<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:x="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:excel" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)">
<!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style><![endif]--><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Impact;
panose-1:2 11 8 6 3 9 2 5 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:inherit;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 2 2 2 2 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
h1
{mso-style-link:"Heading 1 Char";
margin:0in;
text-align:justify;
page-break-after:avoid;
layout-grid-mode:char;
font-size:16.0pt;
font-family:"Impact",sans-serif;
font-weight:normal;
text-decoration:underline;}
h2
{mso-style-link:"Heading 2 Char";
margin:0in;
text-align:center;
page-break-after:avoid;
layout-grid-mode:char;
font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Impact",sans-serif;
font-weight:normal;
font-style:italic;}
p.MsoBodyText, li.MsoBodyText, div.MsoBodyText
{mso-style-link:"Body Text Char";
margin:0in;
text-align:justify;
layout-grid-mode:char;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
span.Heading1Char
{mso-style-name:"Heading 1 Char";
mso-style-link:"Heading 1";
font-family:"Impact",sans-serif;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.Heading2Char
{mso-style-name:"Heading 2 Char";
mso-style-link:"Heading 2";
font-family:"Impact",sans-serif;
font-style:italic;}
span.BodyTextChar
{mso-style-name:"Body Text Char";
mso-style-link:"Body Text";
font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style>
</head>
<body lang="EN-US" link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style="word-wrap:break-word">
<div class="WordSection1">
<h1 align="right" style="text-align:right"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;text-decoration:none">BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – March 8, 2022<o:p></o:p></span></b></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<h1 align="left" style="text-align:left"><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;text-decoration:none">Baylor WBB’s Collen Named Naismith Coach of the Year Semifinalist<o:p></o:p></span></b></h1>
<h2 align="left" style="text-align:left"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;font-style:normal">First-year head coach led Bears to 12<sup>th</sup>-consecutive Big 12 championship</span></b><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;font-style:normal"><o:p></o:p></span></b></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">For more information contact:
</span></b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Krista Pirtle, 254-447-8610,
</span><a href="mailto:Krista_Pirtle@baylor.edu"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Krista_Pirtle@baylor.edu</span></a><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">
</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" align="left" style="text-align:left"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt">ATLANTA –</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> Baylor head coach Nicki Collen is one of 10 coaches in the running for the 2018 Werner Ladder Naismith Women’s
College Coach of the Year honor, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced Wednesday.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" align="left" style="text-align:left"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" align="left" style="text-align:left"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">In her first year at the helm, the Bears are 25-5 and recently clinched their 12<sup>th</sup>-straight regular-season Big 12 championship. Baylor became the first team
since Texas Tech in 2000 to start league play 0-2 and end up winning the conference.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" align="left" style="text-align:left"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" align="left" style="text-align:left"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Collen has done so with the “right nine.” With only nine student-athletes on the roster, eight of whom are on scholarship, the Bears have used a rotation of seven most
of the season. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" align="left" style="text-align:left"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" align="left" style="text-align:left"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Baylor is top-10 nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio (7<sup>th</sup>, 1.38), assists per game (9<sup>th</sup>, 17.9) and field goal percentage (9<sup>th</sup>, 46.1).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" align="left" style="text-align:left"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" align="left" style="text-align:left"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Collen’s system features more perimeter shooting, something the Bears weren’t known for in recent history. Baylor is currently top-three in the Big 12 in 3-pointers made
per game at 6.8. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" align="left" style="text-align:left"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" align="left" style="text-align:left"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">For the latest news on the Baylor women’s basketball team all season long, follow its official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts: @BaylorWBB.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" align="left" style="text-align:left"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="416" style="width:312.0pt;border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody>
<tr style="height:16.0pt">
<td width="160" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:120.0pt;background:#ED7D31;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:16.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:black">Full Name</span></b><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
</td>
<td width="128" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:96.0pt;background:#ED7D31;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:16.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:black">College<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
</td>
<td width="128" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:96.0pt;background:#ED7D31;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:16.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:black">Conference<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:16.0pt">
<td width="160" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:120.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:16.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"inherit",serif;color:black">Dawn Staley<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td width="128" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:96.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:16.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"inherit",serif;color:black">South Carolina<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td width="128" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:96.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:16.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"inherit",serif;color:black">SEC<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:16.0pt">
<td width="160" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:120.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:16.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"inherit",serif;color:black">Jeff Judkins<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td width="128" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:96.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:16.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"inherit",serif;color:black">BYU<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td width="128" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:96.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:16.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"inherit",serif;color:black">WCC<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:16.0pt">
<td width="160" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:120.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:16.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"inherit",serif;color:black">Jeff Walz<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td width="128" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:96.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:16.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"inherit",serif;color:black">Louisville<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td width="128" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:96.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:16.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"inherit",serif;color:black">ACC<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:16.0pt">
<td width="160" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:120.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:16.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"inherit",serif;color:black">Jennie Baranczyk<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td width="128" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:96.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:16.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"inherit",serif;color:black">Oklahoma<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td width="128" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:96.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:16.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"inherit",serif;color:black">Big 12<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:16.0pt">
<td width="160" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:120.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:16.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"inherit",serif;color:#0D0D0D">Kelly Rae Finley<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td width="128" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:96.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:16.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"inherit",serif;color:black">Florida<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td width="128" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:96.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:16.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"inherit",serif;color:black">SEC<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:16.0pt">
<td width="160" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:120.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:16.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"inherit",serif;color:black">Kim Barnes-Arico<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td width="128" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:96.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:16.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"inherit",serif;color:black">Michigan<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td width="128" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:96.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:16.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"inherit",serif;color:black">Big Ten<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:16.0pt">
<td width="160" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:120.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:16.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"inherit",serif;color:black">Kim Mulkey<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td width="128" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:96.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:16.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"inherit",serif;color:black">LSU<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td width="128" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:96.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:16.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"inherit",serif;color:black">SEC<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:16.0pt">
<td width="160" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:120.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:16.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"inherit",serif;color:black">Nicki Collen<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td width="128" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:96.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:16.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"inherit",serif;color:black">Baylor<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td width="128" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:96.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:16.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"inherit",serif;color:black">Big 12<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:16.0pt">
<td width="160" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:120.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:16.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"inherit",serif;color:black">Tara VanDerveer<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td width="128" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:96.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:16.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"inherit",serif;color:black">Stanford<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td width="128" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:96.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:16.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"inherit",serif;color:black">Pac-12<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:16.0pt">
<td width="160" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:120.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:16.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"inherit",serif;color:black">Wes Moore<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td width="128" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:96.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:16.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"inherit",serif;color:black">NC State<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td width="128" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:96.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:16.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"inherit",serif;color:black">ACC<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">www.BaylorBears.com<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" align="center" style="text-align:center"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:#0A5026">Krista Pirtle</span></b><span style="color:#0A5026"> </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black">| Associate Director of Athletics Communications</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;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="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black">C: 254-447-8610</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:3.0pt;color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.baylorbears.com/" title="http://www.baylorbears.com/"><span style="color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="159" height="44" style="width:1.6562in;height:.4583in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01D832E8.2ECBA890" alt="signature_1415018582"></span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>