Texas Tech vs. Oklahoma

[Guns Up!]

40-29 Tech at the half

[Guns Up!]

64-49 Tech 7-1/2 to go

[swok34]

What a GREAT game! Just what the Big XII's all about, including crummy refs http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif and I say that for both teams.

I absolutely applaud OU for the way they played, they never, ever gave up. I think they told Maria at halftime....."dribble, dribble, dribble down the court and shoot". Schuknecht looked so much more like herself than she has since the Tennessee game.
Also was really impressed with how Wadsworth played tonite....
she's certainly had her trials, and she did an outstanding job.
Can't think of a single player that didn't play well, except Dionnah just couldn't seem to find the basket tonite.

The crowd was great......they DO remember how to cheer. You know the hardest thing for me to adapt to in OU's game this year is their offense doesn't seem to "flow" and "flash and dash" like it did in years' past....but then in Dionnah's own words, "they have big shoes to fill, two very big shoes"....and I couldn't be more proud to cheer for a team that plays with their heart the way OU plays....and it certainly is fun to watch these young women as they develop and improve their game......

I was most impressed with both Erin Grant and also with Jia Perkins, it felt like those two could not miss a SHOT....and I can't even begin to express the amount of respect I have for the Texas Tech team and their coach.....pure class http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif

[swok34]

Here's a better box score.....wow, OU outrebounded TTU....if only Dionnah could have found the basket.....
http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaw/scores/20030115/tasoae.html

[Jennifer]

Yeah, I noticed the rebounding difference. Hmmm...the starting guards for OU have 8 & 9 boards each. Can't complain about that.
Sounds like Dionnah had a night similar to that of Hollis Price in Stillwater the other night. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/rolleyes.gif.
I can't comment much otherwise as I didn't even get to listen to the broadcast.

[This message has been edited by Jennifer (edited 01-15-2003).]

[35TangoTango]

Tech was a well-oiled offensive machine - a pleasure to watch, even when they're doing it to us. Nobody had to force shots, because everyone can score. Offensively, Tech looks like a final four team. But the stats do point out some interesting things - rebounds is one, fouls is another. 24 fouls for each side, and 6 or seven of OU's fouls were on purpose at the end. Pierson and Perkins were each held to 5 - 14 shooting. And look at the assists. I thought OU did a remarkable job of playing everyone straight up, and still being able to double down when the ball went inside.

The difference in this game was clearly at the point guard position. Erin Grant was everything advertised and more. Deny her passing lanes (only one assist), and she scores herself. She took Stephanie Luce to school at the end of the first half. Dionnah, on the other hand had a the kind of game you want to quickly forget. Her shooting slump, which started at Stanford continued tonight with 2-16 shooting. And she wasn't defensed that tightly - missed a lot of shots she normally makes. Reminded me of the game Perkins had against OU last year.

As a matter of fact, the whole game seemed like last year's OU-TT games in reverse. One team a smooth, slick machine; the other looking out of sync offensively, and scrambling to stay in the game.

All that said, if OU could ever get their act together offensively, Tech is not unbeatable. Take Dionnah's 2-16 out of the stats, and the rest of OU shot 48%. Combine that with the other stats, and OU can compete. If Tech hopes to be conference champs, let alone make the final four, they are going to have get some defensive intensity to match that beautiful offense.

Several positives for the Sooners:

Maria is the most amazing player. For those who saw her for the first time tonight, you wouldn't believe how far she's come since the beginning of the year. She was a totally one-dimensional player. All she could do was make fast break layups - she couldn't play half court, and she couldn't begin to play defense. Give her an off-season to practice what she's learing this year, and she'll be Big XII player of the year next year (unless Grant is).

Chelsi continues to improve. Shots that were missing earlier in the year are beginning to find the range. And she too is learning to play defense - I loved the sequence where she stuffed Natalie twice in one possession!

Antoinette Wadsworth (out of necessity) got about as many minutes tonight as she has all year, and she showed a little bit of spark. Far fewer silly mistakes that usual. We obviously must have good minutes from her if we are going to compete at all.

In the past two games, OU has defined it's limits in conference play - On the road better than Nebraska, at home not as good as Tech. But I still think this team has more room for improvement than any team in the conference.

[Bball Girl]

Good game for Tech especially going into a hard road game coming up with Texas way too soon.

The freshman...Davis, Grant and Welch were terrific. I continue to be amazed at Grant's composure and we are NOT going to lose mentaility. Davis comes to play every game...12 boards. Welch plays with everything she has too. Just imagine what these three are going to be like when they're seniors.

I thought it was quite a chess match between the coaches trying to counter each other's strength's and playing off the weaknesses.

As always...Coach Coale was a class act. As she made the walk in those last few minutes, she had that wry smile on her face, shaking her head, and she and Coach Sharp hugged...whatever she said cracked up Coach Sharp and Coach Coale proceeded down the line hugging and congratulating our coaches. Her comments to the press were also great....

I for one really like to see that kind of respect and affection between our coaches and our teams. As tough as the Baylor game was, our kids were all hugging each other and talking after the game.

Sometimes we fans invest more personal stuff into these games than our coaches and players do...they get out their and battle on the court and relish the competition...but then they move on to the next game.

[swok34]

Sometimes we fans invest more personal stuff into these games than our coaches and players do...they get out their and battle on the court and relish the competition...but then they move on to the next game.

Very good point http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif