WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Nothing could be more important for the Oklahoma women than finding their confidence. It took a beating during a three-game losing streak that preceded Sunday’s first-round NCAA Tournament tilt with Illinois State, and for most of the first half, little difference could be detected … except perhaps in the case of infrequently used sophomore reserve Rose Hammond.

Well, if Hammond has any thorns, they were all reserved for the Redbirds, who might have landed the first round’s biggest upset but for the Depew product who tied a career-high 12 points to go with a pair of assists and a pair of rebounds to lead OU to a 69-61 victory.

If the Sooners can get past Notre Dame Tuesday night inside Purdue’s Mackey Arena, they will reach the Sweet 16 a third straight season and play for a shot at the Elite Eight March 30 at the Ford Center.

“She’s a very young sophomore in terms of minutes played and especially on this stage,” Sooner coach Sherri Coale said of Hammond, almost the forgotten one of a recruiting class that also included Jenna Plumley, Abi Olajuwon and Amanda Thompson. “But I just thought she was fantastic today.”

Eight of Hammond’s 12 points came in the first half, helping to keep the Sooners afloat during 20 difficult minutes. But it was a 19-footer, just inside the 3-point arc, that she hit which might be the shot of the season.

OU, which looked like its back-in-the-day up-and-down-the-court self the first 8 minutes of the second half, built a 17-point lead only to let nearly all of it slip away. That set the stage for a crucial offensive possession while the Sooners clung to 61-58 edge as the final minute approached.

Even with a girl in her face, Hammond launched from about 10 feet left and a little in from the top of the key and buried it.

The Redbirds made it a three-point game one more time, but OU pulled away over the last 30 seconds as Plumley and Courtney Paris combined to hit 6 of 6 from the free-throw line.

“It was definitely the last two weeks of practice,” Hammond said, trying explain the source of her finest collegiate game to date. “I was drained. I don’t feel like I’ve ever practiced like that.”

Only Ashley Paris bettered Hammond’s dozen points, finishing with 13 and five rebounds. Courtney Paris attempted only five shots, but hit four to finish with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Danielle Robinson added another 12 and Thompson finished with nine.

“The name of the game is surviving and advancing,” Courtney Paris said. “It’s about people like Rose Hammond stepping up confidently and making shots. We told Rose to go score because they were leaving her open.”

Point guard Kristi Cirone, the player of the year in the Missouri Valley Conference, led the Redbirds with 22 points and four assists. Shala Jackson added 17 off the bench.

The Sooners took control after the half with a flurry unseen since maybe the second half at Kansas State Feb. 20.

Courtney Paris started it with a putback and followed by assisting her twin sister. The next trip down the court, Plumley found Paris with a 40-foot pass that led to a layup. After finally coming up empty on an offensive trip, Thompson blocked a shot, grabbed the ball and beat everybody down court for a layup. Next, Robinson sliced through the Redbird defense for a bucket and OU led by 41-29 after a 10-0 sprint.

“We didn’t get the run to start the game that we wanted,” Paris said. “The start of the second half was big for us.”

Illinois State hung early and came back late, yet still was forced into a game unlike it’s played most of the season. Ranked No. 3 of 326 Division I programs with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.32 to 1, the Redbirds committed 18 turnovers and dished 13 assists.

“They are a hard-nosed, tough, efficient offensive team,” Coale said. “We forced them into 18 turnovers — that’s very uncharacteristic of this basketball team … They can all score. They’re very smart. They’re very well coached.”

Illinois State sounded happy just to have given OU such a hard time.

“When we fell behind by 17, we could have given up, but we didn’t,” Redbird coach Robin Pingeton said. “We were warriors and we battled back.”

Clay Horning

366-3526

cfhorning@normantranscript.com