John Sommers / Reuters

Kim Mulkey-Robertson and the Baylor Bears celebrate with the NCAA championship trophy.

The victory completed an unprecedented double for Mulkey-Robertson, who became the first in the women’s game to play for a national championship team and then coach one. She was the starting point guard when Louisiana Tech won the first NCAA title in 1982, and later became an assistant coach at Tech, spending 15 years there before taking the Baylor job in 2000.

The Lady Bears (33-3) finished the season with 20 straight victories and helped erase an ugly stain on the university, which was rocked two years ago by a scandal in the men’s basketball program that was uncovered after a former player was accused of killing a teammate.

“Look up at these fans,” Mulkey-Robertson said. “That’s how we changed the Waco community. We’re a positive in Waco and at Baylor University. There’s a lot of good there, there’s great programs, great coaches, and this is one of many more to come.”

Michigan State (33-4) had reached the title game with unselfish play that epitomized team basketball. But guards Kristin Haynie and Lindsay Bowen had to do it almost by themselves in this one — and that was asking too much.

Bowen scored 20 points and Haynie 17, but Baylor negated Michigan State’s two powerful inside players. Kelli Roehrig scored only 8 points and Liz Shimek had 7. Baylor also owned the boards, outrebounding Michigan State 45-22.

“There was a lack in the post area,” Roehrig said. “We really didn’t hold our own.”

Baylor led by 12 at halftime after blunting a mini-rally by the Spartans at the end of the half. Michigan State hung around for a while early in the second half, giving the Spartan fans — who included men’s coach Tom Izzo and football coach John L. Smith — hope that another big comeback was possible.

Not this time.

Baylor kept getting the ball to Young and Blackmon for baskets, while guards Chameka Scott and Latoya Wyatt kept harassing Haynie and Bowen. With under 7 minutes to play, the lead had grown to 22. Even the Spartans had to feel they were finished by then.

Wyatt, a reserve who played only 2 minutes in Baylor’s semifinal win over LSU, also contributed eight points and six rebounds. Scott added seven points, four rebounds and three assists.

When it was over, McCallie, who engineered a five-year turnaround of her own, managed a bright smile as she shook hands with Mulkey-Robertson, knowing the Spartans had lost to a superior team.

“They’re hurting a lot right now, as we all are because the season’s over, and it’s just a funny feeling to have it be over,” McCallie said. “But in the long run, they’re going to look back and realize that they were part of the greatest team ever at Michigan State and one of the greatest teams ever.”

Baylor frustrated the normally efficient Spartans from the start with its sticky man-to-man defense. The Lady Bears tipped passes, contested shots and often had Michigan State desperately seeking a good look at the basket with the shot clock winding down.

At the other end, the Spartans couldn’t find Niemann and she made them pay. Her first two 3s gave Baylor a lead it would never relinquish and her four basket from long range made it 32-13. Bowen and Haynie then led a 12-run that pulled Michigan State to 34-25.

The momentum was swinging the Spartans’ way and then Niemann doused it with an NBA-range 3 from the left side with 8 seconds remaining to take the lead back to 12.

It was more of the same after that. Baylor never stopped until it was time to celebrate.

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