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No. 4 Baylor women win 14th in a row, 78-41 over Iowa State

Feb 21, 2016 - 3:30 AM WACO, Texas (AP) Niya Johnson might have played another minute or two had Baylor coach Kim Mulkey known that her senior point guard was so close to a triple-double.

Like the other starters for the fourth-ranked Lady Bears, Johnson was just fine with the extra rest Saturday with another game two days later at No. 20 Oklahoma.

Johnson had 13 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists while playing 26 minutes in a 78-41 victory over Iowa State. She entered as the national assists leader with 9.3 per game.

''It didn't really matter to me. I just try to get rest,'' Johnson said when asked about being so close to the triple-double. ''I wasn't really stressing about the assists.''

Nina Davis, Baylor's leading scorer, could have played more if the game was close or there wasn't another one so soon for the Big 12-leading Lady Bears (27-1, 14-1).

Davis was 2 of 9 for six points, 10 under her average. She did have eight rebounds before leaving the game with 3:45 left in the third quarter after spraining her left ankle on a play when she got fouled while going for the rebound of her own missed shot. Brown went to the free throw line after the timeout and made both shots to put the Lady Bears up 49-27.

''I saw her down on that end leaning over and I couldn't tell if she was tying her shoe or if she was just gathering her ankle,'' Mulkey said of Davis. ''I took her out and (the trainer) said he was just going to re-tape her, and at that point I wasn't going to play her anyway. Just mildly sprained ankle. Could have played.''

Alexis Jones had 18 points for Baylor, and freshman post player Kalani Brown added 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting along with seven rebounds.

Seanna Johnson led the Cyclones (13-13, 5-10) with 12 points, and Meredith Burkhall had 10.

As for Niya Johnson's shot at a triple-double, Mulkey said she wasn't going to put the guard back in the game after taking her out.

Plus, when asked by an assistant coach if she wanted to go back in, Johnson said she wanted the rest instead.

''Not surprising. ... That's Niya. It's about the team,'' Mulkey said. ''She understands the bigger picture. But I would have kept her in if I had been told in enough time.''

The only Lady Bear to pull off that feat was former All-America post player Brittney Griner, who did it five times.

Iowa State shot only 23 percent from the field (14 of 65) and was outrebounded 64-25 - the Lady Bears had five players with at least seven rebounds.

''They're that massive compared to us. Some of it, we didn't stick our nose in there a couple of times. Yeah, they are that massive. It's incredible,'' Cyclones coach Bill Fennelly said. ''Even if you're in the right spot, and I thought there were times when we were in the right spot, they just reach over you. And their guards rebound, too. ... Yeah, that was a butt-whippin' on the board, for sure.''

ALL IN ONE

Baylor led 17-9 after the first quarter, and opened the second on a 10-2 run. Beatrice Mompremier hit consecutive layups, both on assists from Niya Johnson. And in that stretch, Niya Johnson got a rebound and a basket on an impressive play after Jones missed a 3-pointer from the corner. Niya Johnson came from the opposite corner and in a seamless move caught the ball and laid it back in before her feet hit the ground again.

THANK YOU, MRS. JULIE

Before the game, Julie Bennett, Baylor's assistant athletic director for athletic communications, was honored for her 23 seasons working with the Lady Bears. Bennett is retiring after this season. Bennett was presented yellow roses and a framed Baylor No. 23 jersey. ''Soooo humbled by today's recognition,'' Bennett tweeted during the game.

TIP-INS

Iowa St.: Seanna Johnson, a junior guard, has started every game of her career for the Cyclones. Saturday marked her 88th in a row. ... The Cyclones have made at least one 3 in 669 consecutive games, a streak dating to Feb. 18, 1995.

Baylor: The Lady Bears have won 38 consecutive home games. ... Baylor went into the game third nationally and first in the Big 12 in shooting defense, holding opponents to 33 percent a game.

UP NEXT

Iowa State hosts Kansas State on Wednesday.

Baylor is at No. 20 Oklahoma on Monday.