Duke Uses Size to Push Around Oklahoma

Sophomore Derica Wyatt and freshman Gabbi Ortiz scored 14 points each but the Oklahoma women's basketball team was unable to overcome the height and athleticism of No. 13 Duke and dropped a 92-72 decision to the Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium Wednesday night in Durham, N.C.

As an undersized squad compared to Duke (6-3) – who boasts seven players taller than 6-0 – the Sooners (5-4) used their long-range sharp shooting to battle all game, hitting a season-high 13 3-pointers in the contest; four off the school record.

OU tallied seven 3-pointers in the opening 20 minutes, including three knocked down by Wyatt. The 5-10 guard from Nashville, Tenn., hit her final 3-pointer as time expired to cut the Blue Devils halftime advantage to 42-34.

Along with Wyatt, Ortiz, redshirt sophomore Peyton Little and senior Sharane Campbell-Olds hit a shot from beyond the 3-point arc in the first half. Ortiz sank two, all coming in the opening three minutes and the Racine, Wis., native ended the half with eight points.

No post player scored for the Sooners in the first 20 minutes and the trio of Kaylon Williams, freshman Vionise Pierre-Louis and freshman McKenna Treece combined for 10 points in the game.

The height and length of Duke, which included 6-5 Azura Stevens, 6-1 Elizabeth Williams and Rebecca Greenwell and 6-0 Sierra Calhoun in the starting lineup, combined for 68 of the Blue Devil's 92 total points. E. Williams registered a double-double of 20-plus each; scoring a game-high 26 points and grabbing a game-high 20 boards. Greenwell also added 10 boards to finish with a double-double.

Duke's largest lead of the contest was 26 points coming with 1:12 remaining in the game.

Campbell-Olds and sophomore Gioya Carter also ended the contest in double-figures for Oklahoma, each contributing 10. Ortiz led the Sooners in rebounds with five and passed out a game and career-high eight assists.

The Sooners return to action Sunday when they play Arkansas in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge, held in Little Rock, Ark. The game is set to tip at 3 p.m. and can be seen on the SEC Network.