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	2010 Big 12 Women's Championship
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March 14, 2010

2:40 p.m. -- Texas A&M wins 74-67 and takes the title. Amanda Thompson and Danielle Robinson are named to the All-Big 12 Championship Team.

2:38 p.m. -- Adams throws deep as Smith races Roethlisberger down the sideline. Roethlisberger fouls as Smith tries for a shot. Smith makes it a five-point lead. Thompson long with the 3 and Smith gets the rebound and is fouled by Robinson. Smith takes the lead up to 7. Timeout A&M.

A&M leads 74-67 with 15.7 seconds to play.

2:36 p.m. -- Inbounds is stolen by Elonu. Roethlisberger fouls. Elonu makes it a six point lead for A&M. Buchanan subs for Elonu.

Stevenson short with the 3, but Roethlisberger is there and hands off the rebound to McFarland who puts in away for 2. Coale calls OU's final timeout with 26.3 seconds and a four-point deficit.

2:31 p.m. -- Thompson hard with the jumper and it bounces off the glass to Robinson, who's there for the putback. Coale calls a :30 with 1:17 to play. One timeout left for Oklahoma; four for Texas A&M.

Thompson strips Colson on the inbounds and goes above Elonu to the rim for 2. Amazing play by Thompson to make it a 2-point game.

Colson's floater goes in. Robinson's runner is off to the right; delfection goes out off an A&M player. 37.7 to play.

2:26 p.m. -- Adams misses and Thompson gets the board. Carter steals away from Stevenson but loses it out of bounds. Media timeout with 1:34 left.

Roethlisberger checks in for Hartman.

2:25 p.m. -- OU running on fumes right now. Texas A&M has the advantage on the bench, with 28 points scored by reserves tonight. McFarland is the only OU bench player who has scored, but she has a career high with 12 points.

Elonu misses twice and Hartman picks the ball off the ground; ahead to Stevenson who misses the layup. Carter jukes Robinson and runs up for a 10-footer. OU doesn't get the shot to fall o n the other end. Adams misses a 3 but Elonu takes the rebound up for 2.

Robinson hits her jumper. Coale calls a :30.

Texas A&M leads 67-61 with 2:08 to play.

2:20 p.m. -- Hartman, Robinson, Stevenson and Thompson had for zero turnovers in OU's opening round victory, but have combined for 13 of OU's 14 today.

Thompson strips Carter and misses the layup. McFarland fouls Carter on the rebound. White, frustrated by Hartman's defense, throws up a jumper at the first piece of open space and is short. McFarland rips the rebound from Buchanan's hands and is fouled, makes one free throw. Carter stripped by Robinson, who gets 2 on the fast break.

Bounce pass to Adams who's shot is in and out. Thompson with the board -- like a broken record. Hartman with a great hustle play in traffic gets the ball to Robinson, to McFarland for a grinding layup. White's jumper is long, Hartman with the board. Robinson stripped on the layup. A&M ball out of bounds under the basket.

Elonu around McFarland but is long with the layup. Adams gets the rebound and is fouled by Thompson, her fourth, as the shot falls. Adams makes her freebie.

Timeout called by OU bench with no help on the inbounds.

Texas A&M leads 63-59 with 4:30 to play.

2:09 p.m. -- Adams misses the free throw and Thompson rebounds. Olajuwon loses the handle on the pass but so does Colson on the far end. Robinson stripped as she goes in for a layup and the ball remains with OU out of bounds. Deep inbounds to Robinson who fights away from Carter. Thompson around Elonu but misses the jumper. Olajuwon rebounds but is called for traveling.

Elonu wide with the layup and Olajuwon grabs the board. Stevenson through Adams legs to Olajuwon but Abi misses the layup. Adams hits the 3 going the other way. Thompson nails the answering 3. White misses a runner and Stevenson comes away with the ball. Thompson's jumper is off to the right and Colson gets the rebound, but is tied up by Olajuwon and they go to the floor. Sooners' ball.

McFarland enters for Olajuwon. Inbounds to Thompson who gets her own miss but loses the handle. McFarland picks it up and is fouled by Elonu, her fourth. McFarland misses the first, makes the second. Two point difference in the game with 8:30 to play.

White long with a 3 that's deflected to Adams right under the basket. Stevenson drives middle but is off target with the pass to McFarland. Smith comes off the high screen for a long 2. Robinson's reverse layup misses. Foul called on McFarland, her second.

2:02 p.m. -- Thompson with a double-double already, the 17th of her career, and Robinson in double figures for the 80th time in her career with 10 points.

Adams buckets a 12-footer. Thompson misses. Assarian fouled by Olajuwon and misses. A&M collects the missed free throw and Carter travels. Hartman to Stevenson, who is short with the 3. Rebound deflected out of bounds by Assarian. Hartman drives baseline for a layup and is fouled by Assarian. Hartman strips Carter, Robinson picks up the loose ball but Colson blocks the layup.

Robinson under the basket to Olajuwon who reverses and is fouled by White. Olajuwon finds Robinson alone under the rim for 2. Thompson called for a foul on Adams, who makes the first and misses the second. Thompson with the rebound. Hartman drives again and looks for Robinson, but the pass is high and goes out of bounds at the sideline. Elonu with three attempts at a shot and they are all deflected or blocked. Adams ends up with a rebound and is fouled by Thompson on the putback. Thompson, Robinson and Olajuwon have three fouls apiece. Media timeout.

Texas A&M leads 53-50 with 11:36 to play.

1:50 p.m. -- Buchanan can't put pressure on the leg as she's helped to the bench. Stevenson's 3 goes left; Thompson's putback misses and the ball is deflected out of bounds by A&M. The inbounds gets to Robinson who is fouled by Carter under the basket on her shot. Robinson's freebies fall as Colson returns.

