One game down, many to go.

The OU women’s basketball team sealed its first victory of the NCAA tournament with a 68-57 victory over South Dakota State.

Tournament seedings do not always mean a lot when teams are fighting for another playing day, and OU women’s basketball team discovered that Sunday night.

It was a game marked by a constant Sooner lead, but a late threat in the second half gave the Sooners a mild scare.

The Jack Rabbits kept it close for the opening five minutes of the game, but after that it was clear OU found enough separation.

“We just didn’t play real well in the first half and Oklahoma did,” said Sout Dakota State coach Aaron Johnston.

At 10:45, OU extended the lead to 21-13, shooting 50 percent from the field.

From the onset, the Sooners spread the scoring, but with contributions coming from the usual suspects senior forward Amanda Thompson, senior guard Nyeshia Stevenson, and junior guard Danielle Robinson.

With 7:15 remaining, the Sooners went up 30-20 on the Jack Rabbits. Stevenson was one of the primary reasons for the first half spark, putting down ten points midway through the half.

South Dakota State refused to fade, but so did Stevenson.

On a three by the senior guard, the Sooners extended the lead to fifteen at 41-26 with 3:56 remaining. Stevenson would finish the half with 15 points.

The Jack Rabbits put together a short run to close the lead to ten, but could not put a large enough dent in the OU lead.

The Sooners headed into the locker room with a 44-31 advantage.

Significant figures in the first half include a 30-8 OU advantage in the paint, and both teams shooting 50 percent from beyond the arc.

Coming out of the half, the Sooners initially struggled to make shots, but senior center Abi Olajuwon finally found success in the paint.

“I thought offensively Abi just set her jaw in the second half and said ‘I’m going to go score,’” OU coach Sherri Coale said.

With over five minutes played, OU controlled the ball with a 50-38 edge on the Jack Rabbits.

The Sooners would maintain about a 12-point lead for a majority of the second half. The lead remained constant at 10:33, OU up 56-44.

With less than 10 minutes to play, the Jack Rabbits cut the lead to nine, but the lead continued to hover there through the four-minute mark.

It was with less than four to go that the Jack Rabbits put the pressure on OU and cut the lead to seven.

“I was a little disappointed in our second half,” Coale said.

With 2:51, Robinson put the Sooners up nine again, but the Jack Rabbits responded quickly to return the lead to seven.

“I said going in that they’re an unbelievable good 14 seed,” Coale said. “The weapons that they have make them a very, very dangerous team.”

Luckily for OU, the lead remained there until free throws at the conclusion of the contest.

“They come with a knock out punch and we weathered it,” Coale said.

Stevenson led the Sooner offense with 17 points and eight assists.

Thompson recorded another double-double with 11 points and 15 rebounds and Robinson ended the night with 13.

Olajuwon was the other OU player in double-digits with 15 points of her own.

With the win, the Sooners move on to play Arkansas-Little Rock Tuesday for a place in the Sweet Sixteen.