• Radar
  • 7 Day Forecast
  • Live Weather Video

WEEK Weather

Radar
69 °F
OVERCAST
WIND : S
6 mph
HUMIDITY : 72 %
October 13, 2008
More Weather
  • News
  • Weather
  • Sports
  • Features
  • YouNewsTV
  • Programming
  • Community
  • Inside WEEK
  • Contact Us
  • YouNewsTV Prep Sports
  • High School
  • College
  • Local Pros
  • National
  • Golf Central Illinois Special
  • YouNewsTV Sports

ISU women show heart versus #11 Oklahoma

Paris twins lift Sooners to first-round win

Tools

  • Save
  • E-mail
  • Print
  • YouNewsTV™
  • Most Popular
  • RSS Feed
  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
ISU women show heart versus #11 Oklahoma

Oklahoma guard Danielle Robinson, left, and Illinois State guard Maggie Krick battle for a loose ball during the first half of a first-round women's NCAA basketball tournament game in West Lafayette, Ind., Sunday, March 23, 2008. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Story Published: Mar 23, 2008 at 2:23 PM CDT

Story Updated: Mar 23, 2008 at 10:42 PM CDT

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) -- Fourth-seeded Oklahoma started the second half with a 13-0 run, then held off a late rally to beat No. 13 seed Illinois State 69-61 in the first round of the Oklahoma City regional Sunday.

Multimedia

  • Watch The Video

Courtney Paris had 12 points and 12 rebounds for the Sooners to extend her double-double streak to 91 consecutive games. Ashley Paris scored 13 points for Oklahoma, which escaped the upset bid to snap a three-game losing streak.

Kristi Cirone led Illinois State (26-7) with 22 points. The Redbirds had won four straight, including three to win the Missouri Valley Conference tournament.

Oklahoma (22-8) advanced to play Notre Dame or Southern Methodist on Tuesday.

Illinois State dropped to 1-5 in NCAA tournament play.

The Redbirds led for much of the first half, but Oklahoma's Amanda Thompson hit a long 2-point jumper in the closing seconds to give the Sooners a 31-29 lead at the break. The Sooners shot just 38 percent in the first half, but forced 13 turnovers to stay in the game. There were five ties and eight lead changes in the first 20 minutes.

The Paris twins each scored a basket early in the second half to give the Sooners a 35-29 lead and force the Redbirds to call timeout.

Courtney Paris scored again, then Thompson blocked a 3-pointer, got the rebound and went in for a layup that gave Oklahoma a 39-29 lead. A layup by Danielle Thompson made it a 12-point advantage and forced another Illinois State timeout.

Shala Jackson's layup with 15:26 to play accounted for Illinois State's first points of the second half, but the Sooners still led 44-31.

Illinois State rallied late. A 3-point play by Tiffany Hudson made it 61-57 with 2:43 to go, and Hudson made the second of two free throws to make it 61-58 with just over two minutes left.

Oklahoma guard Jenna Plumley hit 4 of 4 free throws in the final minute to keep Oklahoma in control.

Most Popular

  • Pekin Alums Host Camp
    Watch Video
  • ISU Announces Hoops Schedule
  • My Favorite Martin
    Watch Video
  • Former BU Braves in the NBA
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

Alexander Travel

When your journey from a dream to a great story includes us, you travel better.

On Demand

  • All Video All Video
  • News 25 @ Your Desk News 25 @ Your Desk
    Watch Video
  • RSS Feeds RSS Feeds
  • News 25 Notifier News 25 Notifier
  • Mobile Edition Mobile Edition

Stock Quotes

What's On TonightFull Schedule

7:00
Chuck
8:00
Heroes
9:00
My Own Worst Enemy
Local Business Dir

Most Popular

  • Flying Boat Kills Motorcyclist
    Watch Video
  • Soldier Fighting Two Battles
    Watch Video
  • Crash Kills Father & Injures Children
    Watch Video
  • Bark at the Park
    Watch Video
  • It's Pumpkin Time!
    Watch Video
  • Rezko on Illinois Corruption
    Watch Video
  • Two Fires One Lesson
    Watch Video
  • Friday Night Football
    Watch Video
  • Voter Registration Deadline Tuesday
    Watch Video
  • Chris Spahn Benefit
    Watch Video

Poll

Do Political Debates Help You Decide Who to Vote For?

  • Yes, I wait until I see and hear the candidates before I make a choice
  • No, I know whom I’m voting for
  • I watch to see if someone messes up
Copyright © 2008
WEEK, a Granite Broadcasting Station
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use
NBC
Powered by Broadcast Interactive Media.