Colson to Carter across the court and a wide-open 3 falls for A&M. Carter's reach strips Robinson. Smith pushes off Robinson, who's called for her third foul.

Texas A&M leads 47-44 at the 15:29 media timeout.

1:46 p.m. -- Adams shot good. Stevenson's 3 good. Elonu misses and Olajuwon grabs the board. Robinson's layup misses but A&M turns it over. Thompson fouled by Adams, her second.

Injury report on Syndey Colson is a reaggrivation of a stress reaction to her right ankle. She'll be back in the second half.

Thompson's free throws are good. Elonu's jumper is off and Olajuwon grabs the board. Great post play today by the Sooners. Hartman's pass to Olajuwon is deflected, but Abi's big hands grasp the ball out of the reach of Adams and she goes up, but is fouled before she can release. Olajuwon makes the first, misses the second.

Another illegal screen by Elonu, her third personal and third A&M foul in three minutes this half. Hartman inside to Olajuwon, who's a little strong with the jumper as Adams hovers. Thompson grabs the board and hands off to Hartman who is blocked by Carter. Hartman's free throws fall and the game is tied at 42.

Carter pulls up and misses. White stripped by Thompson, but she's on the line. Smith's three is short and Thompson gets tied up on the ground. Buchanan hurt on the play as her ankle gets twisted under Adams and Thompson.

1:39 p.m. -- Back to action. Adams starts for Buchanan.

1:23 p.m. -- White shoots two, misses one. Six second difference in shot and game clock. Colson goes down hard and is grabbing left leg below the knee. McFarland called for a foul. The replay shows Colson bump knees with McFarland on the screen, so it hopefully won't be too serious for a player who has had ACL injuries in the past.

Assarian makes the first and misses the second as the last foul put them in the bonus. Smith fouls on the rebound. Robinson with the ball and 18 seconds.

Straight to the rim and under Adams for 2. Adams' 3 is waved off, but goes in. Officials check with the monitor. It's an obvious no basket.

Texas A&M leads 40-34 at the half.

1:18 p.m. -- McFarland makes her free throw. Adams forces her way to the rim, but is short with the shot. White cleans up with no Sooner there to rebound. McFarland with the layup and foul again; this time on Elonu. Both teams equal with five fouls. McFarland's free shot is good.

The Aggies have stopped the high screen with Adams in the game, but they still find White for an open jumper. Thompson's jumper hits the front, back, glass and in. White open jumper again but misses, Adams put back rolls away and Hartman fights for the rebound. Robinson lays it in on the other end. Smith nails a 3-pointer.

Thompson stripped by Adams. Colson dishes to White who's fouled by Robinson, her second. Timeout A&M with 37.2 seconds.

Texas A&M leads 38-32.

1:12 p.m. -- A&M's White sharp with the contested 3. Thompson dribbles through the middle and no-looks to Robinson for the jumper. Adams knocks down a 15-footer without taking a dribble. Elonu steals a pass, but Carter's jumper misses. Thompson grabs the board. Adams knocks over McFarland on the screen and Thompson's jumper is blocked. Colson loses control in transition and OU has the ball out of bounds. Buchanan called for holding Thompson and Elonu comes in to replace her. McFarland hacked on the layup, but no whistle. White's 3 falls.

Thompson's jumper in and out; gets the rebound on the other end. McFarland tough to the rim and gets the foul on Adams and the bucket. Media timeout.

Texas A&M leads 30-24 with 3:32 and a free throw coming.

1:06 p.m. -- Olajuwon showing senior leadership and talking through matchups with McFarland on the bench during the timeout. Cold shooting affecting the Sooners again to start the game, but the rebounds are falling the right way and OU has been the only team to capitalize on a second chance in the first 10 minutes.

High screen for Colson, who pulls up for a jumper. Hartman drives baseline but is blocked by Assarian. Thompson grabs the loose ball and reverses it. Colson and Thompson collide and Robinson steals the ball. Thompson's 3 falls as the shot clock gets to 2. McFarland sneaks into the passing lane as Colson was targeting a wide-open Smith for 3. Elonu to the left side for 2.

Thompson dribbles into Elonu for space and pulls up for a 14-footer. The help defense leaves Carter and she's wide open for 3. Stevenson's 3 in and out. Elonu wide right with the 3 attempt. Thompson called for the charge while passing out of a baseline drive. McFarland deflects Smith's pass to Carter and Stevenson takes the advantage down the court and gets the layup. Carter drives and takes the defense, finds Elonu alone at the top of the key for 2. Robinson's jumper misses. Smith's jumper misses, but OU loses the handle in transition. Media timeout.

Thompson with the hot hand early again with 11 points today. Of Thompson's 43 points scored in this tournament, 34 have come in the first half.

Texas A&M leads 22-18, 6:38 to play in the first period.

12:56 p.m. -- Colson for Buchanan. Stevenson hits her first 3 attempt -- hopefully, staying awake this morning helped. Elonu fouled on her layup attempt by Olajuwon. McFarland checks in as Elonu makes the first free throw, and the second.

Robinson straight to the hoop for 2. Great sequence by McFarland as she strips Assarian and then takes a charge from Elonu. Robinson drives middle, taking away the defnse and finds Thompson for an easy layup. Colson hits the 3 on the other end. Robinson's pass to McFarland backcutting too far ahead and it goes out of bounds. Media timeout.

Texas A&M leads 13-9, 11:31 on the clock.

12:52 p.m. -- Offensive foul on Stevenson. Carter short and off the glass with a jumper than Robinson picks up. Thompson pushes a jumper a little long, but Hartman makes a great play for the rebound. Robinson's 16-footer misses and she's called for a blocking foul as White runs away with the rebound.

