No. 11 Texas (Women) 60, No. 19 Oklahoma 54

Thursday, January 30th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) _ Stacy Stephens had 19 points and 14 rebounds, and Jamie Carey had seven of her 17 points from the free-throw line in the final minute as No. 11 Texas withstood a late rally to beat No. 19 Oklahoma 60-54 Wednesday night.

Stephens' performance in the paint was critical to the Longhorns (13-5, 6-1 in Big 12), who shot only 37 percent. She made eight of 13 shots.

But it was a 12-of-14 performance by Carey from the foul line in the closing minutes that helped thwart an Oklahoma comeback. Five of those free throws came after the Sooners cut a 13-point lead to four with 37 seconds remaining.

``We knew Oklahoma was going to be tough and they were,'' said Texas coach Jody Conradt, whose team outscored OU at the free throw line 21-5. ``I was really happy to see Jamie Carey at the free throw line in that situation. We made the shots when we had to.''

Oklahoma (13-6, 4-2) trailed 51-38 after Stephens banked home a close-range jumper with 5:02 left. The Sooners rallied behind a pair of baskets from Teresa Schuknecht and one from Chelsi Welch.

After misfiring on their first 11 3-point attempts, the Sooners finished strong behind Welch who hit three 3s after the break, including a pair in the final rally.

Her last 3-pointer cut the Texas advantage to 57-54 with 29.2 seconds left.

``We scratched and clawed and never gave up,'' said OU coach Sherri Coale. ``But Texas hit its free throws down the stretch and that's what a good team does.''

Welch led Oklahoma with a career-high 20 points. Maria Villarroel and Dionnah Jackson finished with eight points apiece.

Heather Schreiber added 14 points from Texas, which moved into a first-place tie atop the Big 12 standings with Texas Tech.