Norman, Okla. ? Oklahoma State coach Kurt Budke decided his team’s best chance against Oklahoma was to eliminate the production of All-America center Courtney Paris’ teammates.
Even with his high opinion of the 6-foot-2 sophomore, he didn’t anticipate how much damage Paris could do.
Paris tied Oklahoma’s career double-doubles record with 41 points and 19 rebounds, and the No. 9 Sooners held Oklahoma State without a field goal for more than 10 minutes in a 78-63 win Sunday.
“People have got to respect her as the best player in the country,” Budke said. “I don’t know if any of you in this room were wondering what was wrong with Courtney when she was getting 20 and 15. That’s ridiculous. That’s ridiculous to be wondering why she’s having a bad night when she gets 20 and 15.
“She’s the best player in this country. I’ve been saying it since the first time I saw her, and nothing changed my mind tonight.”
Paris matched Molly McGuire’s 54 career double-doubles from 1980-83 by reaching double figures in both points and rebounds for the 49th straight game.
Paris was 16-for-22 from the field and finished two points shy of matching her career high. It was her highest scoring output against a Big 12 opponent.
“We thought we’d defend her one-on-one, knowing that the potential for 30 (points) was there,” Budke said. “We didn’t want her to get 41 and 19. We thought we could handle 30 and shut everybody else down.”
It worked for a while. Despite missing pregame warmups with a stomach illness, Paris scored Oklahoma’s first nine points.
But the Cowgirls came out even hotter.
Oklahoma State hit 10 of its first 15 shots and used a 12-4 run to go up 25-16 on Rashidat Sadiq’s jumper from the left side with 9:44 left in the half. But the Cowgirls’ next basket didn’t come until 59 seconds into the second half.
Oklahoma (18-3, 8-2 Big 12) outscored Oklahoma State 19-2 to end the first half and then started the second half with a 9-2 run.
