Baylor’s three-time national champion coach notched her 600th win in a worthy fight as the Lady Bears outlasted Texas Tech, 77-62, on Tuesday night at the United Supermarkets Arena.
In doing so, Mulkey became the fastest coach to reach the milestone 600th victory. Her career record of 600-100 means she did it four games quicker than previous record holder, Kentucky’s Adolph Rupp who took 704 games to accomplish the feat.
After the game, Mulkey sat at the dais in the interview room between guards Te’a Cooper and Juicy Landrum, who were sporting white caps with the gold numerals 600. The players’ T-shirts celebrated the 600th victory as well.
But Mulkey was way more interested in paying the praise forward.
“They deserve to have (the hats) on because they’re a part of the 600,” Mulkey said. “I wish and hope that our program can probably mail one to every player I’ve ever coached. Those kids found a way to grind it out tonight. They were better players than I was a coach tonight.”
They were better players than I was a coach tonight.”
Baylor coach Kim Mulkey yells out to her players during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Texas Tech. Associated Press — Brad Tollefson
The second-ranked Lady Bears (24-1, 13-0 Big 12) wrestled in a back-and-forth battle with Texas Tech for three quarters. But when it mattered most, Baylor ran away.
The Lady Bears scored the first seven points of the fourth quarter and held Texas Tech to one field goal in the first five minutes of the period.
“We just tried to execute what (Mulkey) drew up in the huddle,” Landrum said. “She said, ‘This is your shot,’ so I set up to execute that play and make that shot.”
Baylor’s Juicy Landrum shoots during the first half of the team’s game against Texas Tech. Landrum led the Lady Bears with 19 points.
Landrum scored 19 points to lead five Lady Bears in double-digits scoring. Lauren Cox had 13 points, seven rebounds and three blocks, Cooper finished with 11 points and seven assists, and forwards NaLyssa Smith and Queen Egbo had 13 and 12 points respectively.
Texas Tech forward Brittany Brewer had an outstanding game with 19 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks.
“Texas Tech is a much-improved basketball team,” Mulkey said. “If they play like that every night, they’re going to win a lot of these remaining games because they played well.”
Baylor’s DiDi Richards (2) tries to shoot as Texas Tech’s Brittany Brewer (20) and Lexi Gordon (34) defend during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Brad Tollefson) Brad Tollefson
The Lady Raiders (15-9, 4-9) led for most of the third quarter, but guard DiDi Richards found Landrum downcourt for a fast-break layup to tie it late in the period.
The Lady Bears then responded at crunch time by scoring the first five points of the fourth quarter in less than 90 seconds. Cooper hit a 3-pointer and Landrum made an inside basket on an assist from Richards, prompting a Texas Tech timeout.
Landrum hit another jumper just out of the timeout to cap the crucial 7-0 mini run.
“We executed a few things on the offensive end for Juicy, who made some shots,” Mulkey said. “Cooper hit some shots and made the right delivery on some passes.
— WACOTRIB
