Baylor's Lauren Cox leaves NCAA title game with leg injury

Posted April 07, 2019 7:00 am

The Associated Press

Baylor forward Lauren Cox yells as she holds her left knee, during the second half against Notre Dame in the Final Four championship game of the NCAA women's college basketball tournament Sunday, April 7, 2019, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) The Associated Press

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - Baylor star Lauren Cox has been taken off the court in a wheelchair with an apparent left knee injury during the third quarter of the NCAA women's national championship game against Notre Dame.

The Lady Bears, seeking their third national title, led 62-50 with 1:22 remaining Sunday night when Cox was injured. The 6-foot-4 forward fell to the floor clutching her left knee under the Notre Dame basket after getting tangled up with teammate Kalani Brown.

Baylor coach Kim Mulkey didn't provide specifics on the injury during an in-game interview but did say "if Lauren Cox didn't get up, it's very severe."

Cox was in tears on the court, and her parents were emotional in the stands. Her father buried his head in his hands, and her mother cried.

Mulkey said "I could cry for her right now, but I have to go work."

Cox returned to the bench in the fourth quarter on crutches and with a brace on her left knee.

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Baylor forward Lauren Cox (15) grabs her knee as teammates Kalani Brown (21) and Juicy Landrum (20) watch after Cox was injured during the second half against Notre Dame in the Final Four championship game of the NCAA women's college basketball tournament Sunday, April 7, 2019, in Tampa, Fla. (Dirk Shadd/Tampa Bay Times via AP) The Associated Press

Baylor forward Lauren Cox is assisted off the court after she injured her knee during the second half of the team's Final Four championship game against Notre Dame in the NCAA women's college basketball tournament Sunday, April 7, 2019, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) The Associated Press

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