January 15, 2022 Issue, Page 4 of 8

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4 January 15, 2022 Sports Cowgirls fall to TCU by one point in Fort Worth Hallie Hart, Stillwater span. tempts, a jump from their sea- tough-minded,” Littell said. “I asked our kids to take this N’Yah Boyd responded with NewsPress, Okla. After Fields hit the tying son average of 36.4%. Fields, “Just a lot of those easy bas- mentality, so I’m gonna take a 3-pointer from the top of 3-point shot with 10 seconds the Cowgirls’ standout junior kets come back to haunt you, this mentality, the next person the key, cutting TCU’s advan- Lauren Fields knocked down remaining, a defensive foul guard from Shawnee, stock- and pass and cuts and turning up,” Littell said. “You’ve gotta tage to 51-50 at the end of the a 3-pointer that could have on Taylen Collins gave Lauren piled a career-high 26 points, your head and somebody get- step up and do some things. quarter, and the Cowgirls and sent the Oklahoma State wom- Heard, TCU’s leading scorer, an and sophomore guard Keys ting in the lane on you. Most We had some kids that had en’s basketball team into over- opportunity to win the game at contributed 13 points. of the time, I think the way an opportunity to do that to- Horned Frogs stayed close to time against TCU. the free-throw line. She missed But OSU had missing pieces. we play, we bully people, and I night, didn’t do it at times. It’s each other for the rest of the Instead, the Horned Frogs her first attempt, but her sec- Although the Cowgirls pride thought there were times that that way all over the country ... game. had a chance to break the tie, ond shot swished through themselves on defensive te- we got bullied tonight.” because of the time that we’re Heard and Diggs fueled the and they capitalized on it. the net. Then TCU guard Tavy nacity, TCU’s 64 points are The Cowgirls had a disad- in right now, and you need to Frogs’ offense, each scoring 20 With two seconds left, a Diggs sealed the victory, steal- the most OSU has given up vantage in the paint without have the other people trained points. Before Heard made the single free throw carried TCU ing the ball from Lexy Keys in through four Big 12 games. 6-foot-3 center Kassidy De well enough that you can just final go-ahead shot, TCU had past the Cowgirls, 64-63, the final second. On the postgame radio Lapp, who missed the game go on and not miss a beat.” on Wednesday night in Fort Despite the loss, OSU’s of- broadcast, OSU coach Jim Lit- because of illness, according to Sometimes, the Cowgirls already gained momentum at Worth, Texas. The Horned fense showed considerable tell said the Cowgirls allowed the radio broadcast. OSU’s post were able to carry on. Other the free-throw line. The Frogs Frogs claimed their first Big improvements. The Cowgirls more “easy baskets” against presence further decreased times, they struggled. In the hit 14 of 21, or 66.7%, of their 12 Conference victory of the went 9 for 17 from 3-point TCU than they have in other when Abbie Winchester fouled third quarter, OSU led by as attempts from the stripe. season, while OSU (6-7 overall, range for a season-best per- games. out with 9:22 left. The Horned many as 14 points, but TCU Next, the Cowgirls return 1-3 Big 12 Conference) record- centage of 52.9. They made “When you go on the road, Frogs (5-7, 1-2) outscored the launched an 11-0 run to jump home to face Iowa State at 1 ed its third loss in a four-game 39.7% of their field-goal at- you just gotta be really, really Cowgirls 34-24 in the paint. to a 51-47 lead. Junior guard p.m. Saturday. OU women’s basketball: Sooners’ Vann puts on fourth-quarter clinic in win over No. 14 Baylor Jesse Crittenden, The Nor- relinquished. [thought] I just have to take She finished the game with the second half, they struggled with big performances from man Transcript And with 20 seconds to go, it for the team and I felt really 15 points and made all five of to string together stops defen- key players. But for Baranczyk and the Sooners leading by confident in it and I felt like I her 3-point attempts, adding sively. and the team, they don’t see it Skylar Vann was on a mis- four, she made her biggest play could time it right. five rebounds and two assists. That changed in the fourth sion in the fourth quarter. of the game — a block on a “It was the coolest thing I’ve “She’s so special,” OU wom- quarter. The Bears scored just that way. With Oklahoma trailing Bay- Baylor layup attempt. ever done. It was pretty cool.” en’s coach Jennie Branczyk 12 points on 23 percent shoot- Their focus has remained on lor by five points, she opened The sophomore finished Vann wasn’t the only Sooner said. “Because when you get ing in the fourth quarter, as continuing to get better. the quarter with a traditional the game with team-highs to have a special performance. close to a record like this, it’s the Sooners tightened up de- “I think we’re just a really three-point play, as she was in points (24), rebounds (7), Taylor Robertson entered not easy. and you know, you fensively. good basketball team. I think fouled on a made layup before blocks (3) and steals (4), as the game with 388 career hear about it constantly. So Vann, who anchored the calmly sinking the free throw. her performance helped secure 3-pointers, needing just five the way that she embraced it, I Sooners’ defense in the final 10 we just focus on playing and Midway through the quar- the team’s 83-77 win over No. to break the Big 12’s all-time think is really special. minutes, credited the team’s getting better,” Baranczyk said. ter, she made a foul-line jump- 14 Baylor Wednesday at Lloyd women’s record for most ca- “We probably needed to get trust in each other. “We’re in Year 1 of a new sys- er that tied the game at 71-71. Noble Center. reer 3-pointers. a few more looks than just