Big 12 Conference Tournament Updates: Baylor takes down Iowa State for the championship

Baylor outscored Iowa State 19-5 in the fourth quarter to seal the Big 12 title, 67-49. Forty-seven of the Bears’ 67 points came from their big three: Kalani Brown, Lauren Cox and Chloe Jackson. The Cylones were held to just 37 percent shooting and 3-of-15 from beyond the arc.

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The 2019 Big 12 Tournament begins Friday, and while one team looks like the clear favorite, there are quite a few exciting matchups to look forward to.

First-seeded Baylor has been a fixture in the Big 12 Championship game, appearing in nine of the last 10 championships bouts and winning eight of them. Second-seeded Iowa State plays the winner of Oklahoma State and Kansas, two teams they dominated during the regular season. The Cyclones could face third-seeded Texas in the Quarterfinals. The two teams split their regular season matchups, which should make for an exciting matchup.

This tournament is Baylor’s to lose. The Bears ran the table in the Big 12, as they did last season, and have won 41 straight conference games. Baylor overwhelmed their opponents this season, with only West Virginia coming within ten points. But they are no strangers to an upset in this tournament, as a sixth-seeded West Virginia team took down the Bears in the championship game in 2017.

Schedule

When: Friday, March 8 — Monday March 11

Where: Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, OK

How to view: Fox College Sports, Fox Sports Net, Fox Sports 1

Bracket

ROUND 1

The Red Raiders used a career-high 40-point game from Brittany Brewer to overwhelm the Oklahoma Sooners, 104-84. Texas Tech shot just under 60 percent as a team to the Sooners’ 45 percent shooting performance.

After finishing last in the conference, Kansas shocked Oklahoma State in the first round, 76-66. The Cowboys never led and tied it once at 2-2 early in the first quarter. Kansas opened up a 23-8 lead after the first quarter. Oklahoma State closed within one point early in the fourth quarter, but the Jayhawks pulled away for the win.

No. 8 Oklahoma vs. No. 9 Texas Tech

Friday, March 8, 7 p.m. ET, Fox College Sports

No. 7 Oklahoma State vs. No. 10 Kansas

Friday, March 8, 9:30 p.m. ET, Fox College Sports

QUARTERFINALS

While they split the season series, Kansas State beat West Virginia in the rubber match convincingly, 72-59. The Wildcats had won their last five games, including over West Virginia and Texas. Peyton Williams and Rachel Ranke combined for 43 points in the win.

Baylor has not lost since December and kept it rolling against Texas Tech, earning a 100-61 victory. Baylor’s defense smothered Texas Tech, holding them to just 35 percent shooting.

Kansas led 12-11 after the first quarter, but Iowa State would take the lead early in the second quarter and never look back. The Cyclones took down the Jayhawks, 75-58.

TCU had a chance to tie the game with three seconds to go at 65 apiece, but Lauren Heard missed the first of two free throws. Texas would go on to win 66-64 despite TCU making seven more 3-point shots.

No. 4 West Virginia vs. No. 5 Kansas State

Saturday, March 9, 12 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Net

No. 1 Baylor vs. No. 9 Texas Tech

Saturday, March 9, 2:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Net

No. 2 Iowa State vs. No. 10 Kansas

Saturday, March 9, 7 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Net

No. 3 Texas vs. No. 6 TCU

Saturday, March 9, 9:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Net

SEMIFINALS

Baylor appears ready to take another Big 12 tournament title, as they won easily over Kansas State, 88-60. Kalani Brown led the way, scoring 24 points in just 21 minutes of play.

Following a 75-68 win over Texas, Iowa State advances to its first Big 12 title game since 2013. Iowa State built an 11-point lead in the first half, but a poor shooting performance in the second half let Texas hang around. Although Texas got within one-point, 59-60, in the middle of they fourth quarter, the Longhorns would never get any closer. The Cyclones closed out the game.

No. 5 Kansas State vs. No. 1 Baylor

Sunday, March 10, 3 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1

No. 2 Iowa State vs. No. 3 Texas

Sunday, March 10, 5:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1

CHAMPIONSHIP

Baylor outscored Iowa State 19-5 in the fourth quarter to seal the Big 12 title, 67-49. Forty-seven of the Bears’ 67 points came from their big three: Kalani Brown, Lauren Cox and Chloe Jackson. The Cylones were held to just 37 percent shooting and 3-of-15 from beyond the arc.

No. 1 Baylor vs. No. 2 Iowa State

Monday March 11, 9 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1