Lady Bears preparing for two top-25 matchups

The Baylor women's basketball team only has five non-conference games remaining until they visit Kansas State December 28.

The Lady Bears (5-1) have bounced back from their only loss -- 82-68 at UCLA -- with consecutive wins against Missouri State and Georgia Tech in the Bahamas.

"I thought we started both of those games really well and got off to a good start," said Lauren Cox, who is averaging 20.3 points and 12 rebounds over her last three games. "That's what we're going to have to do against (Kentucky and Stanford). If we start slow and get behind early, we know it'll be tough to climb back up."

Baylor will host No. 20 Kentucky Thursday before welcoming in No. 16 Stanford Sunday.

"We know our ranked opponents are somewhat-more talented, but we don't take any team for granted, number or no number," said Kalani Brown, who is third in the NCAA with 24.2 points per game. "We prepare the same way every game."

"People think it's so easy to schedule but these things sometimes are done years in advance," Baylor head coach Kim Mulkey said. "Sometimes you have to project two years from now. Who's going to be on my roster, and are we going to be able to handle that competition? Sometimes you hit, sometimes you miss. I think we can handle whatever comes our way because I think the conference is going to give it to us every night we play."

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