by NORMAN – No. 16/18 Oklahoma women’s basketball showcased its depth as 13 Sooners scored in a 110-47 exhibition victory over Midwestern State Wednesday night at Lloyd Noble Center.
Five Sooners scored in double figures, led by junior Vionise Pierre-Louis, who recorded a game-high 17 points on 8-of-10 shooting. Pierre-Louis, the reigning Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year, also logged a game-best six rebounds and finished with two steals in 17 minutes of action.
“It was a lot of fun. We had a lot of fun tonight,” OU head coach Sherri Coale said after the win. “We had a lot of people contributing, great energy and great connection.”
Freshman Chelsea Dungee (Cherokee Nation) provided an immediate impact off the bench, scoring 15 points in her first action as a Sooner. The Sapulpa, Okla., native was 4-of-6 from the field and finished 6-of-10 at the charity stripe in 16 minutes.
Redshirt senior Peyton Little finished with 11 points, while junior guard Gabbi Ortiz and senior guard Gioya Carter added in 10 points apiece.
Freshman center Nancy Mulkey also impressed her OU debut, logging a game-high three blocks. Senior guard T’ona Edwards dished a team-best four assists, while junior guard LaNesia Williams recorded a game-high steals as the Sooners forced 35 Midwestern State turnovers.
The Sooners fell behind, 21-20, at the end of the first quarter but quickly responded as Ortiz keyed a 20-0 OU run that lasted for nearly seven minutes. Ortiz scored all 10 of her points in the frame as the Sooners held the Mustangs to just five points in the second quarter.
From there, OU would extend its lead to open the third quarter as the Sooners used a 19-0 run to pull away for good. Carter sparked the Sooner offense out of the locker room by scoring eight of her 10 points in the third quarter.
“I think we have a new sense of believing in each other,” Carter said. “Last year, we of course believed in each other, but this year I think it’s to a whole new level. I think the new ball stride stuff is really playing a factor into that as well. I think the connection and the chemistry made us feel a lot more free.”
The Sooners shot .614 (43-of-70) from the field, finished with 55 bench points and 72 points in the paint. OU held a 36-32 advantage on the boards and recorded 27 steals in the win.
OU returns to action on Monday at 7 p.m. CT for its final exhibition game against Oklahoma City.
