2021–22 Baylor Bears women's basketball team

2021–22 Baylor Bears women's basketball
Big 12 regular season champions
NCAA tournament, second round
ConferenceBig 12 Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 11
APNo. 7
Record28–7 (15–3 Big 12)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
  • Tari Cummings (1st season)
  • Tony Greene (1st season)
  • Chloe Pavlech (1st season)
Home arenaFerrell Center
Seasons
2021–22 Big 12 Conference women's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
No. 7 Baylor 15 – 3   .833 28 – 7   .800
No. 10 Iowa State 14 – 4   .778 28 – 7   .800
No. 6 Texas † 13 – 5   .722 29 – 7   .806
No. 22 Oklahoma 12 – 6   .667 25 – 9   .735
Kansas 11 – 7   .611 21 – 10   .677
Kansas State 9 – 9   .500 20 – 13   .606
West Virginia 7 – 11   .389 15 – 15   .500
Texas Tech 4 – 14   .222 11 – 19   .367
Oklahoma State 3 – 15   .167 9 – 20   .310
TCU 2 – 16   .111 6 – 22   .214
† 2022 Big 12 Tournament winner
Rankings from AP poll

The 2021–22 Baylor Bears women's basketball team represented Baylor University in the 2021–22 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Bears, members of the Big 12 Conference, played their home games at the Ferrell Center in Waco, Texas and were led by first-year head coach Nicki Collen.

This was the first season in which the terms "men's" and "women's" were needed to distinguish Baylor's basketball teams. Before this season, Baylor women's basketball had used the nickname "Lady Bears", but on September 3, 2021, the school announced that basketball, soccer, and volleyball, the last three Baylor women's sports still using "Lady", would use only "Bears" from that point forward.[1][2]

Previous season

The Lady Bears finished the 2020–21 season with a record of 28–3, 17–1 in Big 12 to win the Big 12 regular season title. They won the Big 12 women's tournament after defeating TCU, Texas, and West Virginia. In the NCAA tournament, they defeated Jackson State in the first round, Virginia Tech in the second round, and Michigan in the Sweet Sixteen, before falling to UConn in the Elite Eight.

Offseason

On April 25, it was announced that Kim Mulkey had been hired as the new head coach at LSU, after serving in the position at Baylor for 21 years.[3] On May 3, Atlanta Dream head coach Nicki Collen was announced as Mulkey's replacement.[4]

Departures

Baylor Departures
Name Number Pos. Height Year Hometown Reason for Departure
DiDi Richards 2 G 6'1" Senior Converse, TX Graduated, declared for WNBA draft
Trinity Oliver 3 G 5'9" Redshirt Junior Euless, TX Transferred to Washington
Jordyn Oliver 11 F 5'10" Sophomore Prosper, TX Transferred to Duke
Moon Ursin 12 G 5'6" Senior Destrehan, LA Graduated, Transferred to Tulane
Hannah Gusters 20 C 6'5" Freshman Dallas, TX Transferred to LSU
DiJonai Carrington 21 G 5'11" Graduate San Diego, CA Graduated, declared for WNBA draft

Roster

2021–22 Baylor Bears women's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Year Previous school Hometown
F 1 NaLyssa Smith 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Jr East Central HS Converse, TX
G 3 Jordan Lewis 5 ft 7 in (1.7 m) GS Alabama Windermere, FL
C 4 Queen Egbo 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Sr Travis HS Houston, TX
G 10 Jaden Owens 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) Jr UCLA Plano, TX
G 21 Ja'Mee Asberry 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) Sr Oklahoma State Tulsa, OK
G 22 Kamaria McDaniel 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) GS Penn State Inkster, MI
G 24 Sarah Andrews 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) So MacArthur HS Irving, TX
F 25 Kendra Gillispie 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Fr Harding Charter Prep HS Norman, OK
F 51 Caitlin Bickle 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) Sr Cactus Shadows HS Cave Creek, AZ
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster

