Griner leads the way as Lady Bears claim five Big 12 individual honors

Fresh off winning the second Big 12 regular season title in school history, the Baylor Lady Bears became the first team in league history to claim five individual all-conference honors when the All-Big 12 teams were announced earlier this week.

Brittney Griner was named Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, joining Coach of the Year Kim Mulkey, Newcomer of the Year Destiny Williams and Freshman of the Year Odyssey Sims. Melissa Jones joined Griner and Sims on the All-Big 12 First Team, as well.

Three Baylor men were also honored in voting by the league’s coaches. Two days after setting the Big 12 career scoring record, LaceDarius Dunn became the third Bear ever named to the All-Big 12 first team (joining Terry Black, 2001, and Curtis Jerrells, 2008). Perry Jones III earned second team honors and was named to the All-Rookie team, while Quincy Acy received honorable mention and was co-winner of the league’s Sixth Man Award.

The Bears and Lady Bears begin action in the 2011 Big 12 Conference tournaments today. The top-seeded women will face Kansas at 11 a.m. on FSN, while the seventh-seeded men battle Oklahoma at 6 p.m. on the Big 12 Network (see TV listings here).

Sic ’em, Baylor basketball!