Paris dominates; Sooners perfect
With freshman standout Courtney Paris dominating the game, Oklahoma didn’t have to be perfect to complete its undefeated run through the Big 12 Conference.
Paris had 24 points and 26 rebounds, and the No. 8 Sooners, already the first Big 12 women’s team to go 16-0 in conference play, won the tournament championship with a 72-61 victory over defending national champion Baylor on Saturday night.
“It’s an amazing accomplishment,” coach Sherri Coale said.
Oklahoma (29-4) won its third tournament title in five seasons despite a season-high 32 turnovers.
Paris was selected the MVP of the tournament. She had 77 points and 52 rebounds over three games and already is well on the way to breaking many of the Big 12 records Sophia Young set over the past four seasons at Baylor (24-6).
The 26 rebounds broke the Big 12 tournament record of 16 Paris set in Oklahoma’s opening game this week. She has 497 rebounds this season and almost certainly will become the third woman to reach 500 in Oklahoma’s first NCAA game – when she also will become the first player with 700 points, 500 rebounds and 100 blocks.
Young, the Big 12 player of the year, had 15 points on 4-of-14 shooting and nine rebounds.
“It was my worst offensive game ever. I was getting a little bit frustrated,” Young said. “Not anything they were doing, it was just me not hitting shots.”