Claremore Daily Progress

Sports

Related Photos

  • OU point guard Morgan Hook (10) drives down the baseline for a scoring opportunity in the Sooners' 72-57 win over Kansas State Wednesday night in Norman. KYLE PHILLIPS

    OUvKS1web.jpg
February 21, 2013

BIG 12 WOMEN'S BB: OU rolls past K-State, 72-57

CLAY HORNING CNHI News Services

NORMAN — The Oklahoma women weren’t spectacular Wednesday night at Lloyd Noble Center. They were, though, plenty good, dispatching Kansas State 72-57 in a game not at all so close.



The Sooners, out of the Associated Press Top 25 for the first time in a long time, shot the ball well, took care of it, too, and received big games from their most important players.



Looking toward their last four games of the regular season, and after losing two straight to Iowa State and Kansas, the Sooners got what they needed against the Wildcats.



“We were certainly better,” OU coach Sherri Coale said. “I remember in the second half I thought, ‘Ah, I recognize you, I remember that.’ We were just sharing the ball and playing with great cadence and that is exactly what we needed to see tonight.”



It began with center Nicole Griffin, who did most of her work early and went on to finish with 14 points on 7-of-11 shooting. Next, Aaryn Ellenberg ended a rash of bad shooting to make 7 of 12 from the floor and 2 of 4 from 3-point land, leading OU with 18 points and five assists.



Point guard Morgan Hook hit 4 of 7 shots for nine points and dished four assists against a single turnover. And Joanna McFarland, like clockwork, delivered another double-double, her ninth of the conference season, finishing with 15 points and 10 rebounds.



“We just played with great rhythm on offense and that’s why our shots were falling,” Hook said. “We passed to Nicole whenever we wanted to. It was an inside-out game and I think, overall, our spacing and everything was just where it needed to be.”



Kansas State, the only team in the conference with less depth than OU, didn’t help its cause by shooting less than 20 percent deep into the first half and, by the time it was over, 30 percent (20 of 67). Coale thought her team had something to do with that.



“For the most part (it was) a very solid defensive performance against a team that is very, very hard to guard,” she said. “Kansas State missed some shots … but there’s always a little defense involved with how they’re feeling to get those shots, like if they’re out of rhythm or rushed.”



Meanwhile, while OU shot better than 50 percent (31 of 59) for the first time since winning at Texas on Jan. 5, and parlayed that with its most ball-secure game of the season, committing only 10 turnovers.



It was a good night, all around.



“Tonight was fun, and that’s what we were trying to do,” McFarland said. “We were trying to take a deep breath and go back to having fun because that’s what got us here and that’s what we were really thinking about.”



OU took it’s first 10-point lead 7:39 before the half and pushed the edge to 17 points before a buzzer-beating 3 from Brianna Craig brought the Wildcats within 32-21 at the break.



The Sooners pushed the lead all the way to 27 points with 4:23 remaining, just as Coale brought her starters — or all that she could with a nine-player roster — off the floor.



The Wildcats, led by Brittany Chambers’ 21 points and nine rebounds, closed on an 18-6 run to produce the final score.



A good night for the home team, it was also the calm before a Bedlam storm. OU visits No. 23 Oklahoma State Saturday.

Text Only
Sports
  • DSC_0047web.jpg Verdigris’ Hanslovan commits to ORU

    One of the biggest decisions of her upcoming senior year is finally behind Verdigris High School soccer standout Caitlyn Hanslovan.
    The four-year letterwinner and three-time Class 4A state champion forward announced Tuesday that she will commit to playing NCAA Division I soccer at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa.

    May 22, 2013 2 Photos

  • DSC_0209web.jpg RSU's Loy earns third-straight Academic All American honor

    Rogers State senior outfielder Katrina Loy was named to the Capital One Academic All-America College Division Softball Third Team as announced by the College Sports Information Directors of America.

    May 22, 2013 1 Photo

  • DSC_0202web.jpg Area players earn All-Region baseball awards

    The awards keep piling up for Verdigris High School graduate Blake Battenfield.
    After being named to the Oklahoma Coaches Association All-State Large East team earlier this week, Battenfield and numerous other players from Rogers County earned OCA All-Region accolades.
    Battenfield was joined by his teammate, Ryan Hurd, who was a senior outfielder/shortstop for the three-time Class 3A state champion Verdigris Cardinals.

    May 22, 2013 1 Photo

  • Clyde Barkley Basketball Camp starts May 28-30 in Inola

    The Clyde Barkley Boys Basketball Camp will get underway on May 28-30 at Inola High School Gymnasium.
    The three-day camp will go from 9 a.m. to Noon and is offered to boys entering third through ninth grade. The cost of the camp is $55 or $100 for two campers in the same family.

    May 22, 2013

  • Zebras Baseball/Softball Camp set for May 29-31

    The Claremore Zebras baseball and softball camp will take place on May 29-31 at Powers Park.
    The camp is for boys and girls ages 4-14. The cost of this camp is $60 or $90 for two campers from the same family. Team discounts are also available for seven or more players.

    May 22, 2013

  • OU athletics pledges support to tornado relief efforts

    OU Athletics officials have been advised by local relief agencies that the best way to help Oklahoma disaster victims is to text RED CROSS to 90999 to give $10 or go online to make a donation at RedCross.org.

    May 22, 2013

  • ORU hosts "Vaulting for Moore" fundraiser

    The day after a devastating tornado ripped through Moore, Okla., the Oral Roberts University Track & Field program has announced that it will host a fundraiser to help in the aid and recovery efforts. The “Vaultin’ for Moore” fundraiser will be held inside the H.A. Chapman Indoor Practice Facility on ORU’s campus on Saturday, June 1 at 1 p.m.

    May 22, 2013

  • ORU claims 4-2 win over SFA in Southland Conference Tourney

    Timely hitting and solid relief pitching carried third-seeded Oral Roberts University to a 4-2 victory over sixth-seeded Stephen F. Austin on Wednesday morning at the 2013 Southland Conference Tournament. The opening day victory books ORU (24-30) a spot in the winner’s bracket of the eight-team tournament.

    May 22, 2013

  • Drillers pledge $10,000 toward tornado relief efforts

    The Tulsa Drillers announced today that the team was donating $10,000 to the tornado relief efforts on behalf of those who were affected by this week's storms in Shawnee and Moore, Oklahoma.The donation will be made to the American Red Cross.

    May 22, 2013

  • Whitaker ready for new role as Texas Tech coach

    Candi Whitaker's introduction as Texas Tech's basketball coach was probably news to many Lady Raider fans on Wednesday.
    The 33-year-old mother of one son is expecting a second in September.

    May 22, 2013