No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners 76

No. 9 Kansas Jayhawks 59

OKLAHOMA CITY – Of the eight teams that remained after Thursday’s first round games of the Big 12 Women’s Tournament, just one had not been ranked in the top 25 at some point this season. The first quarterfinal of the tournament featured Oklahoma, which had never been ranked lower than third all year, and Kansas, which was 2-8 at one point in conference play but had won five of its last six games.

The Jayhawks ran neck and neck with the second-ranked Sooners for the first 21 minutes of the game, and pulled within two at 36-34 just after the start of the second half. But then three-time Big 12 Player of the Year Courtney Paris scored 10 of her game-high 27 points in the next four minutes, leading the Sooners on a 15-4 run that gave them all the breathing room they needed for a 76-59 victory.

Despite shooting well over 40 percent from the field for most of the game, the Jayhawks were no match for Oklahoma on the blocks, as the Sooners won the rebounding battle 43-28, which included a 18-7 mark on the offensive glass.

Juniors Danielle McCray and Sade Morris continued to be Kansas’ most reliable scoring options, as they netted 22 and 15 points, respectively, after pouring in 22 and 24 in Thursday’s first round game against Nebraska. No other player scored more than 10 points in each game.

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Courtney Paris, Sr. F, Oklahoma (27 points, 14 rebounds, 6 blocks)

QUOTABLE:

“She’s a driven individual as we all know, and she understands clearly what time of year it is, and I think great players sense that, and all seniors do to a certain degree. But the really great players get that in a way that the rest of the world doesn’t. She established herself early and was terrific the entire game on both ends of the floor, not just scoring points.” – Oklahoma coach Sherri Coale on the dobule-double performance by senior center Courtney Paris.

WHAT THIS MEANS:

No. 1 Oklahoma vs. No. 4 Texas A&M/No. 5 Kansas State

12:00 pm, Saturday March 14, Fox Sports Net

The 28-3 Sooners have claimed the first spot in the Big 12 semifinals, and will play the winner of the proceeding quarterfinal matchup between Kansas State and Texas A&M. Oklahoma finished Big 12 conference play with a 19-1 record, losing only to A&M by one-point in their Feb. 23 matchup on the road in College Station. Each of their opponents have a little more to play for, as both the Wildcats and Aggies need every game they can to try improve their stock for the NCAA Tournament. As it stands, each is expected to grab no less than a four or five seed. The Sooners, on the other hand have all but secured a No. 1 seed regardless of their finish in the Big 12 Tournament. Oklahoma is still attempting to makeup for their less than stellar performance in the 2008 tournament, as they lost 70-64 in overtime to last-place Missouri 70-64 in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament.