Baylor finishes 11th nationally in Capital One Women’s Cup Standings

2010-11 was another banner year for Baylor athletics, from football’s bowl appearance to women’s basketball’s Elite Eight finish, from women’s tennis in the Final Four to softball’s College World Series run.

Baylor’s women’s athletic programs, in particular, combined for four Big 12 titles and six NCAA postseason appearances over the past year, including the spectacular finishes mentioned above. Based on those results, Baylor finished 11th nationally in the Capital One Women’s Cup Standings, third-best in the Big 12 Conference and ahead of such traditional powers as Maryland, LSU, UConn and Oklahoma.

Each of Baylor’s women’s sports had standout moments in 2010-11. Acrobatics and tumbling (formerly competitive cheer) claimed its first national championship, taking the title in the five-element stunt event. Two cross country runners earned at-large bids to the NCAA Championships.

The hunter seat equestrian team posted its best-ever finish at the national championships, finishing third. Chelsea Cothran became the first Baylor women’s golfer ever to earn an at-large bid to an NCAA Regional. Baylor soccer totaled the program’s most wins since 1999 and tied a program record for shutouts in a season.

Track and field’s Tiffany Townsend finished her Baylor career with a program-record 17 All-America selections. Volleyball ranked among the nation’s very best defensive teams, finishing the year third nationally in digs per set.

Sic ’em, Lady Bears!