Oklahoma Holds Off Persistent Kansas State

The Sooners struggled offensively in the first half, but managed to pull ahead of the Wildcats in a scrappy Big 12 home opener.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:08 pm

By: News On 6

Oklahoma Holds Off Persistent Kansas State

Originally Published: Jan 12, 2011 10:2 PM CDT

Stephany Speck
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

NORMAN, Oklahoma -- There are no points awarded for pretty play, which wouldn’t have benefited the Oklahoma Sooners anyway in Wednesday’s Big 12 home opener.

The Sooners beat the Kansas State Wildcats 52-45, despite a slow start and going scoreless from behind the arc. Sherri Coale’s squad shot a dismal 32 percent, well off its 44.9 percent per game. Danielle Robinson was the only player in crimson and cream to finish in the double digits, racking up 20 points for the Sooners, 14 of those coming in the second half.

OU also relied heavily on freshman standout Aaryn Ellenberg and returning favorite Whitney Hand. Ellenberg contributed seven points, while Hand posted eight points and six rebounds in her first home game since injuring her knee last season.

Coale was not happy heading into the locker room at halftime, the Sooners trailing the Wildcats, 20-15. It was the fewest halftime points the Sooners had scored all season. Whatever she said in the locker room put some pressure on her team, as they turned it up a notch or two heading into the second half.

The Sooners tied the game and reclaimed the lead five minutes into the second half, a gust of dominance they had only seen early in the game.

The Sooners didn’t look back, holding off the pesky Wildcats enough to earn their first win of Big 12 play and improve to a 12-3 record.