No Paris. No Hand. No problem.
U. Oklahoma women’s basketball is headed to the Final Four for the second year in a row after senior guard Nyeshia Stevenson scored 31 points to propel OU to an 88-68 win over Kentucky.
Despite the strong Sooner finish, Tuesday’s game did not begin like OU planned.
Kentucky scored on the first possession of the game and took advantage of a steal on the defensive end for two points.
The Wildcats went on a quick 8-0 run to stifle the OU offense early.
OU finally appeared on the scoreboard with two free throws by Stevenson, but those were the only points the Sooners would score before the first timeout.
OU has been plagued by turnovers this season, and that was a serious problem for OU at the beginning of the game. The team had seven turnovers just six minutes into the game.
The first field goal for OU did not come until 13:44, with Kentucky still ahead 15-4.
While the Wildcats continued to consistently make baskets, OU closed the lead to 19-13 eight minutes into the contest.
Midway through the half, the Sooners cut the lead to four and then junior guard Danielle Robinson cut the Kentucky edge to two with a drive to the basket.
At 8:02 the Sooners officially dug themselves of the hole by tying the Wildcats.
OU continued to improve by minimizing turnovers and only giving Kentucky contested looks at the basket. The Sooners used this to build a five-point lead, 32-27, with six minutes left in the half.
Kentucky tied the game again at 32, but the Sooners managed to extend the lead to 41-34 with a 9-2 run.
Many of the Sooners points came out of a first-half spurt from Stevenson who had 17 points in the half.
As the clock wound down the Wildcats closed the lead to 41-39, but a lay-up by Robinson sent Kentucky into the half down 43-39.
Coming out of the locker room OU kicked things off with a turnover on the first possession and repeated that on the ensuing possession.
But the sloppy play did not last.
OU scored its first points on a lay-up off of a turnover to pull ahead 45-40 after two minutes elapsed in the half.
Stevenson, who went off in the first half, made key shots in the second half as well, knocking down a three to put OU head 52-44.
OU continued to extend the lead to 13, 58-45 after just eight minutes.
Robinson picked up her fourth foul in the second half and gave OU scare with the starting point guard on the bench, but the Sooners pressed on.
The Sooners maintained a lead throughout the half and with just over seven minutes remaining the lead ballooned to 16.
Kentucky continued to struggle to shoot from the field, only shooting 19 percent at one point.
The OU dominance continued over the Wildcats with a 21-point lead less than five minutes to go, and Kentucky had no answers for the Sooners.
Robinson fouled out for OU with just over two minutes left, but the Sooner lead was so significant it did not matter.
The Sooner victory was clinched at a twenty-point win by walk-on freshman guard Kodi Morrison who put up the three.
Along with Stevenson’s 31 points, OU had multiple players contributing on the offensive end.
Senior forward Amanda Thompson continued her Sooner career with 17 points and 14 rebounds.
Despite foul trouble, Robinson added 16 points to the Sooner win.
Kentucky’s only offense came with 31 points from the SEC Player of the Year, Victoria Dunlap.
With the win, OU will head to San Antonio this weekend to play Stanford for a spot in the national championship game.