Before the title game, Michigan State took some offense at the notion that they weren't very athletic. During the game, the charge was proven true to some extent, especially on the inside.

Kelli Roehrig and Liz Shimek got worked by Sophia Young and Stephanie Blackmon. The Baylor posts combined for 48 points, 16 rebounds, and 5 assists. The Spartan posts combined for 15, 10, and 2.

And as a team, the Baylor players -- longer, quicker, higher-jumping -- thrashed Michigan State on the boards for a 2-to-1 advantage. The Bears sliced their way through the seams of the MSU zone for 12 offensive boards.

And Emily Niemann bombed away over the top of the zone. "She was the key to the whole game," said coach McCallie. "If you take No. 51 off the floor, it's a whole different game. She was the X-Factor."

The result: a blowout. The second-most lopsided margin ever. A nightmare for the Spartans.

"It's very sad right now, and obviously this is going to hurt for a while," said Kristin Haynie, who had a great game. "But we had a really successful year. We did amazing stuff. I believe we're still an elite program. We just didn't play our best game."

"They're hurting right now, as we all are, because the season is over," coach Joanne P. McCallie said. "But in the long run they'll look back and see they were a part of the best team ever at Michigan State -- and one of the greatest teams ever."

For Baylor, it was all good. Let the party begin.

"Just making history and being a part of something this special -- I can't stop smiling," Chameka Scott said. "That's one of the best parts, is that nobody saw it coming."

"Look up at these fans," coach Kim Mulkey-Robertson said. "That's how we change the Waco community."