><a href="mailto:Kyle_Robarts@baylor.edu"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#954F72">Kyle_Robarts@baylor.edu</span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"></span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Richards head shot</span></b></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">:
</span></span></span><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/ve65a3ms8np3r4e/BU_WBB_Richards_DiDI_20-21.JPG?dl=0"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">https://www.dropbox.com/s/ve65a3ms8np3r4e/BU_WBB_Richards_DiDI_20-21.JPG?dl=0</span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"></span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><strong><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">WACO, Texas – </span></strong></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Baylor
senior point guard DiDi Richards earned a spot on the Naismith/WBCA Nancy Lieberman Award ‘Final Five’ list, Monday. The Lieberman Award, in its 22<sup>nd</sup> year, recognizes the top point guard in women’s NCAA Division I college basketball.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Richards has started 19 games at point guard for the No 7-ranked Lady
Bears, and it marks the first year at the position for the fourth-year player. A Cypress, Texas, native, Richards had played at the No. 2 or No. 3 guard spot for the Lady Bears prior to this season.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">The transition has been seamless, and Richards leads the Big 12 and ranks
2<sup>nd</sup> in the NCAA in assists per game at 7.0. Her 3.18:1 assist-to-turnover ratio also leads the Big 12 and ranks eighth nationally.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Couple her distribution numbers with her perimeter defense ability, and
Richards stands in a class of her own. She was named both the WBCA and Naismith National Defensive Player of the Year in 2020 and is a finalist for the Naismith defensive honor once again in 2021.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Richards averages 7.2 points per contest, ranks third on the team with
30 steals, and according to Synergy, is holding defensive assignments to 29-percent shooting on the season. She has five games this season with double-digit assists, and in 12 of the last 14 contests, Richards has at least six assists.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">She is seven assists shy (519) of passing Kristy Wallace (525) for third
all-time on the BU career list for assists. At her 7.0 assists-per-game pace, she has a chance to become third all-time in tonight’s game vs. Texas at 6 p.m. on ESPN2.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">The Lady Bears have had one Lieberman Award winner in their history with
Odyssey Sims taking home the hardware after the 2013-14 season. Alexis Jones was a top-10 finalist in 2016-17 and Te’a Cooper was a ‘Final Five’ selection last season for Baylor.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Fans can contribute to Richards’ chances of winning beginning March 5-19,
by voting for their selections of the Naismith WBCA/Starting Five Awards. The voters will have a chance to vote for their favorite candidates of the Lieberman, Drysdale, Miller, McClain and Leslie Awards for point guard, shooting guard, small forward, power
forward and center, respectively.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">The winners of the Starting Five are generally announced the week of
the NCAA Final Four, however, with COVID-19, the dates and times have not been set for the recognition of the winners.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">www.BaylorBears.com</span></span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black">___________________________________</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#006132">Kyle Robarts</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#006132"> </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black">| Associate Director, Athletics Communications (WBB, WTEN)</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black">Department of Athletics | Baylor University</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black">O: 254-710-3042 | C: 254-405-9492</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:4.0pt;color:black"> </span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://baylorbears.com/"><span style="color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="160" height="44" style="width:1.6666in;height:.4583in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01D70E92.81335CC0"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
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