Oklahoma overcomes huge deficit, beats West Virgina 65-64 to advance to Big 12 semifinals
DALLAS – After trailing West Virginia 44-25 at halftime after 20 minutes of lackluster play, Oklahoma roared back to capture a win the Big 12 tournament quarterfinals for 65-64 win in the last game of the night at American Airlines Center in front of 6, 056 people.
“These guys are just a bunch of believers,” said Oklahoma head coach Sherri Coale. “They believe they are supposed to win. They believe they are going to win. They are not always sure how that is going to happen but they just play hard enough that they put themselves in a position to have a shot at it.”
With the scored tied at 64, WVU’s Crystal Leary fouled OU’s Sharane Campbell as she went up for a layup attempt with five seconds left in the game. Campbell went to the free throw line for two shots and missed the first but nailed the second.
“I had to calm myself,” said Campbell about the missed first shot. “I’m like, ‘OK, I have another attempt, and I have to redeem myself right now.’”
In a mad scramble afterwards, West Virginia made it past halfcourt but a three-point shot attempt by Bria Holmes missed the mark.
OU ( 22-9, 11-7) set a Big 12 Tournament record for comebacks. They also set the NCAA record for a comeback in regulation with an 86-75 win over California in 2008.
Nicole Griffin led the Sooners with 16 points. Campbell added 15 and Aaryn Ellenberg contributed 12.
For WVU (17-13, 9-9), Christal Caldwell contributed 22 points plus 11 rebounds. Taylor Palmer added 11 and four rebounds.
Oklahoma advanced to the Big 12 semifinals for the fifth straight season and will face No. 2-seed Iowa State Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET. The game will be televised on FSN.
