The No. 13 OU women’s basketball team was on the losing end of the Red River Rivalry Wednesday night in a 75-57 loss to No. 17 Texas.
“I thought the big difference was intensity,” head coach Sherri Coale said. “I didn’t think we competed.
OU struggled offensively going only 3-10 through the first seven minutes in the contest.
“I’m frustrated because Texas looked like they wanted to win it worse than we did,” Coale said.
Midway through the first half the Sooners established some rhythm, but OU still trailed 20-14. The only Sooners with points on the stat sheet were junior Danielle Robinson and senior Amanda Thompson.
It looked like OU had cut the deficit at 24-22, but the Sooners went cold again without another field goal before halftime.
Texas cooled off slightly around the basket finishing the half shooting 50 percent on 14-28 shooting, but the Longhorns still carried a 33-22 lead into the locker room at the break.
Coale said the Sooners had a chance in the last four minutes of the first half, but they let the Longhorns go on a nine to zero run to close the first half.
OU went into the break shooting 29.6 percent.
It only took four minutes for OU cut the 11-point lead to five to trail the Longhorns 35-33. The Sooners looked like a much invigorated team.
OU kept it close, but the Sooners could not steal the lead from the Longhorns, who struggled from the field more in the second half.
OU was also in foul trouble with senior center Abi Olajuwon and Robinson on the bench each with four fouls.
Without Robinson in the game, Texas went up 50-41.
“(Robinson) gets her fourth foul and we just completely splinter from that point forward,” Coale said.
Coale said the Sooners lacked toughness and moxy, which allowed the Longhorns to hold onto a large lead.
Thompson finished the game leading OU with 19 points and 11 rebounds and Robinson fouled out with two minutes remaining and 16 points.
“Everybody was on difference places and that’s what it felt like,” Robinson said. “We weren’t having fun.
Coale blamed the loss on her team’s offensive performance.
“We didn’t shoot it well and your not going to beat anyone shooting 31 percent from the field,” Coale said.
Next up for the Sooners is a trip north to face Bedlam rival Oklahoma State in Stillwater at 2 p.m. Saturday.
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