First time for everything: Baylor, MSU in women’s title game

Baylor and Michigan State reached the NCAA women’s basketball championship game with historic Final Four victories Sunday night — the Lady Bears knocking off LSU and the Spartans rallying to beat vaunted Tennessee.

Michigan State tied a women’s Final Four record by overcoming a 16-point deficit, and held off a flurry of Tennessee shots in the final seconds to win 68-64.

The Spartans, led by Lindsay Bowen’s 18 points, shot 55 percent in the second half in their first-ever appearance in the Final Four.

The Lady Vols — runners-up to Connecticut last year — missed three shots during an eight-second span at the end of the game. Shanna Zolman’s three- point try for the lead hit off the rim, and follows by Alexis Hornbuckle and Nicky Anosike were also off the mark.

MSU’s Kelli Roehrig finally grabbed a rebound and found sprinting teammate Victoria Lucas-Perry, whose layup at the other end sealed the win and touched off a Spartans (33-3) celebration.

"I am certainly very proud, but not the least bit surprised given what our team has done all year long," said MSU head coach Joanne P. McCallie.

The Lady Vols (30-5) had led 45-29 with 16 minutes remaining in the game. They were led by Hornbuckle’s 16 points.

Baylor impressed in its Final Four debut too. After missing 13 of their first 15 shots and falling behind 24-9 in the first half, the Lady Bears rallied to tie LSU 28-28 heading into intermission.

The game was still deadlocked at 51 apiece with 5:51 left to play, but Baylor outscored the nation’s top-ranked team 17-6 on the way to a 68-57 victory.

"Wow...that was a good team we just beat," said Baylor head coach Kim Mulkey-Robertson. "We’ve had different players step up throughout the year. Wow...we’re playing for a national championship."

Sophia Young had 21 points, 10 rebounds and six assists to pace the Lady Bears (32-3). Seimone Augustus led all scorers in the game with 22 points for the Lady Tigers (33-3).

Baylor moved to 76-0 when holding opponents to 60 points or less under Mulkey- Robertson.