OU women’s basketball faces the best of the Big 12 this weekend at the Big 12 Conference Championships.

The first test for OU will be tonight against the Baylor Bears, a team the Sooners split two games with this season.

Baylor is a challenging team that OU will have to contest with, thanks to the return of freshman center Brittany Griner.

Griner had been sidelined for two games with a suspension due to a punch she threw during a game against Texas Tech.

But even with Griner on the sidelines, head coach Sherri Coale said Baylor is a formidable opponent. The Texas team came back to beat a streaky Colorado team in the first round of the playoffs, 72-65

“I thought Baylor looked really good without her,” Coale said

But OU is going to be ready down the stretch, even if it does get tiring.

The Big 12 Conference wears on players and coaches because there is never a night off, Coale said.

The Sooners are coming off a big win Sunday over Bedlam rival Oklahoma State, who is also still alive in the tournament.

OU can take that momentum and use it for the rest of the tournament play

“I think we’re going to play our best basketball down the stretch, I really do,” Coale said.

The Sooners and the Bears take to the court at 7:30 tonight in Kansas City. The game is broadcast on Fox Sports Network.