Iowa State (24-7) vs.

Baylor (25-5)

2:30 p.m. Saturday, FSN

OVERVIEW:

The No. 2 seed Baylor Bears have been a force in the Big 12 all season long, but their strength has definitely been weakened since Danielle Wilson, the team’s leading scorer and rebounder, went down with a torn ACL. The Bears beat a motivated Oklahoma State squad on Friday, and while they aren’t very deep, they received double digits from two players off the bench in the game. Starting guards Jhasmin Player and Jessica Morrow combined to shoot 8-for-34 from the field, and the team still won. Baylor is currently lacking an inside presence, but start three seniors, and their guards are tall and agile, which could present a problem for the smaller but team-minded Cyclones.

LAST TIME OUT:

January 14 in Waco, Iowa State came out flat and went down 20 points early, shooting 19-for-61 from the field, and lost 68-57. The Cyclones were down 32-15 at halftime, and shot 18-percent in the first half, in one ofJessica Morrow- 11.2 ppg, 3 rpg

The lanky 6-foot guard defended at every position in the Oklahoma State game, including a stint against 5-foot-5 OSU speedster Andrea Riley, where she held the Big 12’s leading scorer to zero field goals and four turnovers in the second half.

Jhasmin Player- 10.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 2.2 apg

The big point guard runs the show for a balanced Baylor squad, and has stepped up offensively since the fall of Danielle Wilson. Player had eight points, four assists, and five rebounds against Oklahoma State, but will need to score more for Baylor to fight Iowa State’s balance.

their worst offensive performances of the season. Baylor post player Danielle Wilson had 18 points, 10 rebounds, and five blocks in the game, and while Baylor didn’t shoot the lights out, Iowa State had no answer for the inside presence and the length of the Bears.

BAYLOR PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Jessica Morrow- 11.2 ppg, 3 rpg – The lanky 6-foot guard defended at every position in the Oklahoma State game, including a stint against 5-foot-5 OSU speedster Andrea Riley, where she held the Big 12’s leading scorer to zero field goals and four turnovers in the second half.

Jhasmin Player- 10.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 2.2 apg – The big point guard runs the show for a balanced Baylor squad, and has stepped up offensively since the fall of Danielle Wilson. Player had eight points, four assists, and five rebounds against Oklahoma State, but will need to score more for Baylor to fight Iowa State’s balance.

STARTING MATCHUPS:

Kelli Griffin 5-8 So.- 6.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 3.6 apg

vs.

Denae Stuckey 5-8 Jr.- 0.7 ppg (4 starts in 2009)

Stuckey is a defensive specialist off the bench this season, but with Ezell out, will share minutes with other reserves, and will need to be at her best against the Bears distributor.

Jhasmin Player 5-10 Sr.- 10.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 2.2 apg

vs.

Alison Lacey 6-0 Jr.- 10.1 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 3.6 apg

Lacey and Player provide the same kind of energy for the clubs, and both shoot well from three point range; the two will play out their differences on the court.

Jessica Morrow 6-0 Sr.- 11.2 ppg, 3.1 rpg

vs.

Kelsey Bolte 6-1 So.- 9.8 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.5 apg

Both Morrow and Bolte have worked on creating their own shots, and moving without the ball this season, and Bolte’s defensive skills on the floor will make her the best fit for Iowa State vs. Baylor’s leading scorer.

Rachel Allison 6-1 Sr.- 8.7 ppg, 6 rpg

vs.

Amanda Nisleit 6-0 Sr.- 8 ppg, 5.2 rpg

Nisleit’s hustle and experience against Allison’s hustle and experience. Both players have similar roles for the respective teams, and will need to out-hustle each other to provide stability at power forward.

Ashley Field 6-2 Fr.- 3.7 ppg, 2.4 rpg (4 career starts)

vs.

Nicky Wieben 6-4 Sr.- 10.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 1.1 bpg

Wieben’s experience and length might negate this match-up, but Baylor doesn’t have much size on the bench, making Wieben and her sub, Jocelyn Anderson, threats to the Bears’ low block defense.