College basketball

Double dribble: Women

By ANTONYA ENGLISH
Published February 19, 2005

CONFERENCE TITLES AT STAKE

It's a fight to the finish for championship titles in most of the major conferences, and there may not be a bigger one than in the Big12. At 10-2, No.7 Baylor has a one-game lead over three others - No.13 Texas, No.15 Texas Tech and No.19 Iowa State - at 9-3.

Baylor coach Kim Mulkey-Robertson said this week that after its 87-51 win over Oklahoma State Feb.12, she believes her team is playing about as well as it has all season.

"I just think the teams in our league are so good that the scores sometimes might indicate that someone is playing bad, but really we haven't played bad," she said. "I attribute it to the competition."

In the SEC, LSU is in the driver's seat for the conference title. After knocking off then-No.5 Tennessee last week, the Tigers defeated Kentucky 81-58 Thursday night. Its final three games are against Auburn, Arkansas and Florida, teams with a combined SEC record of 13-20.

LSU junior guard Seimone Augustus continues her run toward national player of the year, picking up SEC player of the week honors. Augustus has scored in double figures 51 consecutive games.

In the Big Ten, No.2 Ohio State (25-2, 12-1), No.9 Michigan State (23-3, 12-2) and No.24 Penn State (17-8, 12-2) are locked in a battle. Michigan State hosts Ohio State on Sunday, then Penn State and Ohio State face each other Feb.27, a game that could decide the title, or at least a share of it.

Stanford has clinched a share of the Pac-10 title and needs one win in its final four games to take the title outright. Oregon, Arizona and USC are all logjammed in second place at 10-5.

After three seasons, the former Hernando standout is finally coming into her own. The Gators' junior forward is eighth in the SEC in scoring (15.7) and fifth in rebounding with 8.8 (and second in defensive rebounds with 5.92 per game). But most of all, the 21-year-old Mosby feels more comfortable than ever on the court.

How has your role changed this season?

I'm trying to be that team leader on the court offensively. Defensively I've gotten a little tougher and better. I've had to guard some good post players, and just learning the new defense we put in this year, I've had to adjust and I think I have.

For a post player your size, what do you attribute your strong numbers to this season?

I think hard work. I really think just coming into the gym and working on more than just post moves. I think I have the versatility to go outside and inside, and me being smaller and going against bigger post players, I have an advantage because I'm quicker. So if they come up toward me I can beat them off the dribble. And if I post them up I've got quicker moves. I don't go into the game thinking they are bigger than me and I'm not going to be able to score. I'm playing like I'm playing a guard as an opponent and I think that's why I've been so successful scoring and doing the things I've been doing.

You said at the beginning of the year that your offseason maturity would be a major influence in your game. Has it been?

I think I've matured a lot this year, mentally and physically. Overall I'm at a good point in my life with basketball. Last year I still was at a freshman level mentally. I'm encouraging the team instead of saying, "Why? Why did you do this and why not?" I'm thinking as a team thing and not individually. When somebody does something wrong, it's us, not them. So from that standpoint, I have matured a lot.

The Phoenix is rising in Wisconsin.

Wisconsin-Green Bay is now among the Top 25 teams in the nation, according to the AP poll, adding another lesser-known program that is making a national splash.

"We're moving up," coach Kevin Borseth said. "That's a good thing. That's what we want to do. Certainly it wasn't a goal of ours to get there and be happy and then get bumped out. We want to keep moving up."

This is the Phoenix's second stint in the rankings. In December 2002, it joined the poll for the first time, rising as high as No.16. That team finished a program-best 28-4. The Phoenix is led by senior Tiffany Mor, who is averaging 16.1 points and 6.1 rebounds. Mor suffered a season-ending knee injury last season, but a medical redshirt gave her another year, which she is making the most of.

No.2 Ohio State at No.9 Michigan State, 2 p.m. Sunday, ESPN2. A Big Ten battle with title implications. A Michigan State win turns up the heat on Ohio State.

No.21 N.C. State at No.8 North Carolina, 4 p.m. Sunday, ESPN2. N.C. State (19-5, 7-3 ACC) is coming off a huge win over FSU and needs a win to stay in the hunt for second with the Tar Heels (20-3, 8-2).

[Last modified February 19, 2005, 00:57:17]