Griner's Dunks Embarrassing Footnote to Baylor's Mismatch Blowout

Brittney Griner dunked twice in a basketball game on Saturday, a rare accomplishment. Only the second time in the history of the women's game it has ever happened.

It should be a moment to be admired, to be appreciated and highlighted. But the score keeps getting in the way.

Baylor 99, Texas State 18.

Griner's dunks came in the second half of a game that was already an uncomfortable mismatch. The plays were easy opportunities against an overwhelmed opponent.

Baylor 99, Texas State 18.

Baylor wasn't alone in blowout-ville. There were four women's games on Saturday with a margin of victory of at least 60 points. According to STATS, LLC, that hasn't happened since at least the 1999-2000 season.

UConn beat Seton Hall 91-24, for the program's 51st straight win. Texas beat Arkansas-Pine Bluff 114-53 and North Carolina defeated Winston-Salem State 101-38.

But what Baylor did to Texas State is in a different category. It was not a moment to savor, but one to cringe.

Griner played 23 minutes in a game against an opponent that shot 2 for 32 in the first half. Her first dunk came on the Bears' first possession of the second half and gave Baylor a 49-5 lead with 19:36 to go. The second came with 17:57 to go to put the Bears up 55-8. She scored her last points of the game -- a three-point play -- with 11:40 go to and Baylor up 73-8.

There's running it up, there's rubbing it in, there is embarrassing the opponent, and then there is unleashing your 6-foot-8 star who can dunk on a team that could only stand and watch and shrug. Texas State was essentially defenseless and Baylor took its shots anyway.

Griner is a fabulous, singular talent, and she's going to want to be remembered for doing great things in big games.

Baylor 99, Texas State 18. That's what I'll remember and that's too bad.

Tough Love

Tennessee's Shekinna Stricklen had the weekend's other big statistical accomplishment, pulling off the second triple-double in the history of the Tennessee program -- 17 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists -- and she still got the back-handed love from coach Pat Summitt.

Summitt said after Tennessee's 96-75 win over Oklahoma, that she pulled Stricklen from the floor early in the game to set her straight.

"I think she was sleeping. She just wasn't attacking," Summitt said. "Sometimes players just need a reminder. I decided to take her out and talk to her and she responded."

Stricklen said the coach told her to take her game to a different level.

"I just told her, 'Yes, ma'am'," Stricklen said.

Stricklen has gotten used to the idea of being a point guard, not the first inclination for the 6-foot-2 Arkansas native. Summitt said Stricklen has struggled to produce all-out effort from the start of the game to its finish.

"I told her that she just has to be a player and not worry about the position," Summitt said. "I've been in her ear more than anyone else."

The first triple-double in Tennessee history was not accomplished by Candace Parker or Tamika Catchings or Chamique Holdsclaw. Instead, it was Sheila Collins in 1985. Collins' triple was points, rebounds and steals.

Player You Haven't Heard Of

Dawn Evans, James Madison. The 5-foot-7 junior guard is the national scoring leader in Division I this week, averaging 27.9 points a game. Last month Evans was diagnosed with a kidney disorder, which caused her to miss a game early in December. In a 68-67 loss to Drexel on Sunday to open conference play in the Colonial Athletic Association, Evans scored 30 points. It was the 12th 30-point game of her career.

She averaged 23.8 points a game last season.

Under the Radar

Georgia. The No. 8 Bulldogs are back on the national map and have matched a school record with a 14-0 start after beating Alabama 52-44 to open SEC play. The last 14-0 start came in the 1998-99 season and that team went to the Final Four.

Around the Nation

Conference play has already begun in the Big East, Big Ten, the SEC and the Pac-10. The Big 12 and the ACC begin this week. The Big 12 is going to be the most competitive conference in the country. Seven teams are currently ranked in the Top 25. Ten teams have at least 10 wins. Baylor has Griner and that will take the Bears a long way. Texas A&M is tough on defense and well-coached. Nebraska hasn't lost yet. Oklahoma and Texas are experienced and formidable. Kansas has one of the best players in the conference in Danielle McCray. Should be fun.

Games of the Week

No. 17 Vanderbilt at Mississippi State, Thursday

No. 2 Stanford at USC, Friday

No. 15 Texas vs. No. 10 Texas A&M, Saturday

No. 6 Ohio State at No. 19 Michigan State, Saturday

No. 7 North Carolina at No. 1 Connecticut, Saturday