Smith's jumper rolls around the rim and out and Olajuwon fouls Buchanan's rebound attempt. Elonu with an illegal screen on Hartman maneuvering around to stay with Smith. Hartman's pass inside deflected by Carter who finds Assarian on the other end for a layup.

Thompson at the top of the key, spins around but misses the shot. A&M misses its attempt. OU misses again and White takes advantage in transition, getting deep into the Sooner defense before pulling up for 2.

Coale calls timeout.

Texas A&M leads 8-2 with 13:12 to play in the first.

12:45 p.m. -- Elonu scores first. Aggies in a zone defense. Robinson's jumper pushes wide right, but Thompson's there to clean it up. Smith bounces a layup off the side of the rim and Robinson follows with a similiar attempt on the other end. Smith short with the 3 and Hartman grabs the rebound. Carter sticking like glue to Robinson; Thompson shoots of the side of the backboard. White drives middle and floats over the top for 2. Thompson's 3 attempt tipped out of bounds, but officials award possession to Texas A&M.

Carter's jumper short and left, Robinson takes rebound and drives for a layup but makes contact with Olajuwon and loses the ball out of bounds. Thompson blocks Elonu from behind and grabs the board. Coale tells FSN reporter Brenda VanLengen, sitting next to me, that if we don't run into each other that OU will score. Ball deflected out of bounds; OU possession when we come back from media timeout.

Thompson with as many rebounds as the entire A&M squad at the moment.

Texas A&M leads 4-2, 15:46 on the clock.

12:40 p.m. -- Amanda Thompson with the most serious look I've ever seen on her face in pregame. She desperately wants her senior season to last as long as possible.

12:38 p.m. -- Player introductions for the entire teams for the championship game. Maybe it's my location near the OU bench, but the Sooner fans seem slightly more vocal this afternoon. In the crowd are Jessica McFarland, Joanna's oldest sister who played at Kansas State, and OU alum Desiree Taylor, a member of Sherri Coale's first Big 12 championship-winning team.

12:30 p.m. -- Oklahoma is the No. 3 seed and Texas A&M the No. 4 seed, providing an all-Big 12 South upset special for the Championship Game. The No. 3 seed has won the Big 12 title twice and No. 4 seed just once. Nos. 3 and 4 have met just once before in the championship game, when No. 4 Texas A&M defeated No. 3 Oklahoma State for the crown in 2008 here in Kansas City.

12:21 p.m. -- Both teams are in their repsective locker rooms for the final words by the head coaches before returning to the court a final time before the 12:38 p.m. tip-off.

The maintenence staff is tightening a loose rim on the south goal, the one the Sooners will shoot at in the first half today after playing that direction in the second halves of the first two games of the tournament.

11:45 a.m. -- The Associated Press released this report Sunday about possible economic losses for NCAA first and second round sites that won't have their hosts schools playing. That won't be a problem for the University of Oklahoma, who will have the Sooners in the Lloyd Noble Center for next week's start of the road to the Final Four.

ESPN's Charlie Creme has the Sooners as a No. 3 seed hosting Vanderbilt, Fresno State and Southern Conference Champion Chattanooga. It's possible, though, with a win today that OU could slide up into a No. 2 seed. It seems that with so many Big 12 teams in the middle of the Top 25, that at least one will be forced up and one forced down a seed. With the nation's top strength of schedule and an RPI in the top seven, OU won't slide down.

Want tickets for the NCAA First and Second Round at the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman? Order today by clicking the link in the gray box at the top of the page.

11:31 a.m. -- The 60-minute countdown clock starts, which allows the players to grab basketballs off the rack and begin shooting. Nyeshia Stevenson has literally been gasping for air, waiting inches away from the rack, ready to begin a slightly different pre-game routine this morning. Stevenson has scored 25 of her 27 points this weekend in the second half, so she skipped her customary pre-game nap in hopes of getting hot a little earlier in today's contest.

11:07 a.m. -- Walking through downtown Kansas City this morning, the fans wearing blue had dissipated from their exuberant celebrations of last night and the fans wearing crimson were in full effect. The first fans to arrive at Municipal this morning were a group of nine Sooner fans follow by a family of four Nebraska supporters.

Most of the staffers are in position, except for the handful getting last-minute photographs on the court, as the Sooners arrive at the building. The tournament has run smooth and should finish strong with a good contest today.

10:57 a.m. -- OU is just minutes away from departing its hotel for Municipal Auditorium. It probably takes more time to load the bus than it does to drive one block south to the arena, but with a couple dozen people with bags and equipment, it's a necessity.

OU leads the all-time series with Texas A&M, 26-14, but the teams have split contests this season. OU won 74-65 in Norman and Texas A&M won 78-55 in College Station.

The Sooners and Aggies have met three times previously in the Big 12 Championship, but never in the championship game. OU beat A&M in the first round in 2004 when the Sooners claimed four victories en route to winning the trophy in Dallas. The Sooners won again in 2005 in Kansas City in another first round matchup. Of course, Texas A&M knocked Oklahoma out in the semifinals last year in Oklahoma City.

9:16 a.m. -- OU's morning shootaround has concluded and the Sooners will head back to the hotel for a brief rest and a pre-game meal before coming back to Municipal. The battle for the 'ship looms. Tip-off at 12:30 p.m. Central on Fox Sports Net.

8:43 a.m. -- When Amanda Thompson takes the court today, she will match Stacey Dales and Erin Higgins for fourth all-time at OU with 133 games played. Thompson also has 104 career starts, 10th all-time at OU.

The senior is the only Sooner ever to record 250 career assists and have 100 blocks and steals. She's the only OU player ever under 6-2 to record 30 blocks in a single season, something she's done three times.

