No. 21 OU Uses Late Surge to Run Past Utah

Utah

^21/24Oklahoma

Box Score

Highlights

Postgame Notes

Stat Comparison
Category	UTAH	OU
Points	55	70
FGM-A	23-51	25-62
FG%	.451	.403
3 FGM-A	2-13	8-28
3 FG%	.154	.286
FTM-A	7-11	12-15
FT%	.636	.800
Rebounds	36	30
Assists	17	22
Turnovers	26	12
Blocks	3	3
Steals	5	8

Individual Leaders
Category	UTAH	OU
Points	Potter - 15	Two Players - 14
Rebounds	Two Players - 6	Two Players - 5
Assists	Boclair - 6	Two Players - 6
Steals	Five Players	Little - 3
Blocks	Potter - 2	Pierre-Louis - 2

FREEPORT, Bahamas – No. 21 Oklahoma women's basketball scored 22 points in the fourth quarter to pull away from Utah, earning a 70-55 victory over the Utes on Thursday to open the Junkanoo Jam.

The Sooners (4-1) took a five-point advantage into the final quarter and opened the frame by knocking down three 3-pointers to run away from the Utes (3-1). OU picked up the pressure on defense in the final 20 minutes, holding Utah to just 23 points in the second half.

Redshirt junior guard Peyton Little and sophomore center Vioinse Pierre-Louis led the team with 14 points apiece, respectively. Little hit four 3-pointers in the win and led the Sooners with a season-high six assists and three steals, while Pierre-Louis recorded five rebounds, a career-high four assists and two blocks off the bench.

“We have a lot of respect for Utah and they are a really good team,” head coach Sherri Coale said. “They run a zone and we knew we had to knock down some 3-point shots. We began to push the ball inside to the post in the second half and (Kaylon Williams and Vionise Pierre-Louis) scored some baskets for us. Our guards relaxed after that and we began to hit some shots from 3-point range.”

Redshirt senior forward Kaylon Williams, who appeared in her 100th game at OU Thursday, finished with 11 points and four rebounds in the victory. The Midwest City, Okla., native has scored in doubles figures 12 times in the Sooners' last 13 games dating back to last season.

The Sooners, who led for the entire game, jumped out to an 8-3 advantage early and led by as many as 10 points with 1:30 left in the first quarter. The Utes used an 11-4 run in the second quarter to tie the game at 28-28, but the Sooners got back-to-back baskets from sophomore guard to LaNesia Williams and reverse lay-up from Pierre-Louis to take a 34-32 lead into the locker room.

OU went to the post in the third quarter as Williams and Pierre-Louis combined to score 10 of the Sooners' 14 points in the frame. On defense, the Sooners locked down the paint in the second half, holding Utah sophomore forward Emily Potter to just one bucket in the final 20 minutes. Potter scored 13 points in the first half for the Utes.

“At halftime, we talked about limiting the touches in the post. (Emily Potter) was getting too many touches and if she caught it, 6-6 was too big for us to handle,” Coale said. “We were really hesitant to double down, but it changed things.”

The Sooners found their rhythm offensively by knocking down four 3-pointers and hitting five of its first seven shots in the fourth quarter. Little and Derica Wyatt combined to knock down three triples to begin the frame. OU used an 8-2 run to extend its lead to 68-50 with 3:17 left in the game.

The Sooners forced a season-high 26 turnovers and dished out 22 assists in the victory. OU finished the game shooting 40.3 percent (25 of 62) from the field and 80 percent (12 of 15) from the free throw line.

Utah was led in scoring by Potter, who scored a game-high 15 points and finished with four rebounds. Paige Crozon scored seven points for the Utes while Tanaeya Boclair contributed six assists.

The Sooners return to action on Saturday and wrap up the Junkanoo Jam against Boston College. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. CT.

For more information on Oklahoma women's basketball, follow the Sooners on Twitter (@OU_WBBall) or like Oklahoma Sooners Women's Basketball on Facebook.