Griner has 22 points, 8 rebounds, 6 blocks to lead No. 8 Baylor past Louisiana Tech, 77-67

Griner leads No. 8 Baylor past Louisiana Tech

WACO, Texas — Brittney Griner had 22 points, eight rebounds and six blocks to lead No. 8 Baylor to a 77-67 win over Louisiana Tech on Saturday.

Morghan Medlock added 15 points and nine rebounds for the Lady Bears (7-1), in coach Kim Mulkey’s first game against her alma mater.

Shanavia Dowdell had 17 points and nine rebounds for the Lady Techsters (3-2), and Tarkeisha Wysinger added 13 points.

Mulkey was an all-America point guard and a longtime assistant to coach Leon Barmore at Louisiana Tech before being hired away by Baylor in 2000. Mulkey has a 244-67 record with the Lady Bears, leading them to the NCAA title in 2005.

Baylor took control with a 12-0 run midway through the first half, sparked by a five-point possession in which Griner scored on a putback and drew a foul. Louisiana Tech coach Teresa Weatherspoon’s protest drew a technical foul, and Melissa Jones hit two free throws before Griner made hers.

Shanay Washington scored on a drive and a putback, and Griner added a free throw and a short jumper to push the lead to 27-11 with 7:04 left in the half. Griner added another jumper and a steal that led to Terran Condrey’s 3-pointer, completing a 28-6 run to make it 32-12 with 6 minutes remaining.

Baylor recovered from a 1-for-8 start to shoot 46 percent from the field and take a 43-24 halftime lead while holding Louisiana Tech to 29 percent.