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Oklahoma Women’s Basketball: Sooners Reach 20 Wins for 15th Time in Big 12

ByChip Rouse|
Jan 3, 2016; Waco, TX, USA; Baylor Bears guard Kristy Wallace (4) makes hte steal on Oklahoma Sooners guard Gabbi Ortiz (21) during the first half at Ferrell Center. Mandatory Credit: Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2016; Waco, TX, USA; Baylor Bears guard Kristy Wallace (4) makes hte steal on Oklahoma Sooners guard Gabbi Ortiz (21) during the first half at Ferrell Center. Mandatory Credit: Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports

While the men are reeling in Big 12 play, Oklahoma women’s basketball is rolling.

So when you say Oklahoma basketball has been disappointing this season, you have to be careful what you say.

The Sooner women polished off Texas Tech in Lubbock on Saturday for the 13th consecutive time and the 24th time in the last 25 meetings between the two schools.

This one didn’t come easily, however. For the second straight game, the Lady Sooners had to muster a come-from-behind rally in order to pull out the victory. OU was down 33-22 to the Red Raiders at halftime on Saturday and were experience one of their worst shooting performances of the season.

Mar 23, 2015; Stanford, CA, USA; Oklahoma guard Gioya Carter (25) runs the fast break ahead of Stanford forward Kaylee Johnson (5) in the first half of their game in the second round of the women's NCAA Tournament at Maples Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 23, 2015; Stanford, CA, USA; Oklahoma guard Gioya Carter (25) runs the fast break ahead of Stanford forward Kaylee Johnson (5) in the first half of their game in the second round of the women’s NCAA Tournament at Maples Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports

The Sooners missed their first four shots in the game and suffered through a one for ten drought late in the opening quarter. OU also missed its last six shots leading into the halftime break. Easy to understand, given those sad stats, how Oklahoma fell behind in the first half of the game. It’s probably surprising the Sooners were down by more at the half.

But the second half was an entirely different affair. The Sooners found their mojo over the second 20 minutes and outscored Texas Tech 43-23 over the third and fourth quarters to put down the Red Raiders’ upset bid and prevail 64-56.

The win was number 20 on the season for head coach Sherri Coale’s Sooner women and improved 19th-ranked Oklahoma to 20-6 on the season and 11-3 in the Big 12. The Sooners currently hold down sole possession of third place in the conference standings behind league leader Baylor and Texas.

Here are a few more things you should know about the win by the OU women over the weekend:

  • The Oklahoma women are 17-0 this season when their opponent is held to 70 or fewer points.
  • Four Sooner players scored in double figures for the 11th time this season. Saturday’s win was led by 18 points each by junior Gabbi Ortiz and freshman Chelsea Dungee.
  • After trailing 33-22 at halftime, Oklahoma went on a 10-run to open the third quarter and forced 10 Texas Tech turnovers in the quarter to take a 46-44 lead at the end of the third period.
  • The Sooners made 10 of 11 free throws vs. Texas Tech. . OU has shot better than 80 percent from the free-throw line in seven of its last eight games.
  • Oklahoma shot a miserable 21 percent in the opening quarter on Saturday and 28 percent in the fourth quarter. In between, the Sooners improved enough to finish the game shooting 31 percent, their second worst shooting percentage of the season.
  • In addition to a torrid third-quarter scoring performance, OU outscored the Red Raiders 23-7 in second-chance points and 24-9 in points off turnovers.
  • The Oklahoma women have recorded wins in 30 consecutive games when the Sooners win the rebounding and turnover categories.
  • This is the 15th time under Sherri Coale, who is in her 21st season as the coach of the OU women, that the Sooners have posted 20 or more wins in a season.