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Saturday, Mar. 18 6:00pm ET
Whaley: Oklahoma's career scoring leader | |||||
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BOX SCORE
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) -- Phylesha Whaley has extended her record-setting career at Oklahoma by at least one more game. The Big 12 player of the year scored a season-high 33 points to become Oklahoma' career scoring leader and lead the 18th-ranked Sooners past Brigham Young 86-81 Saturday in the first round of the NCAA East Regional.
"I know that at any time it may be my last (college) game. I'm just happy to know that I have one more game to play with these girls," Whaley said. Oklahoma (24-7) next plays defending NCAA champion Purdue, which beat Dartmouth 70-66 Saturday night. Whaley, who also has started a school-record 114 games in four seasons, came in with 2,119 points, 28 short of the record Molly McGuire set from 1980-83. "I think it's a challenge," Whaley said of leading her teammates. "If they believe in me, then it gives me the confidence to make it easier on myself." The senior forward also has set school career records for offensive rebounds, defensive rebounds, free throws made and minutes played. "We're going to ride on the back of Phylesha Whaley as long as we can," Oklahoma coach Sherri Coale said. Whaley's final points came on a crucial layup in the final minute, after Brigham Young (22-9) had cut a 12-point deficit to one with an impressive effort from behind the 3-point line. "Her quick shot was difficult to defend," said BYU's Jennifer Leitner of Whaley's 12-of-20 effort from the field. "Her ability to get an open shot was also hard to defend." Whaley and LaNeishea Caufield, who had 22 of her 26 points in the second half, led a 16-3 run to start the second half, putting the Sooners ahead to stay. Despite a five-minute stretch without a field goal, Brigham Young led 33-32 at halftime. Oklahoma took the lead for good by scoring the first nine points of the second half. The Cougars regrouped by shooting 8-for-12 from behind the arc in the second half. For the game, Brigham Young was 13-for-35 on 2-pointers and 13-for-25 on 3-pointers. "We were aware of how they're able to stay in games," Coale said. "They reminded me of Kansas State and the way they hit a lot of 3-pointers to keep games close." Cady Williams scored 27 points for Brigham Young, and Leitner and Erin Thorn had 17 apiece, with Thorn sinking five 3-pointers. Whaley's jumper and two free throws gave the Sooners a 69-61 lead with 6:27 left. Three consecutive 3-pointers by Williams, who made six, left Brigham Young trailing 71-67 with 5:26 to play. She then missed two free throws with 4:56 remaining. Three seconds later, Lori Cuff missed the front end of a one-and-one opportunity. Williams had to leave the game with about three minutes remaining when she was inadvertently elbowed in the face and knocked down. "She was playing very well. Sometimes things like that happen and you have to go on," BYU coach Trent Shippen said. "The trainers were looking at her in the locker room and I hope she will be fine." Two free throws by Thorn followed by her 3-pointer left Oklahoma holding a 79-78 lead with 54 seconds to go. Whaley's layup with 30 seconds remaining put Oklahoma up 81-78, and the Sooners held on as Caton Hill made four straight free throws in the final 19 seconds. | ALSO SEE Womens College Basketball Scoreboard
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