Coming into Wednesday night’s contest with Marist, the Oklahoma women might have gladly taken a 19-point win. But with about 6 minutes to play, the Sooners’ effort left coach Sherri Coale wanting more.
“I just thought in the second half we were absolutely floundering and playing uninspired,” she said moments after what ultimately became an 83-57 OU victory.
Marist went 18-0 in the MAAC last season and the Red Foxes are a unanimous choice by Metro Atlantic coaches to win their sixth straight regular season conference title. But none of that had OU feeling very good about its 65-46 lead with 6:07 to play.
Perhaps a strong showing in a vaccum, but not so much after the Sooners scored 17 of the game’s first 19 points and led 43-17 at the half.
“We didn’t come out in the second half the way we need to,” said Sooner center Courtney Paris, who finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds. “It was good to have a few minutes to fix things up at the end, but we have to play better. We have to play 40 minutes.”
As much as they could, the Sooners did “fix things up at the end.” It was at that 6:07 mark that Coale returned to her starting lineup and the Sooners went on a 13-3 run to reestablish their largest lead of the game at 30 points.
With No. 1 Connecticut on tap Sunday night at Gampel Pavilion, the Sooners might have rescued a little momentum before heading east.
“It was real important,” Paris said.
Before the sleepwalking and awakening it was the Sooner show starring Whitney Hand.
The freshman guard finished with 20 points to lead both teams. Her 3 of 6 shooting from beyond the arc, including a rare four-point play, gave OU a shot in the arm from the outside that’s been missing most of the early season. Sixteen of Hand’s points came in the first half when the Sooners grabbed a 15-point edge almost immediately before building on it the rest of the half.
“I think it was the fact that she really wanted the ball after how poorly she shot it against North Carolina,” Coale said. “She came out of the gates wanting the ball, wanting to make something happen.”
Beyond Hand, clear as a bell was the Sooners’ athletic edge. The Red Foxes, a good team that’s receiving Top 25 votes, appeared not to belong on the same court.
“I do think it was our speed and athleticism that completely rattled them,” Coale said. “They missed some shots early on that they don’t typically miss. I think they were just wound up trying to go too fast.”
The Red Foxes got 17 points from Rachele Fitz and 10 from Erica Allenspach.
“I thought our kids did a decent job in the second half,” Marist coach Brian Giorgis said. “When they had nothing to lose, they played a little tougher.”
The Sooners got 17 points and eight assists from Danielle Robinson. Ashley Paris, with 14 points and 10 rebounds, recorded her third straight double-double.
Clay Horning
366-3526
cfhorning@normantranscript.com
OU Sports
Related Photos
Discussion
Sooner women roll
- OU Sports
-
-
It’s a recipe for success
Oklahoma softball coach Patty Gasso was answering questions Saturday after her Sooners clinched another return to the Women’s College World Series when, without really meaning to, she began to make it clear her job has, sort of, become ...
-
Tigers deny Sooners’ Big 12 title hopes
OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma wanted to win its first Big 12 tournament in 16 years on Sunday. Missouri needed to win it to get in the NCAA Tournament. Need topped desire at Bricktown Ballpark....
-
Sooners make winning look easy
As Oklahoma’s players locked arms around the pitching circle, coming together for what passed as a celebration following Saturday’s 7-1 NCAA Super Regional-clinching victory over Arizona, three gloves remained near second base....
-
There are no easy outs in the lineup
Looking for a gameplan to stop Oklahoma? Well, one may or may not be available, but walking two of the first three Sooners you face certainly isn’t part of it. Just ask Arizona’s Kenzie Fowler....
-
Sooners will play for Big 12 championship
OKLAHOMA CITY, — It’s been 16 years since Oklahoma won the Big 12 tournament. It’s closer now than its ever been to ending the streak. The Sooners rolled through Baylor, 7-2, on Saturday at Bricktown Ballpark to advance to the tournament’s ...
-
Sooners send five more to nationals
AUSTIN, Texas — Oklahoma track and field teams had five more individuals qualify for the NCAA Championship on Saturday evening at the NCAA West Preliminary. The men’s 4x100-meter relay team also advanced to the national semifinals....
-
OU sophomore Jao-Javanil wins NCAA golf title
FRANKLIN, Tenn. — Oklahoma’s Chirapat Jao-Javanil made Oklahoma golf history Friday, becoming the first Sooner, man or woman, to win an individual NCAA national championship....
-
Pitching staff is exactly where Golloway wants it to be
When the Big 12 tournament began, Oklahoma felt like it had the pitching staff to make a deep run. Dillon Overton, Jordan John, Jonathan Gray and Damien Magnifico gave them four quality starters and a closer — Steven Okert — capable of ...
-
Sooners shut out Wildcats, need one more win for WCWS entry
Oklahoma might have scored more runs, not committed an error and starting pitcher Keilani Ricketts could have been just a little more efficient along the way....
-
Sooners send 4 more to NCAAs
AUSTIN, Texas – Oklahoma’s track and field teams added four individuals to the list of Sooners advancing to the NCAA championship Friday at the NCAA West Preliminary. In addition to the four new qualifiers, Brittany Borman advanced to the ...
- More OU Sports Headlines
-
It’s a recipe for success
