in high gear

By CHUCKCORDER

Monique Jones sounded like a seasoned veteran and not a starstruck rookie Thursday.

Most marquee players that played Jaws in high school, such as Jones did at Ferriday, have trouble adjusting to being Nemo their first year in college.

But Jones, who’s averaged 12.3 minutes as a freshman at Baylor this year, is showing maturity beyond her 19 years.

&uot;It’s been a learning experience,&uot; Jones said. &uot;I had a couple down moments, but I finally realized so many people wanna be in this position and don’t get the chance. I’m so lucky.&uot;

Who wouldn’t feel blessed. Jones helped the Lady Bears to a big win against Florida in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Monday. Jones was 5 of 6 from the field and 3 of 4 from at the line in 12 minutes, scoring 13 points, pulling down three boards and collecting a pair of assists and steals.

She also played nine key minutes and scored a bucket in the Lady Bears 71-60 defeat of Loyola Marymount during the tourney’s first round.

&uot;Monique was outstanding for us the other night,&uot; Baylor head coach Kim Mulkey-Robertson said. &uot;I should’ve probably given her more minutes the way she contributed for us. She was just big. To expect a freshman to play like that in that type of situation helped us tremendously.&uot;

Jones will have to have a similar effort off the bench for the Lady Bears on Sunday, where the Darth Vader of women’s college basketball looms.

The Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Okla., will be splashed with plenty of hunter’s orange as top-seeded Tennessee is the next hurdle for Baylor.

The folks in Waco, Texas, are happy to rally around their girls. After an offseason of negative press with the death of Patrick Dennehy, Robertson is glad her team can lift this Baptist university’s sprits.

&uot;It’s an exciting time here at Baylor,&uot; the fourth-year head coach said. &uot;Our university deserves this. I challenged our basketball team to be the shining light on this campus, and they’ve done that.&uot;

Jones said the transition to the next level wasn’t as easy as she expected. This deep into the season she’s finally realized how important the offseason conditioning matters.

Yet, when she checks in at the scorer’s table, tucks in her green-and-gold jersey and steps on the floor, Jones is the same confident star who shined for the Lady Trojans.

&uot;I had no butterflies,&uot; she said of the Monday night. &uot;I just had a mindset on coming in and contributing. I scored some points, got a couple hustle plays and played good defense. You always gotta stay ready.&uot;

Playing night-in and night-out in a conference as tough as the Big 12 can be intimidating enough, but Jones has never been a player to back down from competition &045; even foes such as the Volunteers.

&uot;I’m glad to be in this situation because we have a very good team,&uot; Jones said. &uot;I’m happy to be contributing in whatever form I can do. Whether it’s cheerleading or doing whatever, I have to do in order for us to win.&uot;

Chuck Corder

is a sports writer for The Natchez Democrat. Reach him at (601) 445-3633 or at

chuck.corder@natchezdemocrat.com.