The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
17-9, 8-6
Oklahoma *
16-11, 7-7
Women's Basketball falls to Oklahoma on the road, 64-63
02.19.2014 | Women's Basketball
Nneka Enemkpali scores 17 points on 7-of-7 shooting from the field.
Norman, Okla. – Texas Women's Basketball team lost to Oklahoma on Wednesday evening on the Lloyd Noble Center, 64-63. OU's Morgan Hook made a free throw with four seconds remaining in regulation to give the Sooners the go-ahead lead.
Two Longhorns finished in double figures, led by junior Nneka Enemkpali with 17 points on a perfect 7-of-7 from the floor. Senior Chassidy Fussell contributed 16 points on 50 percent shooting (6-of-12).
Oklahoma (16-11, 7-7) started the game on a 5-1 run, but two quick three pointers by both Fussell and sophomore Imani McGee-Stafford put Texas in the lead, 7-6.
Texas (17-9, 8-6) pulled ahead by five at the 13:48 mark off a free throw by Fussell, but the Sooners tied up the score 17-all after a four-point play by Nicole Kornet. Neither team scored over the next 2:25 until two jumpers by Fussell put the Longhorns up by four, 21-17.
Texas built their lead up to as many as six points over the next 4:12, but the Longhorns were unable to pull away from the Sooners. Oklahoma finished the first half on a 7-0 run to send Texas into halftime trailing by one point, 27-26.
To start the second half, Oklahoma briefly lead the Longhorns by five points two straight Sooner buckets, but an 8-0 run by the Longhorns put Texas up by three points, 34-31. Texas clung to their three-point lead over the next 2:46 until Oklahoma tied up the score 39-all at the 12:52 mark. The Sooners continued on a 9-0 run to lead by as many as six points at the 10:40 mark, 45-39, but Texas responded with a 10-4 run to tie it up 49-all with just under eight minutes remaining.
Over the next four minutes, there were five ties, yet the Longhorns never fully relinquished their lead to the Sooners. With 1:14 left in the second half, Texas clung to a one-point lead, 62-61. Fussell made one-of-two free throws to give Texas a two-point cushion with 54 seconds left, but Oklahoma's Morgan Hook connected on a layup on the ensuing possession to tie the score at 63 with 34 seconds left.
Texas was unable to capitalize on their final possession, and as Oklahoma pulled down a defensive rebound, the Longhorns were forced to foul. Hook was sent to the free throw line for the Sooners and connected on one-of-two free throws to give Oklahoma the one-point lead, 64-63 with four seconds remaining. Texas was unable to get off a last-second shot attempt, giving Oklahoma the one-point victory, 64-63.
Oklahoma, who was without their leading scorer Aaryn Ellenburg, finished with three players in double figures, lead by Hook with 15 points.
The Longhorns are back in action Saturday, Feb. 22 in Ames, Iowa as Texas takes on the Cyclones of Iowa State at 7 p.m. Central.
TEAM NOTES
• Series: Texas and Oklahoma split the regular season series, 1-1. Texas leads the all-time series, 24-22.
• Starters: For the second time this season, Celina Rodrigo, Brady Sanders, Chassidy Fussell, Nneka Enemkpali and Imani McGee-Stafford started for the Longhorns. The team is 0-2 with this lineup this season.
• Texas out-rebounded the Sooners 44-37. This is the sixth time this season and the second straight contest that Texas has out-rebounded their opponent in a game which resulted in a loss.
• The Longhorns recorded eight blocks, which is the most Texas has recorded in a game since notching 10 blocks against Kansas State on Jan. 5, 2014.
• Texas has lost two straight contests for the first time in conference play this season.
• Oklahoma's bench outscored the Longhorns 13-12. This is the first time the Longhorn's bench has been outscored in conference play, and the first time since Tennessee outscored Texas' bench 24-12 on Dec. 8, 2013.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
Nneka Enemkpali
• Scored a game-high 17 points for the Longhorns, but was limited to only four rebounds which is the lowest rebounding total in conference play for the Big 12 rebounding leader.
• For the first time this season, Enemkpali finished with a perfect shooting percentage, hitting 7-of-7 shots from the field.
Chassidy Fussell
• Scored 16 points on 6-of-12 shooting, including 2-of-4 from beyond-the-arc.
• Scored in double-figures for the 10th time this season, and the 81st time of her career.
Imani McGee-Stafford
• Recorded a season-high seven blocks and hauled in eight rebounds.
• Also chipped in seven points on 3-of-7 shooting.
Celina Rodrigo
• Hauled in eight rebounds, which ties her season high.
Brady Sanders
• Delivered a career-high and team-high seven assists while committing only one turnover.
