Lubbock, Texas ? Jenna Plumley probably won’t be so hesitant to shoot threes anymore.
The Oklahoma freshman hit six three-pointers – as many as she had made in Big 12 play all season – and scored a career-high 22 points to lead No. 14 Oklahoma to a 70-67 win over Texas Tech on Saturday.
In only her second start for the Sooners, Plumley hit 6 of 8 from beyond the arc in taking the advice of teammate Ashley Paris, who had encouraged her to put the ball up more.
“Ashley always tells me to shoot it because whether I make it or miss it, they’re going to be there for the rebound,” said Plumley, had made just 6 of 24 three-point attempts in Oklahoma’s 12 previous conference games.
The Sooners led by 11 midway through the second half before Tech used a 12-4 run to whittle deficit to 61-58 with 4:46 remaining. A three-pointer by Tech’s Raquel Christian tied it at 63 before the Plumley hit her sixth three to put Oklahoma (20-4, 10-3 Big 12) ahead for good.
Plumley’s three-pointers were huge, Sooner coach Sheri Coale said.
“It takes some guts to pull that trigger and they were at critical times and that changes momentum,” she said.
Alesha Robertson and Patrice Edwards scored 16 points each to lead Tech (15-12, 6-7 Big 12). In the run that brought Tech back, the Raiders scored seven points in less than 40 seconds.
Edwards had a chance to tie the game with 38 seconds remaining but missed the second of two free throws.
Texas Tech coach Kristy Curry called Plumley a “firecracker.”
“She was just the difference today for OU,” said. “She’s a set shooter and we allowed her to get her feet set. But give her credit, she’s a firecracker. They’re very senior-laden and think it makes her job easier when she has the players around her that she has.”
Courtney Paris scored 18 points and grabbed 16 rebounds for her 52nd straight double-double. But Coale said Courtney Paris played with indecision, which is unusual for the star sophomore.
No. 13 Texas A&M 62, Oklahoma State 60
Stillwater, Okla. – Takia Starks hit a jumper with 0.3 seconds remaining to help No. 13 Texas A&M survive another scare from Oklahoma State.
The Cowgirls, who lost on a free throw with the same amount of time remaining in the teams’ previous meeting this season, rallied from six points down in the final three minutes to tie the game on Maria Cordero’s layup with 23 seconds left.
Missouri 65, No. 19 Nebraska 53
Lincoln, Neb. – EeTisha Riddle scored 14 of her 16 points in the second half to lead Missouri over Nebraska.
Nebraska (21-6, 9-4 Big 12) hit five consecutive shots to open the second half, breaking a 29-29 halftime tie and opening a 40-33 lead on Kelsey Griffin’s jumper with 16:35 remaining.
