Baylor Lady Bears’ Hosting Public Watch Party for NCAA Women’s Basketball Selection Show - Tonight, 6:00 pm CT, Ferrell Center

Watch Party

The No. 2/5 ranked Baylor Lady Bears and the Tip Off Club, combine to host a watch party for the NCAA Women’s Basketball Selection Show this evening inside the Stone Room at the Ferrell Center. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. (CT) and the event is open to the public.

Those in attendance can watch the 64-teams revealed with the team and staff. The NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship bracket will be announced live on ESPN beginning at 6 p.m.

It’s been a long time since the Baylor Lady Bears lost their final game before the NCAA tournament opener. Story by WacoTrib’s Brice Cherry from BearsExtra.

Seven years, to be exact. But that’s the unusual place the second-ranked Lady Bears find themselves this season, after falling to sixth-seeded West Virginia, 77-66, in the Big 12 tournament championship game in Oklahoma City.

Yet asked how such an outcome might change her motivational tactics for the journey ahead, BU coach Kim Mulkey didn’t bat an eye. “It won’t at all,” she said.

Despite that defeat that ended Baylor’s run of consecutive tournament titles at six, it shouldn’t have to sweat much drama in Monday’s NCAA tournament selection show. The Lady Bears (30-3), regular-season champions of the Big 12, expect to be one of the four No. 1 seeds when the 64-team field is announced at 6 p.m. on ESPN.

They’ll host the first two rounds at the Ferrell Center for the fifth straight year. The only intrigue thereafter could be found in the location of Baylor’s regional – the site for the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight rounds. For much of the season, Baylor seemed to be a lock to play in the Oklahoma City Regional, the closest to Waco and the heart of Big 12 country. Yet in his latest bracketology projections, ESPN writer Charlie Crème dropped Baylor to the fourth No. 1 seed and elevated SEC champion South Carolina (27-4) to the No. 3 overall seed.

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Lady Bear Recruiting

Baylor women’s basketball recruits Alexis Morris and Cara Ursin were selected Gatorade Player of the Year in Texas and Louisiana, respectively, on Monday morning. Both players are now in consideration for Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year recognition. From Baylor Bears dot com.

Morris, a 5-6 guard from Beaumont, Texas, has been named a Jordan Brand Classic, Naismith Trophy and McDonald’s All-American after guiding Legacy Christian Academy to its fourth district title in a row and a Class 3A state championship.

Morris, a five-star recruit ranked No. 6 at her position and No. 18 overall according to ESPN Hoopgurlz, averaged 31.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 4.8 steals per contest as a senior. She completed her high school career with 3,369 points.

Ursin, a 5-7 guard from Destrehan, Louisiana, earned her third Louisiana Gatorade Player of the Year honor after leading Destrehan High School to a flawless 35-0 season and a Class 5A state championship.

Ursin, a four-star recruit ranked No. 12 at her position and No. 64 overall according to ESPN Hoopgurlz, averaged 27.6 points, 14.2 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 5.6 steals and 4.1 blocks per contest this season. She also recorded seven triple-doubles and one quadruple-double. She finished her high school career with 2,901 points.

News Clippings

• Five final Bracketology questions heading into Selection Monday, Will Baylor be the No. 1 seed in Stockton, or will South Carolina have to travel across time zones (again)? Will Ohio State get to host early-round games? Who will host Stanford's subregional?
• UConn No. 1 in final AP women's basketball poll of season, UConn heads into the NCAA Tournament in a familiar place — No. 1 in the poll.
• Mercury Re-Sign Brittney Griner To Multi-Year Deal, Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner re-signed with the team on a multi-year contract on Sunday. Griner has spent the first four seasons ...

Selection Show Thread

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