Aggies Edge Past Sooners, Despite OU's Feisty Finish

The Sooners were down by 13 at half, but battled back to go neck-and-neck with the undefeated Aggies.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:10 pm

By: News On 6

Aggies Edge Past Sooners, Despite OU's Feisty Finish

Originally Published: Jan 26, 2011 10:9 PM CDT

Stephany Speck
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

NORMAN, Oklahoma -- The Sooners watched the Aggies’ Danielle Adams sink two free throws, marking OU’s first conference loss of the season, 80-78.

Sherri Coale’s team battled back from a 13-point halftime deficit, again making a fight out of the final 20 minutes. Danielle Robinson scored 17 of her 33 points in the second half, refusing to relinquish any kind of momentum to the undefeated Aggies.

Both teams entered the game with 5-0 Big 12 records, but now only Texas A&M remain unbeaten between the two.

The Aggies’ Adams showed the Sooners fans packed into the Lloyd Noble Center why she’s one of the strongest players in the conference. She put up 21 of her 31 total points in the first half, shot 50 percent from the field and hit 9 of her 10 free throws -- the final two sealing the loss for OU.

Despite her strong presence in the first half, Adams was visibly slowed in the remaining few minutes of the game, due to muscle cramps in her legs.

While Adams was on the bench attempting to stretch out her cramping legs, the Sooners began to edge back into the game. With justmore thanfive minutes left, Whitney Hand did what she does best -- hit a perimeter shot. Oklahoma gained the narrow two-point lead, but the Aggies battled back.

The game went neck-and-neck, but late foul trouble sent OU to the charity line, where they were again able to establish a two-point lead. Both teams managed to rack up 19 personal fouls apiece during the matchup, the Sooners shooting 70 percent at the line, while the Aggies hitmore than86 percent of their free throws.

The Aggies’ Adams, as noted above, finished the night leading her team with 31 points, while Sydney Carter added 12 points and four assists in her foul-laden night in Norman. Tyra White also tacked on an impressive 14 points for the Aggies.

Robinson led all scorers with 33 points and four assists, but added to the Sooners’ struggles by committing six turnovers. Freshman flash Aaryn Ellenberg again gave OU fans a glimpse of what the future holds for the team by ending the night with 13 points and some feisty ball movement. Hand continued to show improvement, putting up 17 points, five rebounds and recording three steals.

The Sooners also got an impressive performance from Lyndsey Cloman, who was marking up on Adams most of the game. She accounted for four rebounds, two steals and some heavy defensive presence on the Big 12’s leading scorer.

The Sooners will head to Stillwater Saturday for Bedlam, but will have to recover quickly before facing the only other remaining undefeated team in the Big 12 on the road, the Baylor Bears.