Thompson leads the Big 12 in rebounding, averaging 10.3 boards.

8:18 a.m. -- It's championship day and the Sooners are looking for their fifth Big 12 tournament trophy. OU and Texas A&M meet at 12:30 p.m. (on Fox Sports Net).

Oklahoma just arrived at Municipal Auditorium for its morning shootaround. The Sooners are in good spirits and confident about today's matchup.

March 13, 2010

4:36 p.m. -- Riley fires long and Cunnigham is there for the follow up 2. Robinson fouled on the inbounds by Cunningham, her fifth, and goes to the line.

Robinson puts the game out of reach with two free throws. OU will meet Texas A&M in the championship Sunday at 2:30.

OU wins 74-69.

4:35 p.m. -- Hartman to inbound the ball and finds Robinson, who gets stripped out of bounds. Hartman inbounds again to Thompson, who's immediately fouled by Young, her fifth and final.

Thompson makes both free throws and Coale calls for a :30.

OU leads 72-67 with 17.1 to play.

4:32 p.m. -- Cunningham makes the 3. OSU calls its last timeout with 20.1 seconds left.

4:30 p.m. -- Stevenson fouls Keller while trying to deflect a pass. Six point game with 22.3 seconds to play. I'm guessing the Sooner coaches are saying, "No 3s" in the huddle.

4:29 p.m. -- Robinson jumper slides left, Cunnigham rebounds. Blair-Mobley with a long 3 that misses, but gets the rebound as Byford and Olajuwon push away the deflection. Smiles on the Sooners faces as OU scores another 2 with 1 minute to play.

Cunningham called with the blocking foul, her fourth and OSU's 10th, as Robinson drives. Robinson makes it a two-possesion game for OSU.

OU leads 70-64 with 40.7 seconds.

4:25 p.m. -- Stevenson makes her free throws and then collects the rebounds after OSU's missed jumper. Thompson passes inside to Olajuwon, who gets tagged with her third personal for the elbow charge.

Hartman slides away with the loose rebound and calls timeout.

OU leads 66-62 with 2:19 to play.

4:20 p.m. -- Olajuwon fouled by Young and clanks the 1-and-1, her first free throw miss of the weekend. "No 3s" the call from the bench. Cunningham misses her jumper from 8 feet. Stevenson misses the 3, but gets her rebounds and is pushed from behind by Cunningham, her third foul.

OU leads 64-62 at the media timeout, 3:42 left.

4:17 p.m. -- Roethlisberger gets an open look, but it's short and Thompson chases down the rebound. Thompson fires a 3 that's in and out and Roethlisberger is there for the rebound. One too many passes, they say, as the Sooners lose the ball in traffic under the basket.

Riley airballs a 3. Olajuwon fouled on a putback by Young, her fourth, and goes to the line for the plus one. Free throw is good for Olajuwon, who has 11 points.

Riley's 3 off target again and Stevenson tips away the board to Robinson. Stevenson called for the in-and-out of bounds again after maneuvering around Cunningham and receiving the pass.

Riley trying to stick a Sooner with a foul and whiffs on the runner on the left side of the lane.

OU leads 64-62 with 4:27 to play.

4:12 p.m. -- Fouls becoming more of the game's outlook as Olajuwon and Robinson have 3 for the Sooners and Riley and Young have 3 on OSU's side.

4:10 p.m. -- Thompson's jumper off-target; but Roethlisberger collects the board and later finds Olajuwon with a smooth look in the post. Cunnigham answers with 2 in the paint.

Olajuwon's shot short on the fade away. Robinson called for her second foul on a body block of Riley. Byford misses the catch and shoot on the inbounds.

Roethlisberger drops a trey, assisted by Robinson. After a few tries with the inbound, Riley finds some space for another jumper. OU turns it over, then Robinson fouls Riley's attempt. Free throws give Riley 32 points.

Stevenson with a quick 3; she has 13 today. Riley baits Robinson for the foul, but D-Rob's ready and gets the charge call; Riley's third foul.

OSU leads 62-61 with 7:30 to play.

4:03 p.m. -- Media timeout as the officials check to see if the shot clock was reset on the last OU rebounds.

OSU goes up 56-53 as teams traded baskets. Despite the field-goal flurry, this game is shaping to be a free throw battle as the Cowgirls were whistled with four fouls in that last interval.

3:48 p.m. -- Olajuwon tagged with her third foul as Riley flops into her stationary body. Riley hits the first free throw as McFarland replaces Olajuwon, then misses the second. Robinson loses the handle in traffic and OSU takes the possession out of bounds.

Toni Young finds some space between the basket and Amanda Thompson for 2. OU turnover called as Stevenson is first to touch the ball after coming from out of bounds. Young takes advantage of Thompson again, going over the top for 2.

McFarland fouled by Young in the paint.

OSU leads 48-46 with 15:53 remaining.

3:46 p.m. -- OU 4-for-5, 2-for-3 from 3, since the half while OSU is 1-for-4 as the Sooners have gone on a 10-3 run.

3:43 p.m. -- Olajuwon blocks Riley's attempt; Hartman flies to the other end for a layup. Cowgirls misfire on a couple of attempts. Stevenson, like yesterday, finally connects on her fifth 3-point attempt to tie the game.

Cunnigham fires over Hartman and Olajuwon for 2. Hartman's 3 hits the front end and Thompson runs away with the rebound. Stevenson hits the 3. OU's first lead of the game comes with 18 minutes to play. Riley misfires and Stevenson grabs the board; gets the floater on the other end. Budke calls timeout.

OU leads 46-43 with 17:21 to play.

3:32 p.m. -- A spirited rendition of "Oklahoma" performed by OU's pom squad during halftime keeps the crowd enertained.

