Griner scores 13, no dunks in first Baylor game

WACO, Texas (AP)—Baylor freshman phenom Brittney Griner had 13 points, four rebounds and three blocked shots while playing 19 minutes in the seventh-ranked Lady Bears’ exhibition opener Tuesday night, a 97-43 victory over St. Edwards.

All that was missing was a dunk.

“I wanted it pretty bad. I wanted to get one during the game,” Griner said.

That is what more than 6,000 people who attended the exhibition game came hoping to see: the 6-foot-8 Griner dunk the basketball like she did throughout high school in Houston, and seen worldwide on YouTube. But Griner never attempted a slam, though she came close once in the first half before realizing the angle was too awkward to try.

“I was too far underneath the goal,” she said.

“You can’t plan a dunk,” coach Kim Mulkey said. “It depends on whatever the position is on the floor and what the defense is going. You can’t just say, ‘Let’s go and dunk.’ In the guys’ game, you have the alley-oop. We’re not that far along to plan for the dunk.”

Griner started the game and had seven points, two blocks and a steal in the first 10 minutes. She also played the first 9:15 of the second half.

Senior Melissa Jones led Baylor with 20 points on 8-of-8 shooting with three 3-pointers.