NORMAN —
Almost three fourths of the way Sunday afternoon at Allen Fieldhouse, the Oklahoma women weren’t simply the second best team on the floor but a very distant second best. And being best the last 11 or 12 minutes wasn’t early enough to exit victoriously.
Ranked No. 22 but on its way out of the poll, OU fell 81-71 to Kansas.
The Sooners came out ice cold, not recording their second field goal until 10:17 remained in the half, nor their third until 6:42 remained. OU’s 20 first-half points were a season low, six points less than the 26 posted against Arkansas the fourth game of the season.
Worse, the second half was a similar story, with OU scoring only 12 points the first 8 minutes out of the locker room, allowing Kansas to push its lead all the way out to 19 points, 54-35 with 11:14 to play.
That’s when OU finally responded, eventually scoring 37 points over the game’s final 11:53.
The Sooners rallied within seven, 60-53, with 5:44 remaining on a layup from Sharane Campbell.
After Kansas pushed the edge back to 13 points, the Sooners had it back at seven, 70-63, with 1:28 remaining. But the Jayhawks hit their free throws down the stretch and that was the end of that.
Some typically reliable Sooners struggled for a second straight game. Aaryn Ellenberg came on late to finish with 21 points, but made only 9 of 26 shots. Point guard Morgan Hook hit 3 of 10 from the field and most of her misses were layups.
The bigs were OU’s strength.
Senior forward Joanna McFarland finished with 16 points and 15 rebounds for her eighth double-double against a Big 12 Conference opponent this season. Junior center Nicole Griffin made 8 of 12 shots, finished with 17 points and grabbed nine rebounds.
Kansas was led by Carolyn Davis’ 24 points and 10 rebounds. Monica Engelman added 21 points and five rebounds.
The Sooners fell to 18-7 and 8-5 in the conference. The Jayhawks improved to 16-8 and 7-6.
OU had been in position to run away with the second spot in the conference behind top-ranked Baylor. Now the Sooners must fight not to slip to fourth, with Kansas State visiting Lloyd Noble Center on Wednesday, followed by four more regular season games: at Oklahoma State, Baylor, Kansas again and at Texas Tech.
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BIG 12 WOMEN'S BB: Kansas stuns No. 22 OU, 81-71
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Gasso trusts that Ricketts will find her timing again
Oklahoma pitcher Keilani Ricketts was not at her best on Sunday. The defending USA Softball Player of the Year didn’t give up a run in her two and two-thirds innings of work, but she was far from the dominant pitcher who tossed a no-hitter last week.
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Sooners claim regular season finale with win over K-State
Oklahoma managed to end the regular season on a positive note Sunday. Kolbey Carpenter went 2 for 4 and drove in three runs to help power the Sooners to a 7-3 victory over Kansas State at Tointon Stadium.
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Chamberlain's curtain call only the beginning
The chant reaching near-deafening levels, Lauren Chamberlain finally realized what she was supposed to do.
Moments after blasting a three-run home run that broke open what had been a close regional final, the sophomore tepidly stepped up out of the dugout and waved to the home crowd, enjoying the first curtain call of her career. -
OU's dominant victory a shining example of how tough Sooners are in softball
On the first day Oklahoma softball coach Patty Gasso thought it was better to go with Michelle Gascoigne over Keilani Ricketts against Arkansas’ bats, the Sooners beat the Razorbacks by five runs.
A day later Gasso had the same thought. OU prevailed by 13 runs. -
Cowboys fall short in Big 12 regular season finale
Oklahoma State University played catch up the entire game of Saturday’s series finale with West Virginia at Allie P. Reynolds, and never could quite get over the hump.
The Cowboys would respond after each Mountaineer score but it wouldn’t be enough as they lost the finale 5-4 on Senior Day. -
Referees stop Lake Eufaula Classic with South on top
It was an outcome unlike any in the 29 years of the Lake Eufaula Classic, and a bruise different than any player has ever departed with.
Officials, following the second serious skirmish of the game, walked off the field and the game was called, the South leading the North 12-10 at Paul Bell Stadium. -
Grand Junction Bound: Connors State advances to JUCO World Series
All season long, Connors State coach Perry Keith has said his team was winning a lot of ball games ugly.
On Saturday, the game between the Cowboys and No. 1 Delgado (La.) was anything but as Connors beat the Dolphins 3-1 to capture the South Central district championship and a berth in next week’s NJCAA College World Series. -
Young Americans waste no time qualifying for Indy 500
Bump Day at Indianapolis followed the script.
No surprises, no drama and no drivers getting bumped.
On a day devoid of tension and rumors, all nine drivers who made attempts on the second and final day of Indianapolis 500 qualifications made it into the 33-car field, led by two young Americans - Josef Newgarden and Graham Rahal - who easily had the two fastest cars on the track. -
NCAA WOMEN'S BB: Texas Tech hires OSU assistant Candi Whitaker
Texas Tech has hired Oklahoma State assistant Candi Whitaker to coach its women's basketball team.
The school announced Monday that the former Lady Raiders player would return to her alma mater as coach. The move comes about a week after Kristy Curry left for Alabama. -
Pacers, Heat start bracing to square off again
A year ago when Miami and Indiana faced off in the postseason, there were blood-drawing hits, flagrant fouls, technical fouls, choke signs being directed toward LeBron James and more than a few sharp-tongued comments.
Here they possibly go again, at least on the comment front.
The Eastern Conference finals between the Heat and Pacers won't begin until Wednesday night, but there's already signs that the animosity present throughout last season's Miami-Indiana second-round series will likely return this time around. - More Sports Headlines
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Gasso trusts that Ricketts will find her timing again
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