Baylor women ride fast start over TCU to 24th consecutive win

Third-ranked Baylor scored the game's first 13 points and cruised from there in an 85-53 victory over TCU's women Saturday in Fort Worth.

The Bears (27-1, 17-0 Big 12) got 19 points from Kristy Wallace and double-double efforts from Lauren Cox and Kalani Brown as they notched their 24th consecutive victory. Baylor hasn't lost since a Nov. 18 game at No. 8 UCLA.

TCU (18-10, 9-8) was led by Amy Okonkwo's 13 points. The Frogs have lost five of their last seven games including three to ranked teams by an average of 26 points.

TCU closes its regular season at Oklahoma State on Monday night.

UTA men 89, Georgia State 81

Seniors Kevin Hervey and Erick Neal each had double-double performances but another senior stole the show Saturday as UTA (18-12, 9-8 Sun Belt) strengthened its chances to earn one of four first-round byes in the conference tournament March 7-11 in New Orleans.

Hervey had game-highs with 28 points and 12 rebounds, and Neal flirted with a triple-double before charting 24 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. But Senior Night belonged to fellow senior Johnny Hamilton, a 7-foot graduate student from Trinidad.

Before the game, Hamilton proposed to his girlfriend, Rachael Ross.

During the game, Hamilton scored 14 points, grabbed six rebounds and had three blocks, setting the school's single-season record for swatted shots.

Georgia State (20-9, 11-5) lost for the third time in four games and missed out on a chance to clinch second place in the Sun Belt standings.

UTA women 62, Georgia State 57

UTA saluted its five seniors in their final home game Saturday and the upperclassmen responded with key efforts as the Lady Mavericks (18-10, 12-5 Sun Belt) won their seventh game in a row and 10th of 11.

Rebekah VanDijk had 13 points and eight rebounds, Shelby Richards contributed 12 points, four rebounds and four assists, and Miranda LeJune chipped in with three points and a team-high five assists. Seniors Crystal Allen and Cierra Johnson did not score.

Georgia State (7-20, 3-13) stayed close throughout, and was tied at 49 with three minutes to play. But LeJune nailed a 3-pointer to snap the tie and Laurynn McGowan hit a couple free throws in the final 30 seconds to seal the victory.

This story was originally published February 24, 2018 at 9:13 PM with the headline "Baylor women ride fast start over TCU to 24th consecutive win."