Box Score | Highlights
SEATTLE -- Washington and No. 21 Oklahoma battled to the final posession in a back and forth, highly competitive game, but the Sooners made the plays in the final minute to prevail, 71-68. Kelsey Plum led the Dawgs with 30 points, including 16 in the fourth quarter, but the Dawgs dropped to 6-2 on the season.
After falling behind in the opening minutes, the Dawgs used balanced scoring to build an early lead. Plum and Brianna Ruiz knocked down 3-pointers, followed by Chantel Osahor scoring the in the post and the Huskies led, 17-10 just over eight minutes into the game. Their lead would be down to three at the end of the quarter, but the Dawgs would go on another run in the second.
The Dawgs would build the lead back to as many as seven and were up 34-29 at the break. Again it was Plum and Osahor doing most of the scoring as they combined for 22 points and 12 rebounds in the half.
Washington would push the lead to as many as 10 early in the third after a Talia Walton basket, but the Sooners would make their only extended run at the end of the period. Oklahoma would reel of 12-straight points beginning at the 5:54 mark of the quarter to take a three-point lead, until Ruiz tied in with a 3-pointer. Still, Oklahoma scored in the final second of the period to take a 47-45 lead to the final 10 minutes.
The fourth quarter started as Plum's playground as she proved unstoppable in the opening moments. The Husky junior scored six-straight possessions to push the Dawgs lead to 58-52 just 3:33 into the quarter. Plum was 5-5 from the floor and 3-3 from the line during that stretch, scoring 13 points in just over three and a half minutes.
The Sooners would not go away, however, as they battled back despite the heroics of Plum and some clutch shooting from Ruiz who like Plum made three 3-pointers in the game. Washington also did well on the glass down the stretch, led by Osahor who finished with 13 rebounds to go with 13 points for her third double-double of the year.
Oklahoma trailed by one in the final minute, but got the stop they needed and then scored in transition to take the lead. Washington had a final chance, but Plum's shot was blocked, despite contact that was not called. The Sooners iced the game at the free throw line and finished off a good road victory against the Dawgs who were in control for much of the afternoon.
Plum finished 10-27 from the floor, but took over in the fourth when she scored 16 points. She also added six rebounds, three assists and four steals. Ruiz and Walton joined Plum and Osahor in double figure with 12 and 11 points, respectively. Ruiz also got it done at the defensive end, blocking a career-best three shots.
The Sooners outrebounded the Huskies, 46-41, but Washington did a better job of taking care of the ball, turning it over just nine times, compared to 16 for Oklahoma.
The Dawgs will now head back out on the road, traveling to South Dakota to take on the Coyotes on Saturday, Dec. 12 at 6 p.m., PT.