Schedule and results

Date
time, TV 		Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
October 27, 2021*
7:00 p.m. 		No. 7 Texas A&M–Commerce W 88–52 
 27 – Smith   15 – Smith   6 – Lewis  Ferrell Center (4,052)
Waco, TX
November 3, 2021*
7:00 p.m. 		No. 7 West Texas A&M W 92–37 
 34 – Smith   8 – Smith   6 – Bickle  Ferrell Center (3,971)
Waco, TX
Regular Season
November 9, 2021*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		No. 7 Texas State W 77–70  1–0
  23 – Smith   11 – Egbo   7 – Lewis  Ferrell Center (4,180)
Waco, TX
November 11, 2021*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		No. 7 at UT Arlington W 81–54  2–0
  21 – Smith   16 – Smith   4 – Lewis  College Park Center (2,182)
Arlington, TX
November 15, 2021*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		No. 6 New Orleans W 78–39  3–0
  22 – Egbo   11 – Egbo   6 – Andrews  Ferrell Center (4,109)
Waco, TX
November 21, 2021*
12:00 p.m., BTN 		No. 6 at No. 3 Maryland L 76–79  3–1
  30 – Smith   15 – Smith   15 – Andrews  Xfinity Center (8,395)
College Park, MD
November 25, 2021*
10:00 a.m., FloSports 		No. 6 vs. Fordham
Cancún Challenge 		W 68–45  4–1
  19 – Smith   15 – Smith   6 – Lewis  Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya (103)
Puerto Aventuras, Mexico
November 26, 2021*
10:00 a.m., FloSports 		No. 6 vs. Arizona State
Cancún Challenge 		W 62–52  5–1
  17 – Smith   12 – Smith   5 – Lewis  Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya (155)
Puerto Aventuras, Mexico
November 27, 2021*
12:30 p.m., FloSports 		No. 6 vs. Houston
Cancún Challenge 		W 74–58  6–1
  21 – Smith   19 – Smith   9 – Andrews  Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya (129)
Puerto Aventuras, Mexico
November 30, 2021*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		No. 5 Morehead State W 73–28  7–1
  20 – Andrews   16 – Egbo   4 – Tied  Ferrell Center (3,939)
Waco, TX
December 4, 2021*
7:00 p.m., ESPNU 		No. 5 Missouri
Big 12/SEC Women's Challenge 		W 70–68  8–1
  25 – Smith   17 – Smith   7 – Lewis  Ferrell Center (4,160)
Waco, TX
December 8, 2021*
11:00 a.m., ESPN+ 		No. 5 Alcorn State W 94–40  9–1
  25 – Smith   10 – Smith   6 – Bickle  Ferrell Center (5,838)
Waco, TX
December 19, 2021*
12:00 p.m., ESPN 		No. 5 vs. No. 13 Michigan
Naismith Women's Challenge 		L 68–74 OT 9–2
  21 – Smith   14 – Smith   7 – Lewis  Mohegan Sun Arena (8,204)
Uncasville, CT
December 29, 2021*
6:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		No. 10 North Texas W 86–65  10–2
  28 – Smith   11 – Tied   7 – Lewis  Ferrell Center (4,158)
Waco, TX
January 2, 2022
1:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		No. 10 at Kansas State L 59–68  10–3
(0–1) 		 14 – Tied   7 – Smith   4 – Lewis  Bramlage Coliseum (2,393)
Manhattan, KS
January 5, 2022
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		No. 14 TCU Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols from Baylor Ferrell Center 
Waco, TX
January 12, 2022
6:00 p.m., BSOK 		No. 14 at No. 23 Oklahoma L 77–83  10–4
(0–2) 		 30 – Smith   11 – Lewis   5 – Lewis  Lloyd Noble Center (2,002)
Norman, OK
January 16, 2022
2:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		No. 14 Kansas W 82–79  11–4
(1–2) 		 25 – Andrews   10 – Tied   8 – Lewis  Allen Fieldhouse (1,688)
Lawrence, KS
January 19, 2022
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		No. 15т Oklahoma State W 67–49  12–4
(2–2) 		 19 – Egbo   13 – Smith   7 – Lewis  Ferrell Center (4,078)
Waco, TX
January 23, 2022
2:00 p.m., ESPN2 		No. 15т No. 7 Iowa State W 87–61  13–4
(3–2) 		 24 – Lewis   21 – Egbo   6 – Lewis  Ferrell Center (4,541)
Waco, TX
January 26, 2022
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		No. 11 at Texas Tech W 88–80  14–4
(4–2) 		 23 – Smith   9 – Smith   3 – Asberry  United Supermarkets Arena (4,504)
Lubbock, TX
January 29, 2022
1:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		No. 11 at West Virginia W 87–54  15–4
