No. 5 Baylor WBB Readies for Nationally Televised Contest vs. No. 13 Michigan at Mohegan Sun

[Pirtle, Krista]

Media Link for the 2021-22 Baylor Women’s Basketball Season: https://baylorbea.rs/BaylorWBB2122

[BU Logo][wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw%3D%3D]​
5/5 BAYLOR BEARS (9-1)
Location: Waco,Texas
Conference/Affiliation: Big 12
Head Coach: Nicki Collen<https://baylorbears.com/staff.aspx?staff=662> (Marquette, 1998)

Roster<https://baylorbears.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster> | Stats<https://baylorbears.com/sports/womens-basketball/stats> | Game Notes (PDF)<https://baylorbears.com/documents/2021/12/17/BU_WBB_Game_Notes_11_UM_12_19_21.pdf>
BAYLOR (9-1) vs. MICHIGAN (10-1)
December 19, 2021 • 12 p.m. CT
Uncasville, Conn. • Mohegan Sun Arena

LIVE STATS: Stat Broadcast<http://baylorstats.com/>
WATCH: ESPN
Talent: Eric Frede (pxp), Rebecca Lobo (analyst), Andraya Carter (reporter)
LISTEN: ESPN 1660AM, 92.3FM, BaylorBears.com<https://baylorbears.com/watch/?Live=64>
Talent: Derek Smith (pxp), Sophia Young-Malcolm<https://baylorbears.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/coaches/sophia-young-malcolm/1726> (Analyst)

Baylor Social Media: [auto twitter icon] <http://twitter.com/baylorwbb> [wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw%3D%3D] ​ [instagram png] <http://instagram.com/baylorwbb> [wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw%3D%3D] ​ [Facebook PNG] <http://facebook.com/baylorwbb> [wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw%3D%3D] ​
[Michigan][wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw%3D%3D]​
13/11 MICHIGAN WOLVERINES (10-1)
Location: Ann Arbor, Mich.
Conference/Affiliation: Big Ten
Head Coach: Kim Barnes Arico (Monclair State, 1993)

Roster<https://mgoblue.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster> | Stats<https://mgoblue.com/sports/womens-basketball/stats> | Game Notes (PDF)<https://mgoblue.com/news/2021/12/16/womens-basketball-michigan-set-for-sweet-16-rematch-against-no-5-baylor.aspx>

GOING FOR THREE UP, THREE DOWN
• Every time Baylor Women’s Basketball has faced off against Michigan (BU is 2-0), it’s been in the NCAA Tournament. The Bears handled the Wolverines in the 2018 NCAA Second Round before last year’s instant classic that saw the Bears prevail in overtime, 78-75, in the Sweet 16.
• NaLyssa Smith went a perfect 11-for-11 from the floor for a game-high 24 points in BU’s win.
• Sunday marks the third game in the series between these two teams but every game will be nationally televised as this weekend’s game will be on ESPN as the opening contest of the Basketball Hall of Fame’s Women’s Showcase at Mohegan Sun Arena.

FUTURE LOTTERY PICK
• It’s no surprise that NaLyssa Smith will be a lottery pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft this spring. The only question is whether the 6-4 forward will go first or second.
• While Smith’s play speaks for itself in her quest to be the first overall pick (and second Bear to do so) - she’s one of three WBB players in the country averaging 20+ points and 10+ boards per game - but the draft order could help clear up the mystery.
• Between Baylor’s game vs. Michigan and UConn’s contest vs. Louisville - all part of the HOF Showcase at Mohegan Sun Arena - ESPN will air the WNBA Draft Lottery as the top four picks will be decided among Indiana, Atlanta, Washington and Dallas.
• Of Baylor’s 21 WNBA Draft picks, nine of them have gone in the first round. Four have been the first four: Brittney Griner (1st, 2013), Odyssey Sims (2nd, 2014), Lauren Cox (3rd, 2020), Sophia Young (4th, 2006).

WALKING DOUBLE-DOUBLE
• NaLyssa Smith leads the country with nine double-doubles on the season. Keep in mind, the Bears have only played 10 games. The senior has recorded nine-straight double-doubles.
• During this streak, Smith has five games with a minimum of 15 rebounds. She leads the country in rebounds per game (13.2).
• Smith is currently ninth in Baylor history with 33 career double-doubles. She’s two away from tying for seventh alongside Lauren Cox (2016-20) and LaNita Luckey (1988-92).

LET IT FLY
• The calendar hadn’t even flipped to December yet before the Bears tied for second in program history with 13 3-pointers made in their blowout win over Morehead State (11/30).
• Baylor’s program record for triples made came on Dec. 18, 2019 against Arkansas State when Juicy Landrum caught fire and set an NCAA record with 14 triples. Besides that record-setting performance, BU hadn’t drained more than a dozen shots from deep since 2011.
• BU’s record for 3-point attempts in a season came in 2013-14 when the Bears attempted 596 3s.
• From that season to 2020-21, Baylor made 10 or more 3-pointers in a game only five times across a total of 281 games (1.78 percent).
• This season alone - in Nicki Collen’s new offensive system - the Bears are letting it fly from the perimeter. Twice in 10 games BU has sank double-digit triples.
• Prior to this season, ony 14 Bears had made six or more 3s in a game. Two of them had done it multiple times (Makenzie Robertson, 2012, 2014) and Jennifer King (1990, 1991, 1993).
• Sarah Andrews and Ja’Mee Asberry have already joined the club this season. Andrews went 6-for-8 against Morehead State from deep and Asberry fired off 6-of-8 against Alcorn State.

CLUB 17K
• Jordan Lewis surpassed the 1,700 career-points mark last week in Baylor’s win over Alcorn State. The sixth-year graduate transfer left Alabama as the Crimson Tide’s fifth all-time leader in assists (510) and ninth all-time leader with 1,581 points.
• Lewis is No. 16 among active players for most points scored in her career with 1,701.
• She’s third among active players with 556 career assists.

Krista Pirtle | Associate Director of Athletics Communications
Department of Athletics | Baylor University
C: 254-447-8610

[signature_1415018582]<http://www.baylorbears.com/>

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