Sooner women's problem isn't shooting, it's disappearing
We’ve been watching it our whole lives.
One team has a big lead, has all but put the opponent away, and then it begins to happen.
The team with victory all but secured relaxes. The team that’s all but done plays to the buzzer. The final margin shrinks just enough to inspire a sportswriter to write these words:
“… in a game not nearly as close as the final score indicated.”
The Oklahoma women were in just such a position last Sunday inside a sold-out Lloyd Noble Center, the program’s first since the ’08–’09 season, when Courtney Paris and Danielle Robinson led it to the Final Four.
Just 4:54 remained when sixth-ranked LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson ran over OU’s Aaliyah Chavez. Down 78-63, the Sooners’ chances were long, though stranger things have happened.
The crowd erupted when Chavez drew the charge.
Certainly, OU would at least die trying.
Not really.
• Next time down the floor, Chavez’s and Zya Vann’s lazy exchange 35 feet from the basket became a Milaysia Fulwiley steal and layup.
• Next time down the floor, without urgency or awareness, Vann’s pocket was picked again by Fulwiley, leading to two LSU free throws and the ball out of bounds following Vann’s retaliatory tug of Fulwiley’s jersey.
• Next time down the court, OU center Raegan Beers reached the free-throw line and missed both, continuing her plunge as a foul shooter, her percentage down to 42.9 since conference play began.
LSU prevailed 91-72.
The Sooners were done trying.
Set against the program we thought Oklahoma had become after four years of coach Jennie Baranczyk’s leadership, it’s alarming.
