GPS Bruisers bury Baylor, 61-37

With the postseason rapidly approaching, GPS basketball coach Susan Crownover wanted to leave little doubt that her Bruisers are peaking at the right time as they prepare to defend their Division II state title.

The Bruisers also left no doubt who has the upper hand in their regular-season series with rival Baylor, using a smothering pressure defense to take a commanding early lead and cruise to a 61-37 victory.

"We're going to live and die by our press," Crownover said. "We came out ready to play early and fed off the momentum. We scored early and put them back on their heels."

It was GPS's fourth straight win by double figures heading into the final three regular-season games.

Second-ranked GPS (20-4, 4-1) had been in control in the first meeting before a late Baylor rally led to a single-digit Bruisers win. But Tuesday night, there would be no rally as GPS raced to a 17-2 first-quarter lead, then continued to pull away in each quarter, led by senior Tory Kemp's 17 and junior Briana Farris' 14.

Simone Busby had 12 points and 10 rebounds, and 2011 Miss Basketball award winner Chadarryl Clay added seven points, four assists and four steals.

"They're just really good," Baylor coach John Gibson said. "For us to compete with them, we have to play our best and hope they're a little off like in the first game. Tonight neither of those happened and you saw the result.

"What makes them so tough is that if you do break their full-court press, then you still have to beat their half-court defense. They're really athletic and just put so much pressure on you all over the court."