Oklahoma Leaders
Points: Thompson - 15
Rebounds: Thompson - 7
Assists: Thompson - 3

Oklahoma State Leaders
Points: Riley - 21
Rebounds: Robinson - 6
Assists: Riley - 2

Team Statistics
FG: OU - 13-31 (.419), OSU - 17-34 (.500)
3FG: OU - 3-11 (.273), OSU - 2-9 (.222)
FT: OU - 8-8 (1.000), OSU - 3-4 (.750)
REB: OU - 17, OSU - 19
AST: OU - 5, OSU - 3
TO: OU - 4, OSU - 3

3:23 p.m. -- Riley makes the jumper and Cunningham called for a delay of game warning for tossing the ball away. Robinson finds Olajuwon near the basket, but the shot is wide as the clock runs down.

OSU 40, OU 36 at the half.

3:20 p.m. -- Robinson hits both freebies; game with four points. Riley puts up a prayer over an outstrecthed Olajuwon. Roethlisberger's 3 just misses and Thompson fights for the rebound. Olajuwon deep inside spins around LaSharra Riley for 2. Roethlisberger called for the arm foul on Cunningham.

Olajuwon forces Riley's jumper from the wing to miss. Roethlisberger's 3 short.

Budke calls timeout with 36.6 seconds until halftime.

OSU 38, OU 36.

3:15 p.m. -- Roethlisberger fires from 3 and sinks it. Blair-Mobley's 3 attempt wide open but misses. Each team turns it over in transition and D-Rob comes away with the ball. Robinson runs the OSU play, taking a jumper off a high screen but is pushed on the follow through by Blair-Mobley. Olajuwon stuffs LaSharra Riley's jumper.

Robinson hits the jumper just inside the arc to put OU within 6. Riley slowing the pace; charges at Roethlisberger, who blocks Riley's shot back into her face. Robinson gets LaSharra Riley to foul on the other end.

OSU leads 36-32 with 2:38 and free throws to come.

3:11 p.m. -- Two Rileys on the court as LaSharra Riley enters the game for Oklahoma State.

Danielle Robinson hits her free throws. Riley makes another jumper. Hartman's 3 a little long. Riley struggles through three screens to find space and throws up a 10-footer than finds its target.

Roethlisberger checks in for Hartman; Olajuwon for McFarland.

Immediate catch and shoot for Cunningham; it's good. Robinson with the backcut and LaSharra Riley called for a foul on Olajuwon. Olajuwon makes both from the 1-and-1 opportunity and is 6-for-6 from the line in this tournament.

Cunningham throws one off the glass for another 2. Thompson short with her spinning jumper; Riley loses the handle on the rebound out of bounds. Hartman replaces Thompson.

Kurt Budke calls timeout.

OSU leads 38-27. 4:56 on the clock.

3:05 p.m. -- Stevenson's 3 clanks; so does Garrison's. Robinson with a swooping lay-in off the glass. Keller's 3 off target and Stevenson has the board. McFarland moves around Keller for 2. Keller called for the illegal screen. Blair-Mobley returns for Garrison.

Robinson speeds through a gap in the middle for another layup. Riley hits shot No. 6, contested well, coming off another high screen. Thompson forces a jumper and misses but gets the rebound, putback and foul. Thompson drops in the free throw for point number 15.

Hartman guarding Riley now, giving Robinson room to operate without being screen. Riley shoots just past the screener and Robinson looks to get a clean swat, but is called for the foul. Riley hits two free throws. Robinson's jumper misses.

Precious Robinson finds Riley's first misfire and is fouled by McFarland. Cunningham airballs the inbounds pass right to Precious Robinson who lays it in.

Thompson forces another jumper, but misses. Precious does the same on other end. D-Rob fouled by Byford, her second and OSU's seventh.

OSU leads 30-23, 7:17 to play before half.

2:57 p.m. -- Riley perfect from the field with 11 points, but Thompson has scored 12 of her own. Olajuwon is the only other Sooner with points while five other Cowgirls have contributed.

2:55 p.m. -- High screen on Robinson again and Riley sinks shot No. 4, then 5 after OU's turnover. Thompson fires a 3. Robinson pushes through Thompson for a layup. Thompson finds space for a jumper.

Still trading buckets seven minutes into the game.

Robinson liter Byford on the layup attempt. Cowgirls with a bit of a mismatch as Thompson covers Garrison and McFarland is guarding Young, who pulls up for a jumper. Thompson finds the rim and one; A.T. definitely looking to take over with the Sooners struggling defensively.

Garrison's 3 swoops in. Cowgirls on fire tonight, but so is Thompson who creates another 2. Cunningham's 3 misses and Byford fouls.

OSU leads 24-14, 11:08 to play in the first period.

2:50 p.m. -- Stevenson missed four 3-pointers before getting hot in Friday's semifinal and she's content to keep shooting until the sparks fly again. For OSU, Riley is 3-for-3, keeping the pace that has allowed her to average 40 points throughout the Big 12 Championship.

2:47 p.m. -- Action is quick-paced at the start.

Riley starts off the game making a 2-point jumper. Stevenson misses a 3. Riley responds with another 2. Thompson misses the jumper just inside the arc. Keller's 3 rims out and Young fouls Thompson on the rebound. Sooners shake off the cobwebs and slow the offense down as Robinson finds Olajuwon via Thompson's assist. Riley called for the offensive foul.

Stevenson off from 3 again and the Sooners keep the possession on the jumpball. Thompson sinks the off-balance jumper. Cunningham finds some space and answers with a 15-footer.

Byford checks in for Keller. Thompson drives from the inbounds, but is called for traveling. Contested 3 for Cunningham, but she makes it. Olajuwon misses her jumper and Riley catches Robinson in a screen and hits a 3. Stevenson shoots and misses from beyond the arc.

