Brittney Griner has 14 pounds, 14 rebounds as No. 8 Baylor routes Louisiana-Lafayette 89-42

Griner double-double leads Bears past La-Lafayette

WACO, Texas — Freshman Brittney Griner had 14 points and 14 rebounds, and her five blocks keyed a stingy defense that allowed No. 8 Baylor to rout Louisiana-Lafayette 89-42 on Saturday in the World Vision Basketball Challenge.

Morgan Medlock added 14 points and nine rebounds for Baylor (5-1). Ashley Field added 13 points and Melissa Jones had 10.

Alexis Green had nine points and Jessica Sigue eight for the Ragin’ Cajuns (0-5).

Griner was dominant on both ends during a 17-0 run that put Baylor in control midway through the first half. She had six points and six rebounds during the spurt, and the attention she commanded in the low post repeatedly freed up teammates for easy baskets inside.

The 6-foot-8 star only played 19 minutes, but the Lady Bears outscored the Ragin’ Cajuns 45-15 with her on the court. They were 4 of 29 shooting with their closest bucket from 18 feet.

Griner also frustrated forward Mercedes Johnson, the Ragin’ Cajuns’ top scorer at 17 points per game. Johnson went scoreless in 13 minutes, with no rebounds, four turnovers and four fouls.

“She affects the way everybody plays,” said Louisiana-Lafayette coach Errol Rogers. “She’s going to change the face of the women’s game.”

Nine of the Lady Bears’ first 10 buckets came in the paint, and Griner’s 10-foot baseline jumper was their only basket from outside until Melissa Jones’ 3-pointer with 10:59 left.

Things didn’t get much better for the Ragin’ Cajuns after Griner sat down at the 11-minute mark. The Lady Bears closed the half with an 18-3 run to take a 43-13 lead at the half.

Baylor outrebounded Louisiana 50-24 and outscored the Ragin’ Cajuns in the paint by 64-14.