OU vs. Oral Roberts women's basketball: Three takeaways from Sooners' win in season opener
NORMAN — Ana Llanusa blocked the shot, Taylor Robertson grabbed it, flipped it up court to Llanusa, who soon found Madi Williams under the basket at the other end for a layup.
OU’s trio, which entered Monday’s season opener against Oral Roberts with 294 combined starts, was back.
That was never more evidenced as the sequence early in the second half of the Sooners’ 105-94 women's basketball win at Lloyd Noble Center.
The offense that was humming along in the first half, slowed down significantly after halftime, but still the Sooners were firmly in control throughout.
Williams led the way with 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting, while Skylar Vann scored 18 off the bench.
Llanusa, Robertson and Neveah Tot added 13 points each. Tot had six rebounds, five steals, and four assists.
Former Jones standout Tirzah Moore led ORU with 25 points.
The Sooners were outscored 57-38 after halftime.
“We had a stretch in the second half where we just fouled and fouled and fouled and fouled possession after possession,” Williams said. “I think it got up to maybe four or five (in a row) and we should’ve just refocused right after the second one and said, ‘OK, they’re calling the game differently, let’s figure out how to play the way that they’re calling it.’”
Here are three takeaways from the Sooners’ win:
More:Five things to know about OU women's basketball heading into 2022-23 season
Pouring it on early
The Sooners were known for their high-flying offense last season, their first under Jennie Baranczyk.
OU averaged 82.6 points per game last season, third-best in Division I.
Returning much the same roster as they had last season, the Sooners pushed the pace from the start.
OU seized control with a 14-0 run early in the first quarter to jump ahead 20-5.
During that stretch, the Sooners scored nine consecutive points on fast-breaks after grabbing a defensive rebound at the other end.
As good as last season’s offense was, it never scored more than 32 in a quarter.
By the time Monday’s first quarter was over, the Sooners had 38 points — a program record for points in a quarter.
The previous record for points in a quarter was 37 against Missouri State in November 2019.
OU added 29 in the second quarter for a program-record 67 points in a half.
The previous record for points in a half was 66 against Midwestern in January 1984.
In the first half, the Sooners shot 20 of 27 inside the arc, outscored the Golden Eagles 40-14 in the paint and 26-4 on the fast break.
“I thought we did a great job of really (playing) our one-on-one defense,” Sooners coach Jennie Baranczyk said. “We helped when we needed to. … Now, we’ve just got to extend it. We’ve got to get our game legs under us. We’ve got to be able to do that for a longer period of time.”
The Sooners struggled in the second half, as ORU cut what was a 33-point lead down to 11 at the end.
“It’s going to take us a little bit of time, especially since we play so many people,” Baranczyk said. “Sometimes that chemistry takes a little bit. … This is a fun team, and we’re not happy. We’re not happy defensively today. We did some pretty good things offensively, but we’ll get there.”
More:Oklahoma women's basketball: Breaking down Sooners' roster entering 2022-23 season
Robertson record watch
Taylor Robertson entered Monday’s opener with 446 career 3-pointers, 51 away from tying the NCAA record.
Robertson’s first try against ORU was off the mark but early in the second quarter, the super senior nailed 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions — both coming off ORU turnovers — to edge closer to the record.
Robertson hit another in the fourth quarter, and finished 3 of 5 from beyond the arc.
“They were really guarding here and we know we have to establish things to get her open,” Baranczyk said. “Everything is going to guard her. Everybody. Everyone finds her in transition.”
Robertson is in fifth place all-time, four behind Katie Benzan for fourth place.
NCAA career 3-pointers:
497: Kelsey Mitchell, Ohio State (2015-18)
472: Taylor Pierce, Idaho (2016-19), Jess Kovatch, St. Francis, Pa. (2016-19)
466: Kendall Spray, UT Martin/Clemson/FGCU (2017-18, 20-22)
453: Katie Benzan, Harvard/Maryland (2017-22)
449: Taylor Robertson, OU (2019-present)
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Newcomers get their first action
Freshman Kiersten Johnson is expected to give the Sooners the size they lacked last season.
The 6-foot-4 forward from Duncanville, Texas, had the best game among the OU newcomers, scoring nine points with two rebounds and a pair of blocks in 13 minutes.
Johnston was 4 of 6 from the field.
“In the first half, she just played,” Baranczyk said. “And in the second half, I think she started thinking about things a little too much. She got a few fouls, kind of put her head down for a second, but then she’ll come back. She’s gonna be great.”
Reyna Scott had four points, four rebounds and five assists.
Beatrix Culliton, a 6-foot-3 center, had two points and six rebounds in nine minutes.
Iowa State transfer Aubrey Joens had six points, hitting two 3-pointers, with four rebounds, a pair of assists and a steal.
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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma Sooners beat Oral Roberts in women's basketball season opener
