Colleges

This time, Oklahoma leaves no doubt from start

By wire services
Published March 10, 2006

DALLAS - Oklahoma didn't need any late heroics this time.

One night after rallying in the final minute to beat ninth-seeded Iowa State, No. 8-ranked Oklahoma opened with a 13-0 run and cruised to its 16th straight victory by beating Missouri 75-54 in the Big 12 tournament semifinals.

Oklahoma (28-4) jumped on Missouri from the opening tip and led 46-17 at halftime.

"I think we'll be able to do a lot of special things if we're able to play like that," said Oklahoma center Courtney Paris, who had 17 points and 10 rebounds. "That's fun when everything is going well."

The Sooners won their 18th straight conference game.

Oklahoma's Erin Higgins added 12 points, Chelsi Welch had 11 and Ashley Paris chipped in with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

The Sooners shot 59 percent in the first half.

"That was probably the best first half we played," Oklahoma coach Sherri Coale said.

Missouri (21-9) was in its first Big 12 tournament semifinal.

Tiffany Brooks scored 24 for the Tigers. LaToya Bond, Missouri's top scorer at nearly 18 per game, didn't score in the first 30 minutes and was held to six.

Missouri shot 23 percent in the first half and finished 19-of-66 from the floor (29 percent).

"If they came out and didn't play well and we were still that far behind, I would be disappointed." Missouri coach Cindy Stein said. "It's not how bad we were, but how good they are."

NO. 10 BAYLOR 53, NO. 22 TEXAS A&M 52: Sophia Young scored 29 and Angela Tisdale hit four free throws in the final minute for the Bears (24-5) in the Big 12 semifinals. The Aggies (23-8) trailed 53-50 after Tisdale hit two free throws with 17.2 seconds left. A'Quonesia Franklin badly missed a 3-pointer. Danielle Gant grabbed the miss near the rim and hit a layup at the buzzer for the final score.

WADE TROPHY: Former Wharton star Candice Dupree, who led Temple to an NCAA Tournament berth, is among 12 finalists for the Wade Trophy announced by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association.

The winner will be named April 1 at the Final Four in Boston.

Seimone Augustus leads No. 5 LSU and the nation with 23 points per game. She won the Wade Trophy last season, and is aiming to join Nancy Lieberman (1979-80) as the only two-time recipients.

Ivory Latta guided North Carolina (29-1) to the top ranking in the AP poll. She is averaging 18.2 points and 5.2 assists.

Monique Currie is contributing 16.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.4 steals for No. 4 Duke (26-3) and shooting 43.7 percent from 3-point range.

Cappie Pondexter helped lead Rutgers (25-4) to an undefeated Big East season (16-0), averaging 21.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.7 steals.

They are joined by Sherill Baker and Tasha Humphrey (Georgia), Jessica Davenport (Ohio State), Sylvia Fowles (LSU), Khara Smith (DePaul), Candice Wiggins (Stanford) and Sophia Young (Baylor).

On Thursday, Duke coach Gail Goestenkors won the WBCA's Carol Eckman Award for spirit, integrity and character.

[Last modified March 10, 2006, 02:00:16]