After spending most of the first half of the conference season in the bottom half of the Big 12, the Tigers (16-7, 7-5 Big 12) are on a three-game winning streak and in prime position to solidify a spot in the NCAA Tournament - if they remain in the top five of the conference.

Today, they play at Baylor (17-6, 6-6), which is tied with Texas for sixth in the conference.

"I think that everything is in our control right now as far as where we are," MU coach Cindy Stein said. "If we keep on winning we don’t have to worry about anyone else and what they’re doing. I think that what’s significant for us is to take care of our own business."

They will have to do so in front of a raucous crowd at the Ferrell Center in Waco, Texas, where the Bears rank in the top 25 in the country in attendance with 3,658 fans per game.

Baylor’s first-year coach and former Louisiana Tech All-American Kim Mulkey-Robertson has helped the Bears, who are on a two-game winning steak but have never made the NCAA Tournament, in a turnaround of last year’s 7-20 mark.

When asked if she believes that six teams in the conference will make the NCAA Tournament, Mulkey-Robertson said, "Let’s hope for seven, man.

"We don’t approach any game as a pressure game. We approach them one game at a time. I say this is another big game in the Big 12."

Part of the turnaround is the offensive production of junior stars Sheila Lambert (22.7 points per game) and Danielle Crockrom (21.2 ppg, 12. 3 rebounds per game), the No. 5 and No. 8 scorers in the nation and No. 2 and No. 3 in the Big 12, respectively. Baylor also brings a strong center in senior Monica Arnold, who is averaging 10.1 points and seven rebounds per contest.

"They’re a good shooting team," Stein said. "They’ve got three kids who are extremely good. One of them is a very exciting player. Lambert is probably going to be an all-American. She is very talented and the kid can create her own shot."

Missouri brings in a more balanced attack with starting guards Tracy Franklin and Kerensa Barr picking up their offense during the winning streak.

Franklin is coming of Big 12 Player of the Week honors when for scoring a career-high 24 points against Kansas on Feb. 10.

"Sometimes it takes kids a little while" to pick up scoring, said Stein about Franklin, who is averaging 10.1 points a game. "You have kids who are shooters and kids who are creators and Tracy Franklin is someone who can create her own shot."

Barr followed a career-high 13 points against Kansas with another career-high of 17 versus Nebraska Tuesday.

"I feel good right now," said Barr, now averaging 6.9 points a game and has 111 assists on the year. "I feel like our whole team is starting to come together. Hopefully that will continue and we’ll peak as a team at the right time."