OSU leads 12-4 at the first media timeout.

2:40 p.m. -- Nerves showing a little for Sooners during player introductions; Cowgirls look just happy to be here, as well they should as the No. 7 seed has made the semifinal game just once before and has never advanced to a final. Oklahoma is 5-1 all-time in the semifinal round.

2:25 p.m. -- For Oklahoma, Danielle Robinson, Jasmine Hartman, Nyeshia Stevenson, Amanda Thompson and Abi Olajuwon will be in the starting lineup.

Oklahoma State will start Carolyn Blair-Mobley, for just the fourth time this season, Andrea Riley, Lindsey Keller, Tegan Cunningham and Toni Young.

Officials are Dee Kantner, Scott Yarbrough and Eric Brewton. Brewton officiated in Oklahoma's quarterfinal win versus Baylor.

2:16 p.m. -- The South rises again. Texas A&M defeats Nebraska, 80-70, in the first Big 12 semifinal, meaning that two Big 12 South Division teams will play for the Big 12 Championship Sunday. The only question remains if the Aggies will meet Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.

Those two teams are on the court warming up for the next semifinal at 2:30 p.m.

12:38 p.m. -- Semifinal game one is quickly becoming a story as Texas A&M takes an early double-digit lead on undefeated Nebraska. Oklahoma will be making its way over to Municipal Auditorium in about 30 minutes.

Look for Whitney Hand to join the FSN broadcast between games.

10:20 a.m. -- Oklahoma has finished its morning shootaround and look ready for the challenge ahead. Interestingly, the Sooners were the only team to take time on the court this morning at Municipal.

9:06 a.m. -- Looking back at last night some more, the Sooners had a season-low seven turnovers. Danielle Robinson, Jasmine Hartman, Nyeshia Stevenson and Amanda Thompson -- who averaged 37 minutes -- combined for zero. That type of effort will carry OU a long way in the postseason. Fortunately, the NCAA Championship begins in Norman with the first and second rounds at the Lloyd Noble Center Sunday, March 21, and Tuesday, March 23. Order your tickets today by following the link on the top of this article.

8:55 a.m. -- The Sooners will have the task, again, of defending Andrea Riley, who has games of 37 and 43 points already this weekend, but the Sooners have won 22 of the last 23 meetings against the Cowgirls. The winner will advance to Sunday's championship game and meet the winner of Nebraska/Texas A&M, who play Saturday at 12 p.m.

8:43 a.m. -- Back at Municipal Arena awaiting the Sooners' arrival for the morning shootaround. OU meets Oklahoma State for the third time this season today at 2:30 p.m. The game will be televised on Fox Sports Net Southwest -- no conflicts today.

Friday, the Sooners held Brittney Griner, returning from a two-game suspension, in check and outlasted the Lady Bears for the 'W'. Griner had averaged 19 points and nine rebounds this season, but only totaled 13 points and six rebounds against Oklahoma despite playing all 40 minutes.

Danielle Robinson had 26 points to lead OU and Nyeshia Stevenson got hot from beyond the arc late to score 12. Coincidentally, those scoring figures are exactly what each of those two players had scored for their careers in the Big 12 Championship entering the game.

March 12, 2010

9:26 p.m. -- Jones misses the 3. Olajuwon rebounds and hands to Robinson who is fouled with 1.8 seconds. See you tomorrow, Oklahoma State.

9:24 p.m. -- Jones misses the first, makes the second.

Stevenson really feeling it as she runs right to Griner and sidearms it for a layup. Griner misses her chance on the other end and Thompson grabs the board. Coale tells Robinson to slow the pace with OU up 3.

Thompson swipes at Medlock grabbing the rebound and gets the foul called. Medlock makes both. One point lead for OU.

Robinson wastes no time finding space for a jumper. Sooners out away from Griner guarding against 3s. Griner takes a chance with a 14-footer and Robinson gets the rebound.

Running the clock now. Robinson misses her chance at a layup and the ball is tied up. Baylor possession. Timeout Baylor.

OU leads 57-54, 17.1 seconds to play.

9:20 p.m. -- Attendance for tonight's session is 4,239, the largest crowd to watch a game yet at the Big 12 Women's Championship. Most are Sooner fans, but there's a healthy mix of every school left playing. Baylor fans are divided as their men's team is playing at the Sprint Center right now.

Stevenson's second 3 falls. Will the floodgates open for her? OU leads 53-51 under three minutes.

Jones falls into a stationary McFarland on a layup attempt and, to the displeasure of OU fans, McFarland is tagged with her fifth. Olajuwon, who has four fouls, returns.

Jones at the line. OU leads 53-51 with 2:40 to play.

9:16 p.m. -- Free throws by Jones put Baylor up 4. Robinson gets a big screen from Thompson for another jumper and has 22 points tonight. OU crashes for the rebound and Thompson sinks a jumper on the other end. Game tied.

Jones, Stevenson and Robinson fighting for a rebound and Jones is called for a foul. The officials have to go to the monitor to check who will shoot. It will be Nyeshia, her first free throws of the game. Sinks both and the game is tied at 47.

Washington with the response for Baylor. Robinson tries to get Griner to foul but is rejected, Griner's seventh block, on the layup attempt.

Finally, a 3 falls. Stevenson takes the honors and OU takes the lead, 50-49.

The crowd energy swings the Sooners way. Washington finds an open look, but Hartman is in her way and fouls -- seventh team foul.

OU leads 50-49, 3:15 left.

9:05 p.m. -- Robinson makes a 14-footer with the shot clock winding down and OU gets away from defense with a clean break, but an errant pass slides through traffic in the paint and goes out of bounds for a turnover to enter the deadball period.

