Llanusa Double-Double Leads Sooners Past Cowgirls

Ana Llanusa scored 26 points and grabbed a career-high 14 rebounds to lead the Oklahoma Sooners to a 75-66 win over in-state rival Oklahoma State in Big 12 Conference women's basketball Monday night. Llanusa surpassed the 20-point mark for the sixth straight game, setting a school record. 

Oklahoma grabbed the lead in the opening minute of the game and held it until the Cowgirls made a run midway through the third quarter.  Down 43-34 at the 5:55 mark, Oklahoma State outscored the Sooner 13-1 to take the lead at 47-44 with a 1:50 remaining in the period.

Llanusa took over from there, scoring nine straight for the Sooners and with the help of freshman guard Jessi Murcer, OU went on an 18-3 run to put the game away. Oklahoma expanded the lead to 12 early in the fourth quarter and prevented Oklahoma State from coming any closer than six the rest of the way.

"Ana Llanusa was fantastic.  She just took the game over," said Oklahoma coach Sherri Coale. "She was just a monster on the boards"

The 6-0 sophomore guard came into the contest averaging fewer than three rebounds per game. Her previous career high had been nine in her freshman season and she had not grabbed more than six rebounds in a game this year.

"I just took it to heart that's something that's going to help us win games," Llanusa said. "I hear it all the time from the coaches and was tired of hearing it."

The teams split the season series with the Cowgirls winning the earlier meeting in Stillwater. The win snapped a three game win streak for Oklahoma State in the Bedlam Series, their longest in more than 20 years.

Taylor Robertson had 13 points for Oklahoma (8-19, 4-12 Big 12), Murcer had 12 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, while Madi Williams added 11 points and 11 rebounds.  The Sooners out rebounded the Cowgirls 54-34.

Vivian Gray led Oklahoma State (14-13, 5-11 Big 12) with 17 points, Kassidy DeLapp had 12 and Jaden Hobbs came off the bench to score 11.

The win was the second straight in league play for Oklahoma, after having won only two of their first 14 conference games.

UP NEXT:

The Sooners will host TCU on Saturday

Oklahoma State goes on the road at Baylor