Williams Scores 45, Sets Single-Game Record

Sunday, January 3

Norman

2:00 p.m.

University of Oklahoma

3-5,0-3Big 12

West Virginia

7-2,1-2Big 12

West Virginia

Oklahoma

Photo by: Ty Russell

Williams Scores 45, Sets Single-Game Record

January 03, 2021 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Highlights Box Score Photos Williams Postgame

NORMAN – Madi Williams dropped 45 points to set the Oklahoma single-game scoring record Sunday as OU fell to West Virginia 90-72 at Lloyd Noble Center.

With the loss, the Sooners move to 3-5 on the season and 0-3 against Big 12 opponents while West Virginia improves to 7-2 and 1-2 against the league.

"I thought it was a really good women's basketball game today," said Oklahoma head coach Sherri Coale.

"It was, I think a two-possession ball game with five minutes left and we just couldn't absorb some of their threes that they hit late. They were all deep in the shot clock; we'd guard the mess out of them for 28 seconds and then they hit a three. Those are just daggers that are tough to absorb. I was proud of our team because I thought they battled and did a lot of really good things. I certainly don't want Madi William's unbelievably special performance to get lost in the loss. She was in the zone."

Williams passed OU's all-time leading scorer and current assistant coach Courtney Paris on the all-time single-game scoring list. Paris' held the previous record of 43 which she set in 2006.

Williams shot 17-for-30 from the floor, 3-for-7 from deep and 8-for-9 from the charity stripe for a .567 clip. The junior nearly doubled her previous career high of 26 points as she accounted for 62.5% of Oklahoma's scoring on the contest.

Additionally, Williams' 45 points were good for the most by a Division I women's basketball player this season.

"My teammates are the reason we are here talking about this record right now," said Williams.

"They did a great job facilitating and executing screens. When things weren't going well they had trust in me to get the ball and go get a bucket. I wouldn't be here today without them and they're gonna keep fighting. They did a great job on defense playing together. We have some stuff to work on but we're looking forward to the next go around."

After trailing by as many as 14 in the first half, OU rallied in the second quarter behind an explosive, 5-for-6 shooting performance from Williams to cut the Mountaineers' lead to 39-37 at halftime. Williams scored 22 points in the first half alone, including 11 in the second quarter.

Williams kept her foot on the gas in the second half, but the Mountaineers outscored OU 51-35 in the final two periods of play to close out the game.

OU's Gabby Gregory finished with 13 points and four assists while Four Mountaineers logged points in double figures, led by Kysre Gondrezick's 26.

Up Next
OU is on the road for the first time in five games as the Sooners head to Texas Tech Wednesday. The game will tip at 6 p.m. CT inside United Supermarkets Arena.

The Sooners return to LNC on Saturday, Jan. 9 to host TCU at 3 p.m. CT.