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Baylor shuts down Idaho’s long-range game in NCAA women’s opener

Baylor guard Alexis Jones drives between Idaho center Ali Forde, left, and guard Karlee Wilson during the second half of a first-round women
Baylor guard Alexis Jones drives between Idaho center Ali Forde, left, and guard Karlee Wilson during the second half of a first-round women's college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament Friday in Waco, Texas. Baylor won 89-59. (LM Otero / Associated Press)
Mitch Blomert Special to The Spokesman-Review

WACO, Texas – Idaho women’s head coach John Newlee knew the best chance of toppling top-seeded Baylor was excelling in what carried the Vandals all season long: domination from the 3-point line.

The Lady Bears weren’t about to let that happen.

Alexis Jones scored 23 points, Nina Davis added 18 and fourth-ranked Baylor held Idaho to nine 3-pointers on 43 attempts, rolling past the Vandals 89-59 in the first round of the NCAA tournament Friday at the Ferrell Center.

Idaho (24-10), the Big Sky Conference’s most precise 3-point-shooting team, missed its first nine attempts and fell behind early, allowing the Lady Bears (34-1) to cruise for the majority of the game and secure a spot in the second round. They’ll face No. 9 seed Auburn, which defeated St. John’s later in the evening, on Sunday.

“I guess our start was very disappointing to me, from an offensive and defensive standpoint,” Newlee said. “We hoped to come out and do a little better job out of our zone of finding our shooters.”

The Vandals trailed 30-9 after a first quarter in which Baylor’s Kristy Wallace scored 11 of her 13 points to put her team in full control from the start. Idaho shot 1 of 14 from the 3-point line in the period, the beginning of a rough day from the arc.

Christina Salvatore and Taylor Pierce each connected on three 3-pointers, but no other Vandal hit more than one.

“I think we’re playing as good a defense as we are offensively,” Baylor head coach Kim Mulkey said. “I don’t think anybody has shot higher than 39 percent against us in the last five games.”

Ali Forde led Idaho with 17 points and nine rebounds, while Salvatore added 12.

Baylor, which shot 50 percent from the field, got 10 points and eight rebounds from freshman Kalani Brown. Niya Johnson, the Big 12’s all-time assists leader, recorded 16.

Baylor used a 14-0 run to mount its massive lead early. The Lady Bears drained six 3-pointers in the first quarter, including three by Wallace.

Idaho had a much-improved second quarter as it outscored Baylor 21-17, but the damage was done. Baylor took a 47-30 lead into halftime after shooting 51 percent from the field.

Idaho shot 4 of 22 on 3-pointers in the first half. Forde rumbled with the Lady Bears’ large post players inside and came out with eight points and nine rebounds in the half.

Jones scored 13 points to lead Baylor in the third quarter, when the Lady Bears took a 69-46 lead. Baylor relied on the bench the rest of the way for a safe run to the finish.