OU Women Win Second Straight Overtime Game

Originally Published: Dec 9, 2009 9:17 PM CDT

Recap | Box Score

Corey DeMoss
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – Four days after winning a nail-biter in overtime against Arkansas, the OU women’s basketball team did it again Wednesday against Marist.

Nyseshia Stevenson hit a 3-pointer with 17 seconds left in regulation to force overtime, and the Sooners (7-2) went on to beat Marist (4-4) 80-71 Wednesday.

Stevenson’s clutch 3-pointer tied the game at 68, and Marist’s offense went cold in overtime. The Sooners outscored the Red Foxes 12-3 in the extra period to clinch the victory.

Stevenson carried the Sooners’ offense all night, scoring a career-high 32 points in 40 minutes of action. Carlee Roethlisberger was the only other Sooner to score in double digits, and she needed four free throws in overtime to get to 12 points.

The two teams stayed close through the entire game. The Sooners started the game on an 8-2 run, but that was the largest lead either team had for the rest of the first half. OU and Marist went back and forth for the rest of the half, and went into halftime tied at 37.

The even play continued in the second half. Marist was able to build a lead, but the Sooners gradually fought back and were able to retake the lead with 3:14 left in the game.

In the final three minutes, the teams continued to trade blows. With 25 seconds left and Marist leading by one, OU committed an intentional foul to send Erica Allenspach to the free-throw line. Allenspach made both, giving the Red Foxes a three-point lead that provided the setting for Stevenson’s 3-pointer to tie it.

Rachele Fitz scored 25 points for Marist, while Allenspach added 18. The rest of the Red Foxes scored 28 points combined.

The Sooners have now won three games in a row, with both of the last two coming in overtime by a combined 10 points. They will look to continue their success Thursday against Army.