Baylor University's Brittney Griner put on a show Monday night against Kansas State, scoring a Big 12 single game record with 50 points-including her first slam dunk since she was a freshman-to lead the No.1 ranked Lady Bears to a 90-68 victory.
"It means everything to just go out with a bang like that," Griner said. "Got a dunk finally at home, scored 50. I mean there's not a better way to go out."
Her third career dunk against K-State (14-16, 5-13) came with 16:56 left, when the 6-foot-8 two-time All-American got a pass from Kimetria Hayden. Griner made 21 of 29 field goals and eight of 10 free throws, but her 50 points didn't set a Baylor single-game record. Mary Lowry had a 54-point game for the Lady Bears in 1994, before the formation of the Big 12.
"I just came into the game knowing it was going to be emotional," Griner said. "I didn't know how it was going to play out."
After Griner got her 50th point with just over 2 minutes left, Baylor called timeout. She excitedly jumped around and into arms of Hayden, and got a huge ovation as the fans chanted "Thank you seniors!"
All five Baylor seniors in uniform were in the starting lineup: Griner, Hayden, Williams, Brooklyn Pope and Jordan Madden. They were also honored in a postgame ceremony, along with student assistant Shanay Washington, a former Lady Bears guard who didn't play again after sustaining her fifth torn anterior cruciate ligament late last season. It happened three times at Baylor after twice in high school.
With her 3,123 career points, Griner moved into second place on the NCAA career scoring list behind Jackie Stiles, who had 3,393 points for Missouri State from 1997-2001.
Baylor (29-1, 18-0 Big 12) is the first team to twice go through Big 12 play without a loss. The Lady Bears have won a record 46 consecutive Big 12 games, including tournament games, and have won 55 in a row at home.
The defending national champions play their Big 12 tournament opener Saturday in Dallas, and then host early games in the NCAA tournament.
"Postseason, it's here. It's time," Griner said. "It's time to bring it."