Baylor 44, OU 41 - 7:33.

9:01 p.m. -- Olajuwon makes both free throws, 4-for-4 tonight, to cut the Baylor lead to 3.

Griner rotates into Olajuwon on a quick repost and Abi now has four fouls. McFarland replaces her as Griner misses the first and makes the second.

Missed 3 for Thompson sends Baylor back to offense. Baylor bailed out on a rebounding foul and Griner finds Medlock for an assisted layup. Coale calls timeout.

Baylor leads 44-39 with 8:47 to play.

8:53 p.m. -- The Sooners made a team record 16 3-pointers in their last game versus Oklahoma State, but are 0-for-6 from beyond the arc tonight. Baylor isn't shooting much better (1-for-5), but some perimeter scoring certainly would help take some attention away from the paint.

Sooners have lost some battles in the defensive transition and are starting to cheat away from rebounds to get back quicker, actually doubling the problem.

Robinson steals a Griffin pass and goes coast-to-coast for the layup and one, but misses the free throw, closing a five-point Baylor lead to three.

Thompson attracts Griner away from the bucket and passes underneath to Olajuwon who creates contact with Griner, her first personal of the game. Media timeout.

Baylor 41, OU 36. 11:27 remains.

8:45 p.m. -- Melissa Jones starts for Baylor in the second half and the Lady Bears inbound the ball from half court to start. Thompson steals the second opportunity for Griner and a 3-second violation is called while its loose.

Griner loops around Olajuwon on Baylor's third possession for the first points of the half.

Robinson nails a 15-footer at the 15:46 mark, ending a nearly seven minute field goal drought for the Sooners. Thompson with the underhand reverse layuip on the next trip to tie the game at 30.

Sooners and Bears still trading points evenly.

OU 32, Baylor 32 with 14:19 to play.

8:36 p.m. -- Stats at halftime. OU 26, Baylor 26.

Oklahoma Leaders
Points: Robinson - 12
Rebounds: Olajuwon - 6
Assists: Robinson - 2

Baylor Leaders
Points: Medlock - 10
Rebounds: Washington - 5
Assists: Washington - 2

Team Statistics
FG: OU - 12-31 (.387); BU - 10-31 (.323)
3FG: OU - 0-5 (.000); BU - 1-5 (.200)
FT: OU - 2-4 (.500); BU - 5-6 (.833)
REB: OU - 21, BU - 21

8:21 p.m. -- Something the Sooners couldn't do in Waco that's really helping tonight is fouls. OU collected four fouls -- two each on Olajuwon and McFarland -- in the first four minutes in the earlier loss to Baylor. The team just picked up its fourth of the game tonight with less than three minutes on the clock and no Sooner has more than a single foul.

Stevenson runs by the Baylor defense for a quick 2 and Mulkey is disgusted and calls another :30.

Robinson reposts to Olajuwon who looked to be fouled by Griner, but its called on Jones. Olajuwon makes both free throws and OU has the largest lead of the game at 26-23.

Griner makes Olajuwon foul on the other end, her second personal, and McFarland looks to sub. Griner makes the first, misses the second. Neither team can capitalize with field goals in the following two quick transitions.

Offensive foul called on McFarland as she tries to set the screen for Stevenson with 5.4 seconds. Baylor misses the last-chance field goal.

Game tied 26-26 at halftime.

8:12 p.m. -- The Sooners getting back in rhythm after a rusty offensive start, mostly from lack of cutting after passes, and really fighting every second of defensive possessions.

OU leads 22-21, 3:05 left before halftime.

8:10 p.m. -- Robinson sneaky with a layup behind Griner. Griner gets her first close look at the other end and Thompson fouls; Griner makes both free throws.

Sooners' delay in transition and focus on Griner allows Griffin to get an uncontested 3 and Baylor takes it first lead since the start of the game. Thompson answers with a jumper on the other side.

Robinson floats a jumper over Griffin as the shot clock expires and has 12 points already today for her 79th double-figure game, ninth best all-time at OU.

Roethlisberger and Washington get tied up for a loose ball in front of Baylor's bench, but not before Mulkey is granted the :30 timeout.

8:04 p.m. -- Medlock's sixth point ties the score at 12. A couple of good shots didn't fall for the Sooners, who are getting the looks they want, but not the rebounds.

The famous surnames sub as Olajuwon goes back in for McFarland and Roethlisberger checks in for Thompson. Mulkey sends in her own fresh blood with Jones and Condrey returning. Jones not looking rusty, but reckless under the basket and is charging every rebound with heavy contact.

Robinson takes her second charge as Washington drives around a screen to the rim for the next deadball period.

Game tied 14-14. 7:19 on the clock. For now, Baylor with the slight edge in the crucial rebounding battle, 16-14.

7:54 p.m. -- Melissa Jones playing for the first time in several games despite Baylor's insistence this week should would not return until the NCAA tournament. Jones was diagnosed with a "stress condition" in her tibia before the conference schedule began. Kim Mulkey must feel like she has to throw everything in her arsenal at OU to keep pace.

A 4-2 advantage for the Sooners in that interval as Robinson connected on a jumper and McFarland slid underneath Griner for a layup.

OU leads Baylor, 12-10, with 11:59 to play in the first period.

7:46 p.m. -- Robinson 2-for-3 with a charge taken already and Thompson taking over at the rim with authority early are good signs for the Sooners. Baylor hanging in, though, and the score is tied 8-8 at the first timeout with 15:00 remaining in the first half. McFarland subs in for Olajuwon as the Sooners platoon bodies to tangle with Griner in the paint.

7:20 p.m. -- It's almost gametime! Oklahoma State just upset Iowa State, 62-59, behind a bazillion field goals from Andrea Riley and will meet the winner of the Oklahoma/Baylor game in the 2:30 p.m. semifinal Saturday.

