WACO, Texas —
For the first time since the March 18, 2013 poll, the Associated Press Top 25 has placed the Baylor Lady Bears as the No. 1 team in the nation. Baylor’s 17-1 overall record, 7-0 mark in the Big 12 and four wins over Top 25 opponents have played a role in the nation’s highest ranking.
Monday’s poll marks the 40th time that Baylor has ranked at No. 1 in the weekly poll. The Lady Bears spent seven weeks in the top spot from January to mid-February in 2011, spent 21-straight weeks as the favorite from Oct. 29, 2011-Nov. 12, 2012 and ranked No. 1 the last 11 weeks of the 2012-13 season. Baylor’s 21-week streak was the eighth-longest streak of all-time.
Following Baylor’s road win at Oklahoma and then-No. 1 Notre Dame’s loss to North Carolina Sunday, Baylor head coach Kim Mulkey said in the postgame press conference that things won’t change for her team despite the new ranking.
“Anything that’s considered positive for our program and Baylor, we welcome,” she said. “But, really, what does it mean? It doesn’t mean anything. It doesn’t win a championship for you, it just puts a bigger target on your back. It’s not the first time we’ve been ranked No. 1. I don’t think it will change anything about the kids in the locker room. I don’t think it will change anything about our practices. Our focus right now is Oklahoma State and our big focus is winning another Big 12 championship.”
Baylor takes on Oklahoma State (12-6, 3-4) in Stillwater, Okla. Wednesday at 7 p.m.
The Lady Bears are 4-1 vs. ranked opponents this season with wins at No. 23 Arizona State (Nov. 11), at No. 18 South Carolina (Dec. 2), a loss at No. 11 Stanford (Dec. 15), a win over No. 1 UConn (Jan. 3) and a win over No. 20 Iowa State (Jan. 23).
Baylor ranks in the nation’s top 10 in 12 statistical categories and boasts a balanced stat sheet that has five players averaging in double figures for the season, led by eight-time All-American Kalani Brown. Brown is averaging 15.7 points and 7.0 rebounds while shooting 62.8 percent from the floor.
