No. 9 Baylor 71, Kansas 64

1/6/2007 7:11 PM

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) -Most college coaches would be happy with a 15-1 record, a 2-0 start in conference play and a No. 9 national ranking. Most coaches aren't Baylor's Kim Mulkey.

For the second consecutive game, Baylor failed to pull away from an overmatched opponent, but the Bears hung on for a 71-64 win over Kansas on Saturday.

``We don't know how to finish games,'' Mulkey said. ``Big leads are hard to come by, and when we get them, we have to learn how to maintain them or extend them. The mistakes we're making are on the defensive end of the floor. We're fouling, giving up loose balls and gambling. But it's a win, and wins on the road are hard to come by.''

Freshman LaChelda Jacobs hit a 3-pointer for Kansas (5-9, 0-2) with just over 11 minutes remaining in the game, capping a 9-2 run that cut Baylor's lead to 49-45.

But Jessica Morrow hit a 3 on Baylor's next possession, and Kansas never got within four points again.

``That's a credit to Baylor because good teams are able to come right back and answer any type of run that you're making,'' said Kelly Kohn, who had 14 points for Kansas. ``That's where we need to come back down on the offensive end and say, 'Here we go,' and answer right back. Once we are able to do that, I think we will be a lot better.''

Bernice Mosby played all 40 minutes and led Baylor with 21 points and 11 rebounds despite constant double-teaming.

``Mosby's tough. She's very, very good,'' Kansas coach Bonnie Henrickson said. ``She can spin and get away and put it on the floor, and when we didn't double-team her early, she got to the rim pretty good.''

Morrow had 15 points, Danielle Wilson had 13 and Angela Tisdale added 12 for the Bears, who shot 47 percent from the field and hit 17 of 23 free throws.

Jacobs led Kansas with 18 points.

Kohn and Jacobs, two of Kansas' seven freshman, each took 17 shots and went a combined 13-for-34 from the field. The rest of the Jayhawks went 10-for-20. Kansas started four freshman for the third consecutive game, and they combined for 38 of the Jayhawks' 64 points.

Kansas, which has lost five straight and eight of its last nine, was outscored 49-18 in the paint.

``We've been so close, but I'm tired of being so close,'' junior forward Taylor McIntosh said. ``I just wish (the post players) would fight harder and give more effort all of the time.''

Kansas fell to 14-27 at home against ranked opponents.

The Jayhawks were without guard Ivana Catic, who sprained her knee in practice, and Danielle McCray who was suspended by Henrickson for a violation of team rules.