H.R. No. 1258
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The Baylor University women's basketball team once
again proved itself the finest in the nation by winning the 2019
NCAA Division I championship on April 7; and
WHEREAS, The Lady Bears' journey to the title began with a
10-game winning streak to open the season; they followed with a
perfect run against their conference opponents to sweep the Big 12
regular-season and tournament titles and entered the NCAA
tournament as a No. 1 seed and the nation's top-ranked team; and
WHEREAS, In the Greensboro Regional, Baylor crushed Abilene
Christian 95-38 to launch its championship bid and then notched
commanding victories over California, South Carolina, and Iowa to
punch its ticket to the Final Four for the fourth time; in the
semifinal game, the Lady Bears pitted their signature defense
against Oregon's explosive offense in a contest that ultimately
featured 12 ties and 12 lead changes; the Baylor players were
relentless down the stretch, scoring a go-ahead layup with 41
seconds remaining and icing the win from the free-throw line to move
on to the championship game; and
WHEREAS, Competing for the title in front of more than 20,000
fans on April 7, Baylor battled defending national champion Notre
Dame; the Lady Bears took charge in the first half, leading by as
many as 17 points, but the momentum shifted late in the third
quarter when Baylor standout Lauren Cox was sidelined with a knee
injury; mounting a fourth-quarter comeback, Notre Dame knotted the
contest at 74-all and then pulled ahead; with their title hopes on
the line, the Lady Bears refused to give in, hitting clutch shots in
the final minute, including the game-winning layup with 3.9 seconds
on the clock; triumphing by a final score of 82-81, the team cut
down the nets in celebration of their school's third national
crown; and
WHEREAS, Baylor was paced by Chloe Jackson, who scored 26
points, including the winning bucket; she was named the
championship game's Most Outstanding Player and joined Ms. Cox and
Kalani Brown on the All-Tournament Team; the Lady Bears also
received valuable contributions throughout the season from the
other members of the roster: Caitlin Bickle, Aquira DeCosta, Queen
Egbo, Honesty Scott-Grayson, Juicy Landrum, DiDi Richards, NaLyssa
Smith, Trinity Oliver, and Moon Ursin; and
WHEREAS, These determined student-athletes were ably guided
by Kim Mulkey, who became one of only three head coaches to win
three or more NCAA Division I women's titles, having also led Baylor
to the 2005 and 2012 crowns; the team enjoyed additional support
from associate head coach Bill Brock, assistant coach/recruiting
coordinator Sytia Messer, and assistant coach Toyelle Wilson; and
WHEREAS, By accomplishing the rare feat of winning a third
national championship, the Baylor Lady Bears have burnished their
reputation as a basketball powerhouse, and all those associated
with the team may reflect with pride on a job well done; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate the Baylor University women's
basketball team on winning the 2019 NCAA Division I national
championship and extend to the players, coaches, and staff sincere
best wishes for continued success; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for the Lady Bears as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.
Anderson
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1258 was adopted by the House on April
26, 2019, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House