#10 Baylor Starts Fast, Topples #5 Texas

The #10 Baylor University Bears started fast and didn’t let up as they defeated the #5 University of Texas Longhorns, 85-to-79.  Texas played without point guard Rori Harmon, who is out for the season with a torn ACL, and Taylor Jones, who is sidelined with a hip injury. 

The vibe in the Moody Center was not the same as Rori Harmon moved to the bench on crutches.  Texas head coach Vic Schaefer appeared unsettled as he stepped onto the floor, and was seen madding last-minutes note by cell phone flashlight during the players introductions.

The real effects of Harmon’s absence were seen in the first three minutes as Madison Booker, Harmon’s backfill, was subbed-out and Baylor lead 12-to-2.  Baylor held on to that margin, leading 23-to-15 at the end of the first period.  The Bears shot 77% from the field to Texas 43%. 

“Our kids played really hard today.  I’m awfully proud of them,” said Schaefer.  “We got punched early, and that’s my fault.  I didn’t, obviously, have our team ready to play.  It took us a moment to deal with that.”

“Right now, defense is really a problem for us.  When you take your best defender (Harmon) off the floor and then you take your shot blocker (Jones) off the floor, it changes you a little bit.  You’re obviously not the same team.”

Defense, and turnovers, were Texas’ nemesis.  Overall, Baylor shot 57% from the field and 45% (9-for-20) from distance.  The Bears score 44 points in the paint, without having a player taller that 6’-3” touch the floor.  Baylor also scored 30 points from Texas’s 23 turnovers.  Booker and Shaylee Gonzales committed five turnovers, each. 

“I though Amina and Booker were just so special.  Shay and Shaylee, that’s them every day.  And that’s their standard, and that’s the standard at Texas,” said Schaefer. 

Booker led all players with 25 points (9-for-18), eight assists and seven rebounds.  Amina Muhammad put up 17 points (6-for-9) and pulled down five rebounds.  Shay Holle and Gonzales tallied 13 and 12 points, respectfully, each playing 40 minutes. 

Baylor had five player score in double-digits, led by Jada Walker with 19 points (8-for-13).  Dre’una Edward put 18 points (8-for-12), pulled down eight rebounds, and made six assists.