Pre Game: WKU vs. Baylor

Joe Imel/Daily News

As we all know by now they Lady Hilltoppers have traveled down to Waco Texas to take on the Baylor Lady Bears in the first round of the NCAA Women’s tournament. The Hilltopper are a 15 seed facing a 2nd seeded Baylor team punched their ticket after defeating Arkansas State 61-60 in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament. The Tops are the only Sun Belt representative and unlike the Mens Basketball team were able to clinch the conference before exiting for Conference USA. This will be the Lady Tops 15th all-time appearance in the Post Season tournament and their first since 2007-08. For the Baylor Bears they are a frequent visitor to the tournament having won it all 2 years ago.

For WKU the player to watch as always is Chastity Gooch. Gooch was SBC tournament MVP and the biggest help presence for WKU all season. Surprise player of the year was redshirt freshman Kendall Noble. Noble came in help of injured Alexis Govan managed to step up and provide much needed scoring and rebounding including a lay up to take the lead with 1:21 to go in the championship game and 11 points total. WKU is spearheaded by the brilliant mind of coach Michelle Clark-Herd. Herd in her second season on the hill managed to set a Sun Belt record for turning around a team that averaged less than ten wins a season. WKU managed to turn two 20 wins season and their first since the same season they made their last appearance in the NCAA Tournament. MCH is a graduate of WKU having played basketball for the Hilltoppers.

For the Baylor Bears, they are a Basketball power house.  Senior guard Odyssey Sims is the leading player for BU as she is an all-american candidate and National Player of the year. She averages 28.4 PPG which is 2nd nationally and has 4.6 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists, and she is shooting .455 from the floor.

The game has already tipped but we will get your post game report to you as soon as possible. Have a great evening and as always… GO TOPS!