(AP) - Former All-America players Brittney Griner and Odyssey Sims have been replaced by another top duo at Baylor.
With Big 12 player of the year Nina Davis and national assists leader Niya Johnson, the fifth-ranked Lady Bears will open the NCAA Tournament at home for the fourth time in five years Friday against No. 15 seed Northwestern State.
Baylor, the No. 2 seed in the Oklahoma City Regional, has won every Big 12 regular-season and tournament title in that span.
''We've surprised a lot of people this season. I believe in my team and have confidence in us,'' said Davis, an undersized sophomore post player at 5-foot-11 who averages 21.1 points and 8.4 rebounds. ''If we come out every game focused and ready to play, we are a hard team to guard.''
Not even the preseason favorite in the Big 12, Baylor (30-3) clinched the regular-season title with three games left before another tournament sweep.
Johnson's 276 assists are a Big 12 record, and she averages 8.6 assists with an impressive 3.63 assist-to-turnover ratio.
The Lady Bears will be playing their first game in 11 days since the Big 12 tournament. They have a 19-game home winning streak, including first- and second-round NCAA games last March.
''We are familiar with Oklahoma City. It is an easy drive for Baylor fans. We have to get there. Let's focus on Northwestern State,'' coach Kim Mulkey said. ''It sure is a lot better to play someone on a neutral court than their home court if we get to the regional finals like we did last year.''
Being in the Oklahoma City Regional, with Notre Dame the No. 1 seed, provides the potential for Baylor to go on a redemptive run.
When the Lady Bears made it to a regional final as the No. 2 seed last season, they played top-seeded Notre Dame in South Bend.
''They definitely had an advantage. I think it was one of the craziest places I have played in thus far. I couldn't hear a single thing except Notre Dame chants,'' Davis said. ''As coach said, we aren't going to overlook the games we have to get there.''
If those same top two seeds advance to a regional final rematch this year, they would play in Oklahoma City, the site of another NCAA heartbreaker for Baylor, two years ago in Griner's final game.
The top-ranked Lady Bears were upset by Louisville in the 2013 Sweet 16 at Oklahoma City, a year after their 40-0 championship season with Griner and Sims.
Mulkey missed last year's tournament opener while serving a one-game NCAA suspension for criticizing the officiating after the loss to Louisville in a very physical matchup.
"That game will always be hard for us to think about, but the place - it's fine. No big deal,'' said Sune Agbuke, Baylor's only senior.
Northwestern State (19-14) is happy to be playing anywhere. After losing seven of their last 10 regular-season games, the Lady Demons won four times in four days to capture the Southland Conference tournament and reach their second straight NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history.
''I don't know if we can put that into words,'' co-coach Brooke Stoehr said. ''I know how I felt last year, and it was pure elation. I'm not stunned by what this group has done but just amazed. Their character and resiliency has been unbelievable.''
Junior guard Janelle Perez leads the way with 15.2 points per game.
"The newcomers are really excited," Perez told the school's official website. "They haven't been a part of going to the NCAA. I'm sure we're going to tell them, but we're going to let them experience it. We'll be there to guide them, but for them to experience it will be great."
Northwestern State lost 88-54 at Baylor on Nov. 22, 2013.
"Our players from Texas have played in the Ferrell Center," Stoehr said. "They're familiar with the opponent and the arena."
