Smith 35 points as No. 5 Baylor women clinch Big 12 outright

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NaLyssa Smith had a career-high 35 points with 12 rebounds in her senior day game for fifth-ranked Baylor, and the Bears clinched the outright Big 12 women's title with an 82-57 win over Texas Tech in the regular-season finale Sunday.

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The Bears (25-5, 15-3 Big 12) were guaranteed at least a share of their 12th consecutive Big 12 title and 13th overall after an 87-62 win at ninth-ranked Iowa State last Monday. Baylor had to beat Texas Tech for the outright championship after the Cyclones ended their regular season with win Saturday night at West Virginia.

Bryn Gerlich had 12 points and Taylah Thomas 12 for Texas Tech (11-18, 4-14), which as a team wasn't able to outscore Smith by herself until the second half. Smith had 22 points at halftime, when Baylor had a 45-22 lead. Vivian Gray finished with 10 points, held to half of her season average.

Baylor forward NaLyssa Smith (1) shoots against Texas Tech defenders Tatum Veitenheimer (32), Ella Tofaeono (1) and Vivian Gray (12) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Waco, Texas, Sunday, March 6, 2022. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

After Smith's two free throws in the opening minute, Tech tied the game at 2-2 before Smith and Gray traded jumpers for a 4-4 tie. The Bears then built a four-point lead before Smith's fastbreak layup that began her stretch of 12 consecutive points over a four-minute span.

Gray's free throw with 8:07 left in the third quarter was Tech's 23rd point, one more than Smith at the time. Smith immediately