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<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 – April 29, 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 Adds Missouri Guard Aijha Blackwell<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">Three-time All-SEC honoree averaged a double-double last season</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>
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<p class="MsoBodyText" align="left" style="text-align:left"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt">WACO, Texas –
</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Baylor head coach Nicki Collen announced the signing of transfer Aijha Blackwell from Missouri on Friday evening. The junior will have two years of eligibility after earning All-SEC honors in each of her three seasons
at Missouri.<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">“We are incredibly excited to have Aijha wear the green and gold,” Collen said. “Our fans saw firsthand how she can impact the game with her physicality, rebounding and
overall attack mentality when Mizzou played us in December. She has the ability to swing between forward positions and is a true mismatch for opponents with her combination of skill, speed and size. <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">“Aijha wants to continue to develop her all-around game and be pro-ready, and I know we can help her do that. She is a passionate competitor with a big heart and will
be an asset to Baylor and the Waco community. Aijha is interested in helping young kids and academically majors in early childhood education. Hopefully fans will show Aijha, her mother Amy, and the entire Blackwell family some Baylor love.” <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">Blackwell led the Tigers in scoring last season with 15.4 points to go with 13.0 rebounds per game, a mark that ranked second nationally. She shot .495 from the floor
and .338 from 3-point range. <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">As a sophomore, the 6-foot guard averaged 14.5 points and 11.0 rebounds to become the fifth player in program history, and the first since 1997-98, to average a double-double.
Her 11 rebounds were good for second in program history.<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">Blackwell had a breakout freshman campaign, averaging 15.0 points and 7.9 rebounds on the season. She elevated her game in conference play to put up 17.9 points and 8.8
rebounds to go with 3.1 assists.<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">A three-time all-state selection at Whitfield High School, the Berkeley, Mo., native was ranked as the nation’s No. 9 prospect by ESPN HoopGurlz. Blackwell was also selected
to play for the USA U18 National Team, averaging 9.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists during USA’s gold-medal run.<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"><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>
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<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@01D85BFE.FA6FEE90" alt="signature_1415018582"></span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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