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University of Oklahoma Athletics
Sunday, January 8
Norman
2 PM
University of Oklahoma
12-2,2-1Big 12
82
vs
79
Iowa State
10-3,2-1Big 12
1
2
3
4
F
Iowa St.
18
18
12
31
79
Oklahoma
19
16
24
23
82
Sooner Magic Sends OU Past No. 11 Iowa State
January 08, 2023 | Women's Basketball
NORMAN – The lead changed 10 times in the final 3:23 of regulation, but Skylar Vann's turnaround bucket over Ashley Joens pushed No. 17 Oklahoma over No. 11 Iowa State, 82-79, in Norman on Sunday afternoon.
The win over the 11th-ranked Cyclones was the fifth top-25 variety of the Jennie Baranczyk era and the first of this season as Oklahoma (12-2, 2-1 Big 12) remains near the top of the Big 12 standings early in conference play.
"First things first, I was really excited about our crowd and I'm really, really proud of our team," Baranczyk said. "Iowa State is so good, they're extremely hard to guard and they're so tough. It definitely wasn't our 'A game,' but I thought we responded and grew up a little bit today. You go down our stat line, and so many different players hit big shots, and that's huge for us. Just really proud of this team."
The first half featured a back-and-forth affair as the Sooners took a 19-18 lead into the second quarter before Iowa State (10-3, 2-1 Big 12) reclaimed a 36-35 lead at the half. The Sooners took over the game in the third quarter, holding the Cyclones, whose scoring offense ranked in the top 25 nationally entering the day, to zero field goals for the first 5:45 of the second half. The Oklahoma advantage stood at 56-48 before Ana Llanusa sunk a buzzer-beater 3-pointer from 35 feet to give the Sooners' a game-high 11-point lead heading to the fourth frame.
But the Cyclones didn't go away easily, as they needed just over three minutes of play to make it a one-possession game. Then, a Denae Fritz trey gave ISU a one-point lead with 3:23 left in the contest, and the teams began trading blows. The lead changed 10 times over the final few possessions. ISU All-American Joens scored on a layup with 14 seconds left to give Iowa State the 79-78 lead, but the Sooners responded with a Vann post-up basket over Joens to reclaim the lead. Madi Williams blocked Joens' shot on the ensuing possession and OU's Taylor Robertson made two clutch free throws before Nyamer Diew missed the game-tying 3-point attempt as time expired to give OU the win.
Ana Llanusa led the Sooners in scoring for the third consecutive game, pouring in 23 points on 9-of-15 shooting, including 4-of-9 from deep. The guard added three rebounds, two assists and a steal in the win. Vann finished with 13 points and eight rebounds, notching her season's ninth double-digit scoring game. Nevaeh Tot returned to form Sunday, scoring 13 points and adding five rebounds and three assists. Robertson was held to one 3-pointer but finished with 10 points with a trio of assists in 31 minutes of play, which pushed her past Danielle Robinson for the most minutes played in Oklahoma women's basketball history at 4,580.
The Sooners outrebounded the Cyclones 47-40 and grabbed 14 offensive boards to ISU's five. Oklahoma made 10 of its 30 3-point attempts (33.3%) but went 12-of-15 from the charity stripe (80%). OU shot just 39% from the floor but held Iowa State to 38.3%, its third-lowest percentage of the season.
Oklahoma resumes Big 12 play on Jan. 11 at Texas Tech (13-3, 1-2 Big 12) in Lubbock, Texas. Tip is set for 7 p.m. CT on ESPN+.
The win over the 11th-ranked Cyclones was the fifth top-25 variety of the Jennie Baranczyk era and the first of this season as Oklahoma (12-2, 2-1 Big 12) remains near the top of the Big 12 standings early in conference play.
"First things first, I was really excited about our crowd and I'm really, really proud of our team," Baranczyk said. "Iowa State is so good, they're extremely hard to guard and they're so tough. It definitely wasn't our 'A game,' but I thought we responded and grew up a little bit today. You go down our stat line, and so many different players hit big shots, and that's huge for us. Just really proud of this team."
The first half featured a back-and-forth affair as the Sooners took a 19-18 lead into the second quarter before Iowa State (10-3, 2-1 Big 12) reclaimed a 36-35 lead at the half. The Sooners took over the game in the third quarter, holding the Cyclones, whose scoring offense ranked in the top 25 nationally entering the day, to zero field goals for the first 5:45 of the second half. The Oklahoma advantage stood at 56-48 before Ana Llanusa sunk a buzzer-beater 3-pointer from 35 feet to give the Sooners' a game-high 11-point lead heading to the fourth frame.
But the Cyclones didn't go away easily, as they needed just over three minutes of play to make it a one-possession game. Then, a Denae Fritz trey gave ISU a one-point lead with 3:23 left in the contest, and the teams began trading blows. The lead changed 10 times over the final few possessions. ISU All-American Joens scored on a layup with 14 seconds left to give Iowa State the 79-78 lead, but the Sooners responded with a Vann post-up basket over Joens to reclaim the lead. Madi Williams blocked Joens' shot on the ensuing possession and OU's Taylor Robertson made two clutch free throws before Nyamer Diew missed the game-tying 3-point attempt as time expired to give OU the win.
Ana Llanusa led the Sooners in scoring for the third consecutive game, pouring in 23 points on 9-of-15 shooting, including 4-of-9 from deep. The guard added three rebounds, two assists and a steal in the win. Vann finished with 13 points and eight rebounds, notching her season's ninth double-digit scoring game. Nevaeh Tot returned to form Sunday, scoring 13 points and adding five rebounds and three assists. Robertson was held to one 3-pointer but finished with 10 points with a trio of assists in 31 minutes of play, which pushed her past Danielle Robinson for the most minutes played in Oklahoma women's basketball history at 4,580.
The Sooners outrebounded the Cyclones 47-40 and grabbed 14 offensive boards to ISU's five. Oklahoma made 10 of its 30 3-point attempts (33.3%) but went 12-of-15 from the charity stripe (80%). OU shot just 39% from the floor but held Iowa State to 38.3%, its third-lowest percentage of the season.
Oklahoma resumes Big 12 play on Jan. 11 at Texas Tech (13-3, 1-2 Big 12) in Lubbock, Texas. Tip is set for 7 p.m. CT on ESPN+.
Team Stats
IowaSt
OU
FG%
.383
.390
3FG%
.357
.333
FT%
.885
.800
RB
40
47
TO
13
10
STL
3
3
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
23
FGM
9
3FGM
4
FTM
1
Pts
13
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
13
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
10
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
5
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
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