Ellenberg Returns to Form

Feb. 16, 2012

By Andrew Gilman | SoonerSports.com

NORMAN, Okla. -- Coach Sherri Coale leaned over and gave Aaryn Ellenberg a hug.

Then she jokingly gave herself some credit for Ellenberg's slump-busting second half.

Hey, whatever it takes.

For the first time this season Ellenberg didn't start, but her finish sure was good as she led the Sooners past Kansas State 68-62 Wednesday night at the Lloyd Noble Center.

Oklahoma 68, Kansas State 62 | Wednesday, Feb. 16
Recap | Box Score | Highlights | Gameday Central

"What can I do to get her going again?" Coale asked. "If you do what you always do, you get what you always have gotten. You got to find a new wrinkle."

That wrinkle manifested itself with Ellenberg starting the game on the bench, but it paid off. After halftime, Ellenberg scored 11 of her 12 points, made a pair of 3-pointers, got three rebounds and three steals and three assists. It was just her second game in nearly one month that she made multiple 3-pointers.

And it was her best game since beating Kansas State on Jan. 17 when she scored a season-high 31 points, made five-of-her-eight 3-pointers and was 11-of-22, helping the Sooners to a road win in Manhattan. However, in her last seven games, Ellenberg has struggled. Coming into Wednesday's game, she was just 4-of-30 on 3-pointers in that span.

"I think everyone goes through struggles," said the sophomore guard. "I've had mine. My teammates gave me some good looks. That's what it came down to."

Monday, in the loss against Connecticut, Ellenberg was just 2-for-10, scored five points and played just 21 minutes, the second-fewest she has played all year.

All that seemed to bleed over to Wednesday. Ellenberg didn't start and played just seven minutes in the first half where she went 0-for-3 from the floor and had a single point from a free throw.

But she was definitely different in the second half.

"There was some praising going on when those 3's went in," Coale said. "It was the defensive effort. She was fresh and she wasn't exhausted. She had a different spring in her step and looked ready."

Ellenberg's 3-pointer with 4:03 left pulled the Sooners to within one. She followed that up with an assist and a steal in the next 39 seconds.

"We find ways to win games," Coale said. "That's important to find ways to grind them out."

The Sooners improved to 17-8 overall and 9-4 in the Big 12.