No. 2 Oklahoma Proves Too Much for Kansas Women's Basketball

Feb. 14, 2009

Box Score | Quotes | Notes |

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

Despite 23 points from Danielle McCray and a career-high 11 rebounds from Nicollette Smith, the Jayhawk women’s basketball team lost to Oklahoma, 69-54, in Allen Fieldhouse Saturday night.

Kansas dropped to 13-10 overall and 2-8 in Big 12 play. Oklahoma improved to 22-3 on the season and 10-0 in the league.

Although Danielle McCray made a three-pointer to open the second half, the Sooners quickly stretched the lead to 18 points, 43-25, at the 14:29 mark. KU pulled within 10 points midway through the second half on a jumper by Krysten Boogaard, but that was as close as it would get for the Jayhawks. McCray scored 15 second half points, but Kansas could not overcome its worst shooting percentage of the season, 26 percent (17-of-65).

The Sooners were led by Amanda Thompson’s 16 points, but Kansas held OU’s Courtney Paris to just nine points. It marked just the third time this season that Paris had not recorded a double-double and the fifth time in her career.

Oklahoma started the game on a 9-0 run before Danielle McCray hit a jumper at the 16:44 mark to put KU on the board. McCray and Sade Morris teamed up to score the first 10 Kansas points, including six unanswered, to make the score 11-10 in favor of OU seven minutes into the game. Despite forcing 12 Sooner turnovers, the Jayhawks shot just 19 percent from the field and went to the locker room down, 32-20.

Aishah Sutherland grabbed 10 rebounds and Nicollette Smith led the Jayhawks with three assists while Morris tallied 10 points and three steals. Oklahoma outscored the Jayhawks 36-14 in the paint, but owned only a slim 44-40 advantage on the boards.

Kansas travels to Boulder, Colo. Wednesday to take on the Colorado Buffaloes. The game is set to tip-off at 8 p.m. central time.