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SPOKANE, Wash. — The crowd at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena roared.
With a little more than three minutes remaining in Saturday’s matchup between the third-seeded OU women’s basketball team and second-seeded UConn, Huskies star Paige Bueckers had given the crowd what they wanted.
Bueckers overwhelmed the Sooners, finishing with a career-high 40 points, as OU’s season ended with a 82-59 loss to the Huskies in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.
The Sooners’ season ends 27-8, their most wins in a season since the 2010 Final Four team also won 27.
After OU led by four at halftime, thanks to Payton Verhulst’s 13-point second quarter, the Huskies dominated the second half.
They outscored the Sooners 27-10 in the third quarter to take control and didn’t much look back until the outcome was decided.
Verhulst led the Sooners with 16 points.
Here are three quick takeaways from the Sooners’ loss:
More: OU women's basketball vs UConn recap: Paige Bueckers, Huskies oust Sooners in Sweet 16
Bueckers lunged forward and then took a step back.
It was over.
OU freshman Zya Vann tried to recover and close ground, but Bueckers had created all the space she needed, hitting a 3-pointer early in the fourth quarter to put UConn up 62-46.
The Sooners tried a number of different options for defending Bueckers.
They used Reyna Scott, Sahara Williams and Vann on Bueckers among other approaches.
But the All-American and likely No. 1 pick in this year’s WNBA Draft shook off most all of them.
Bueckers finished 16-of-27 shooting, going 6-of-8 from beyond the arc.
More: How Skylar Vann helped build OU women's basketball culture to set up Sweet 16 run
Raegan Beers has been the key to OU’s offense for much of the season, not only giving them a dominant post presence but also showing plenty of ability to find shooters
The Huskies sent plenty of defenders Beers’ way, often bracketing her with defenders on both sides, to make life difficult on the junior transfer from Oregon State.
Beers finished with nine points and was just 3 of 11 from the floor
Beers was knocked to the ground battling for a loose ball early in the fourth quarter and got up hobbling.
She attempted to remain in the game before Jennie Baranczyk substituted for her.
Beers’ left knee was checked by trainers and she spent some time on a stationary bike before quickly returning to the game.
More: UConn women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma blasts NCAA Tournament regional format
Turnovers have been an issue all season for OU.
But more often than not, the Sooners are able to force plenty of turnovers themselves.
That wasn’t the case Saturday.
The Sooners struggled with turnovers much of the game, finishing with 23 and UConn turned them into 18 points on the other end.
The Huskies turned the ball over just 10 times.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Paige Bueckers, UConn end OU women's basketball season in Sweet 16
Continue reading...
With a little more than three minutes remaining in Saturday’s matchup between the third-seeded OU women’s basketball team and second-seeded UConn, Huskies star Paige Bueckers had given the crowd what they wanted.
Bueckers overwhelmed the Sooners, finishing with a career-high 40 points, as OU’s season ended with a 82-59 loss to the Huskies in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.
The Sooners’ season ends 27-8, their most wins in a season since the 2010 Final Four team also won 27.
After OU led by four at halftime, thanks to Payton Verhulst’s 13-point second quarter, the Huskies dominated the second half.
They outscored the Sooners 27-10 in the third quarter to take control and didn’t much look back until the outcome was decided.
Verhulst led the Sooners with 16 points.
Here are three quick takeaways from the Sooners’ loss:
More: OU women's basketball vs UConn recap: Paige Bueckers, Huskies oust Sooners in Sweet 16
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Paige Bueckers hits career high
Bueckers lunged forward and then took a step back.
It was over.
OU freshman Zya Vann tried to recover and close ground, but Bueckers had created all the space she needed, hitting a 3-pointer early in the fourth quarter to put UConn up 62-46.
The Sooners tried a number of different options for defending Bueckers.
They used Reyna Scott, Sahara Williams and Vann on Bueckers among other approaches.
But the All-American and likely No. 1 pick in this year’s WNBA Draft shook off most all of them.
Bueckers finished 16-of-27 shooting, going 6-of-8 from beyond the arc.
More: How Skylar Vann helped build OU women's basketball culture to set up Sweet 16 run
Raegan Beers struggles
Raegan Beers has been the key to OU’s offense for much of the season, not only giving them a dominant post presence but also showing plenty of ability to find shooters
The Huskies sent plenty of defenders Beers’ way, often bracketing her with defenders on both sides, to make life difficult on the junior transfer from Oregon State.
Beers finished with nine points and was just 3 of 11 from the floor
Beers was knocked to the ground battling for a loose ball early in the fourth quarter and got up hobbling.
She attempted to remain in the game before Jennie Baranczyk substituted for her.
Beers’ left knee was checked by trainers and she spent some time on a stationary bike before quickly returning to the game.
More: UConn women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma blasts NCAA Tournament regional format
You must be registered for see images attach
Turnovers once again bite Sooners
Turnovers have been an issue all season for OU.
But more often than not, the Sooners are able to force plenty of turnovers themselves.
That wasn’t the case Saturday.
The Sooners struggled with turnovers much of the game, finishing with 23 and UConn turned them into 18 points on the other end.
The Huskies turned the ball over just 10 times.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Paige Bueckers, UConn end OU women's basketball season in Sweet 16
Continue reading...
