Click here to watch highlights of OU's win over Kansas
Head coach Sherri Coale recorded her 300th win in an 81-69 Sooner win over the Kansas Jayhawks Saturday afternoon in Lloyd Noble Center.
“I think coaches get way too much credit,” Coale said about her accomplishment.
The Jayhawks opened the contest with a 10-2 run, as the Sooners struggled to find an offensive rhythm.
“In the beginning we were fumbling the ball a little bit, trying to execute our offense,” junior guard Danielle Robinson said.
After the first timeout, senior forward Amanda Thompson came out with a quick two.
The Sooner forward was one of the only offensive sparks for the Sooners, scoring the team’s only points for the first eight minutes.
Early fouls were a problem for the Sooners, who had nine fouls halfway through the first half. Roethlisberger, senior center Abi Olajuwon and Thompson each picked up two fouls.
“We got down because we were fouling them in the beginning,” Robinson said.
OU fought through its offensive slump and headed into the half shooting almost 50 percent and leading the Jayhawks 37-24.
After scoring 14 points in the first half, senior guard Nyeshia Stevenson kicked off the Sooner offense by draining a three.
Stevenson scored the Sooners eight points coming out of the half, and forced the Jayhawks to take a timeout.
The Sooner lead continued to grow with OU going up 54-37 after over six minutes of play.
Kansas locked onto a rhythm and closed the lead to 55-44, forcing OU to take a timeout.
OU built the lead back to 15 with 8:30 remaining and never let Kansas back into the game.
The Sooners had strong bench play against the Jayhawks, especially from freshman center Joanna McFarland.
“I’ve felt for a while that [McFarland] is on the cusp of breaking out,” Coale said.
McFarland contributed 11 points and eight rebounds in 17 minutes of play after Olajuwon found herself in early foul trouble.
Stevenson led the Sooners with 22 points, while Robinson put up 14 and dished out seven assists.
Kansas’ McCray fouled out of the game with only seven points and six rebounds.
Coale attrubuted the Sooners’ success to limiting McCray’s minutes.
Norman native Sade Morris led the Jayhawks with 17 points.
OU is back in action 7 p.m. Wednesday when they head to Iowa State to take on the Cyclones.
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