(5–2) 		 20 – Tied   10 – Lewis   11 – Lewis  WVU Coliseum (3,836)
Morgantown, WV
February 2, 2022
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		No. 9 No. 18 Oklahoma L 77–78  15–5
(5–3) 		 23 – Andrews   12 – Smith   6 – Andrews  Ferrell Center (4,274)
Waco, TX
February 4, 2022
7:00 p.m., ESPN2 		No. 9 No. 13 Texas
Rescheduled from January 9, 2022 		W 75–63  16–5
(6–3) 		 25 – Smith   8 – Smith   8 – Andrews  Ferrell Center (5,435)
Waco, TX
February 6, 2022
3:00 p.m., ESPN2 		No. 9 at No. 13 Texas W 63–55  17–5
(7–3) 		 28 – Smith   13 – Smith   4 – Andrews  Frank Erwin Center (5,300)
Austin, TX
February 9, 2022
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		No. 10 Kansas State W 95–50  18–5
(8–3) 		 24 – Lewis   16 – Egbo   7 – Tied  Ferrell Center (4,181)
Waco, TX
February 12, 2022
5:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		No. 10 West Virginia W 75–57  19–5
(9–3) 		 30 – Smith   12 – Tied   7 – Andrews  Ferrell Center (5,240)
Waco, TX
February 16, 2022
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		No. 7 TCU W 80–55  20–5
(10–3) 		 22 – Egbo   13 – Egbo   9 – Andrews  Ferrell Center (4,660)
Waco, TX
February 19, 2022
1:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		No. 7 at TCU W 78–59  21–5
(11–3) 		 23 – Smith   12 – Egbo   7 – Andrews  Schollmaier Arena (2,330)
Fort Worth, TX
February 23, 2022
6:30 p.m., ESPN+ 		No. 5 at Oklahoma State W 65–58  22–5
(12–3) 		 19 – Smith   15 – Smith   4 – Andrews  Gallagher-Iba Arena (423)
Stillwater, OK
February 26, 2022
2:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		No. 5 Kansas W 85–77  23–5
(13–3) 		 33 – Smith   16 – Smith   8 – Lewis  Ferrell Center (5,639)
Waco, TX
February 28, 2022
6:00 p.m., ESPN2 		No. 5 at No. 8 Iowa State W 87–62  24–5
(14–3) 		 28 – Smith   20 – Smith   6 – Tied  Hilton Coliseum (13,907)
Ames, IA
March 6, 2022
2:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		No. 5 Texas Tech W 82–57  25–5
(15–3) 		 35 – Smith   12 – Smith   6 – Tied  Ferrell Center (5,110)
Waco, TX
Big 12 Tournament (2-1)
March 11, 2022
1:30 p.m., ESPNU/ESPN+ 		(1) No. 4 vs. (9) Oklahoma State
Quarterfinals 		W 76–36  26–5
  16 – Asberry   13 – Egbo   5 – Lewis  Municipal Auditorium (3,642)
Kansas City, MO
March 12, 2022
12:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		(1) No. 4 vs. (4) No. 21 Oklahoma
Semifinals 		W 91–76  27–5
  37 – Smith   11 – Smith   6 – Lewis  Municipal Auditorium 
Kansas City, MO
March 13, 2022
12:00 p.m., ESPN2 		(1) No. 4 vs. (3) No. 7 Texas
Championship 		L 58–67  27–6
  21 – Smith   10 – Smith   4 – Lewis  Municipal Auditorium (3,442)
Kansas City, MO
NCAA tournament (1–1)
March 18, 2022*
3:00 p.m., ESPN2 		(2 W) No. 7 (15 W) Hawaii
First Round 		W 89–49  28–6
  23 – Lewis   14 – Tied   6 – Andrews  Ferrell Center 
Waco, TX
March 20, 2022
5:00 p.m., ESPN2 		(2 W) No. 7 (10 W) South Dakota
Second Round 		L 47–61  28–7
  13 – Egbo   8 – Tied   5 – Tied  Ferrell Center (3,684)
Waco, TX
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Central Time.

Rankings

See also: 2021–22 NCAA Division I women's basketball rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
т = Tied with team above or below
Week
PollPre12345678910111213141516171819Final
AP76665551010141415т11910744477
Coaches88*87659101313161412111075451111

*Coaches did not release a week 1 poll.

References

  1. ^ Quillen, Kurtis (September 3, 2021). "Baylor University to drop 'Lady Bears' nickname from women's teams". Temple, TX: KCEN-TV. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
  2. ^ Voepel, Mechelle (September 4, 2021). "Baylor women's hoops drops 'Lady' from team name, to be known as Bears". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
  3. ^ Mather, Victor (April 26, 2021). "Kim Mulkey Leaves Baylor for L.S.U." The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  4. ^ "Baylor names WNBA's Collen to replace Mulkey for Lady Bears". AP News. May 3, 2021. Retrieved September 15, 2021.