Oklahoma will start All-Big 12 members Danielle Robinson, Nyeshia Stevenson and Amanda Thompson, and Jasmine Hartman and Abi Olajuwon. Baylor will start Kelli Griffin, Shanay Washington, Kimetria Hayden, Brittney Griner and Morghan Medlock.

4:09 p.m. -- The Sooners just wrapped their afternoon shootaround at UMKC and are getting ready for tonight's Big 12 Championship opener with Baylor. If you're not in K.C., there are several viewing options available. Just check the links above or the TV listings below.

9:06 a.m. -- OU just finished a spirited morning workout and will have a few hours off to study and eat lunch before hitting the hardwood again for their afternoon shootaround. TV Listings: Reminder, tonight's game is on the alternate Fox Sports Net Southwest Plus and will be broadcast to COX Cable customers on Channel 7 in the Oklahoma City area and Channel 3 in Tulsa. DirecTV will air on channel 678 and DISH Network subscribers should tune to 473. AT&T U-verse will have the game on one of its normal Fox Sports Southwest channels, 753-756.

Fox Sports Southwest Plus
COX Cable - Ch. 7 in Oklahoma City, Ch. 3 in Tulsa
DirecTV - 678
DISH - 473
AT&T - 753-756

8:03 a.m. -- The Sooners are at Municipal Auditorium getting ready for their morning practice. Third-seeded OU and sixth-seeded Baylor meet tonight at 7:30 p.m. The No. 3 seed is 10-3 all-time in the second round and Oklahoma is 6-3 all-time in second round games. The No. 6 seed is 3-5 in second round games.

March 11, 2010

9:40 p.m. -- Baylor just wrapped its first round win with a 72-65 victory over Colorado. The game went down to the final minute and the Lady Bears pulled away even with star freshman Brittney Griner suspended. Griner will be back for the Lady Bears when they meet the Sooners Friday at 7:30 p.m.

9:22 p.m. -- Oklahoma State beat Kansas, 76-69, behind 37 points from Andrea Riley, who matched Courtney Paris' Big 12 career scoring record with 2,729 points. Interestingly, Riley, a 3-point shooting guard, needed 250 fewer field goals that Paris, a center, but 378 more attempts to reach the figure.

8:46 p.m. -- Check out this photo gallery from today's activities. In the morning, Whitney Hand teamed with Fox Sports Net to record a feature that will air during the break between Saturday's semifinal games. I won't describe too much, but she does interview several women's basketball fans, an Oklahoma State signee, some notable Big 12 parents and Willie the Wildcat. After that, the Sooners practiced at UMKC for 1 1/2 hours.

At night, they dined at Fogo de Chao, sampling several of 15 different types of meat specialties.

  Photo Gallery

5:28 p.m. -- Oklahoma State and Kansas underway now in Game 3. Texas beat Missouri, 64-59, in Game 2.

2:58 p.m. -- Watching the Sooners practice at Old Swinney Gym on the campus of UMKC. The team is usual very vocal, but in this closely-confined building, the sounds of practice are deafening.

2:44 p.m. -- Here's the lowdown from Fox Sports Net about television coverage in Oklahoma for Friday's quarterfinal at 7:30 p.m. Due to the conflict with the NBA Thunder game, OU's Big 12 game will be on Fox Sports Southwest Plus. For COX Cable subscribers, that's COX channel 7 in Oklahoma City and channel 3 in Tulsa. Satellite customers can watch the game on DirecTV channel 678 and DISH channel 473.

There are no conflicts for Saturday's and Sunday's games.

1:15 p.m. -- Kansas State becomes the first winner of the Big 12 Women's Basketball Championship, knocking off Texas Tech, 59-51.

10:52 a.m. -- Just got the word from Rogers (Ark.) High School head girls' basketball coach Preston Early that OU 2010 signee Morgan Hook was named the Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Arkansas for a second consecutive year. Congratulations Morgan! OU has a great class of freshmen coming in next year that includes McDonald's All-American Aaryn Ellenberg.

9:30 a.m. -- The opening round of the Big 12 Championship starts in just a few minutes when Kansas State and Texas Tech hit the floor in anger for the first game today at 11 a.m.

Right now, the Sooners are finishing breakfast and about to enter study hall time -- they still have homework, after all. Later this afternoon, Whitney Hand will tape a feature with Fox Sports Net that will run Saturday between the semifinal games. It should be funny.

If you are coming to Kansas City, bring a coat. It's overcast with periodic rain and temperatures floating in the upper 40s. The next glimpse of sun is not supposed to be until Tuesday.

Check back later for more.

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March 10, 2010

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The 12th-ranked University of Oklahoma women's basketball team was the last to take to the court at Municipal Auditorium Wednesday.

The Sooners participated in an evening practice session afforded to all teams in advance of this week's Big 12 Championship.

Following a spirited six-hour bus ride from Norman, the team checked into its hotel, planning to stay until Sunday to earn the program's fifth postseason Big 12 Championship title.

OU will have the opportunity to watch its Friday night opponent play Thursday. The winner of sixth-seeded Baylor and 11th-seeded Colorado will meet the Sooners in the quarterfinal round.

The game will be televised on Fox Sports Net (Cox 7 in Oklahoma City due to a conflict with the NBA Thunder game).

Entering the 14th season of the Big 12 Championship, Oklahoma has the best winning percentage of teams in the postseason conference tournament and the most titles -- four -- won in 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2007.

Following practice, head coach Sherri Coale and All-Big 12 First Team members Danielle Robinson and Amanda Thompson visited with the media.

Sherri Coale |   Danielle Robinson |   Amanda Thompson