five “It was mainly communica- tem, and we try to focus less on And in the final four min- For Vann, in a quarter full The Bears were determined shots, but at the same time, tion,” Vann said. “We’re really our opponent. utes, it was Vann who helped of highlight moments, the not to let that happen. They not one of those was an easy big on that. If we lack commu- seal the win. play that stood out the most face-guarded Robertson for look. and it’s hours of work.” nication, that’s kind of when “I just think we have a lot of Her block of Baylor’s Nalyssa was her game-sealing block. much of the game, allowing The win was also the Soon- teams can come in and do what balance and a really fun group Smith, the reigning player of Despite having four fouls, her her to get off just two 3-point ers’ first win over Baylor since they want. But I think we were and a really fun team.” the year, directly led to a layup mindset was to not be afraid of attempts in the first half. 2015, though it wasn’t easy. just really confident in each Jesse Crittenden is the from Madi Williams to tie the getting a fifth foul that would But Robertson shook free The Bears jumped out to a other, and we just trusted ev- sports editor of The Transcript game again. On the next of- put her on the bench. just enough in the fourth quar- 10-0 lead in the first quarter erything we said, and we were fensive possession, she nailed “I hesitated a little bit be- ter, and she made her record- and took a five-point lead at able to take control. and covers OU athletics. Reach a 3-pointer to put the Sooners cause I did think about my breaking fifth 3-pointer with halftime. Even as the Sooners It was a significant win for him at jesse@normantran- up by three, a lead they never fouls,” Vann said. “But then I 7:30 left to go in the game. found a rhythm offensively in the Sooners over a top team, script.com or at 405-366-3580 The Graham Jam A Slow Start to 2022 By Graham Dudley Finally, fans, the Thunder are Minnesota, taking on the Denver nailing 36.1% of its steps to address this problem back. Timberwolves two days before long-distance shots to OKC's by shaking up its starting five, No, they didn't go anywhere. meeting them again at home. 23.7%, and the Nuggets held which gets a majority of first- Technically. But let's face it — Minnesota outscored on 99-95. quarter minutes. But the team when they are missing Mark Oklahoma City 30-10 in the The loss left Oklahoma City will need better efficiency from Daigneault, Josh Giddey and first quarter of that ballgame, at 13-26 for the season and still its stars, and better shooting in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, are among the worst frames that searching for its first victory of general, to keep pace with other they really the same Thunder? OKC has played all season. 2022. teams' best players at the start So it was a relief as the cal- The Thunder practically The new year has continued of games. endar turned to 2022 to see the dominated the rest of the game, OKC's first-quarter struggles. After Sunday's Denver loss, players slowly returning. And but couldn't overcome those The team is constantly fighting Daigneault attributed that slow finally, after five games away, first few minutes and fell to from behind — which isn't all start to bad shooting luck but Daigneault was back on the Minnesota 98-90. bad. The Thunder have dis- praised his team's attitude. "I sidelines on Jan. 7 versus The story was similar on played grit and character thought in the first quarter we Minnesota. Sunday night when Denver vis- throughout the season, and played the right way to start the If the Thunder were inspired ited the Paycom Center. The many of their 13 wins are dra- game offensively," he said, "and by returning home and getting first-quarter margin wasn't as matic come-from-behind just didn't make shots that their coach back, however, they drastic — Denver led 36-23 efforts. ended up falling, at different sure didn't play like it that night. after one — but still put the But the trend is alarming. points in the game, for us. For Oklahoma City Thunder forward Darius Bazley goes Oklahoma City fell 135-105 Thunder behind the 8-ball right Oklahoma City is being them, they were drilling shots up for a dunk ahead of Denver Nuggets guard Austin to Minnesota on Friday, hang- away. At one point, less than 6 outscored, on average, by 4.6 early. We were maybe a step Rivers as Thunder center Aleksej Pokusevski looks on ing tough through the first quar- minutes into the ballgame, the points in the first quarter this slow." during the second quarter at Paycom Center. ter but gradually letting the Nuggets led by 18. year, which is by far the largest The Thunder will look to (Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports) game fall away after that. That was their biggest lead margin of the four. OKC has turn around their first-quarter The other two Thunder loss- of the night, and Oklahoma City led after only 13 of the 39 first woes this week and notch their the powerhouse Nets on Monday. Hopefully, OKC es last week were not blowouts, briefly took the lead in the quarters it has played — a stat first win of the new year. They Thursday. won't have to claw its way back but they were losses nonethe- fourth quarter. But it couldn't that, perhaps not coincidentally, traveled to D.C. for a matchup The Thunder return home on into each of those games after less. hold on. OKC couldn't over- exactly mirrors its overall with the Washington Wizards Saturday, Jan. 15 against more slow starts. OKC started the week up come the teams' massive dis- record. on Tuesday, Jan. 11, before Cleveland and will cruise down Until next time, Thunder north Wednesday in frigid parity in 3-point shooting, with The team has recently taken traveling to Brooklyn to take on I-35 for a game with Dallas on Up!