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Pierre-Louis’ big night propels Sooners in victory over Belmont
Vionise Pierre-Louis swears she never watched much basketball growing up.
Not until she came to Oklahoma did she watch Courtney Paris highlights.
Those familiar with Paris saw a little bit of the former OU great in what Pierre-Louis accomplished Friday. The No. 22 Sooners’ senior center scored 24 points and pulled down 12 rebounds in a redhot performance from the field in OU’s 96-73 demolition of Belmont at Lloyd Noble Center.
It was a nice way for the Sooners to start the season, while also capping a special night in which OU honored Paris by raising the fourtime All-American’s No. 3 jersey into the rafters.
“I watched a couple films, and she’s a beast.
There’s no comparison from me to her,” Pierre-Louis said. “Really, I was just playing for my teammates and those alumni in the stands that set this foundation.
“To come here and dominate good teams like we played tonight, it was just a fun experience watching the alumni get happy every time I scored a bucket and to be on the court with my teammates. I just loved the atmosphere.”
Pierre-Louis was 10 of 11 from the field. More importantly, she did it in just 22 minutes. Keeping her fresh this season will be imperative for OU with little depth inside.
“Vivi’s efficiency was just incredible. She probably had the best internal clock I’ve ever seen her have throughout [an] entire game,” OU coach Sherri Coale said. “She’s had effi cient games in the past. I don’t know that she’s ever had as complete a one as she had today. When we have a bit of a margin like that we can keep her really fresh.”
OU dominated the paint, scoring 58 points inside.
Five Sooners scored in double figures, with senior Maddie Manning pouring in 17 points while limiting Belmont star Kylee Smith 3-of-10 shooting.
Smith, who averaged 15.9 points for the NCAA tournament team Bruins a year ago, had just five points until she nailed a 3-pointer late in the third quarter. She finished with 11 points.
“Kylee likes to get to the basket, so playing with a cushion, I think Maddie’s length was a little bit of a problem for her,” Coale said. “We made her work really hard to get any looks.”
OU limited the Bruins to 35.7 percent shooting and scored 19 points off 13 turnovers.
More than 3,000 fans attended the game, with many excited about another OU campaign but equally interested in how OU would honor Paris. She was introduced at halftime by longtime public-address announcer Mark Hyde, Coale and OU athletic director Joe Castiglione.
Paris, a seven-year WNBA veteran now with the Dallas Wings, was joined on the floor by Wings coach Fred Williams and his staff, as well as OU’s 2009 Final Four team, of which she was a crucial member.
OU built a 49-29 lead by halftime, shooting 59 percent in the first half. Coale praised the seniors for that, saying that cushion helped her get through Paris’ ceremony with a clear mind.
Pierre-Louis was at the heart of a 9-4 run to close the half.
She scored a bucket inside with a minute before intermission, then began running the floor when LaNesia Williams blocked a shot at the other end.
Williams dropped off a pass and Pierre-Louis finished with a nice layup, pushing OU’s lead to 20 points. The Sooners led by as many as 32.
Paris watched it all from a court-side seat. It will be difficult for any player to match what the California native did in a Sooner uniform.
But if Pierre-Louis can make a habit of playing like she did Friday, it will help OU immensely.
“You look at the teams that win championships, they don’t win without a post factor,” Manning said.
“And then having one like Vivi, where she can do a lot of things on the court.
… Just the trust that we’ve built over the years, I’d go to battle with her.”
Vionise Pierre-Louis swears she never watched much basketball growing up.
Not until she came to Oklahoma did she watch Courtney Paris highlights.
Those familiar with Paris saw a little bit of the former OU great in what Pierre-Louis accomplished Friday. The No. 22 Sooners’ senior center scored 24 points and pulled down 12 rebounds in a redhot performance from the field in OU’s 96-73 demolition of Belmont at Lloyd Noble Center.
It was a nice way for the Sooners to start the season, while also capping a special night in which OU honored Paris by raising the fourtime All-American’s No. 3 jersey into the rafters.
“I watched a couple films, and she’s a beast.
There’s no comparison from me to her,” Pierre-Louis said. “Really, I was just playing for my teammates and those alumni in the stands that set this foundation.
“To come here and dominate good teams like we played tonight, it was just a fun experience watching the alumni get happy every time I scored a bucket and to be on the court with my teammates. I just loved the atmosphere.”
Pierre-Louis was 10 of 11 from the field. More importantly, she did it in just 22 minutes. Keeping her fresh this season will be imperative for OU with little depth inside.
“Vivi’s efficiency was just incredible. She probably had the best internal clock I’ve ever seen her have throughout [an] entire game,” OU coach Sherri Coale said. “She’s had effi cient games in the past. I don’t know that she’s ever had as complete a one as she had today. When we have a bit of a margin like that we can keep her really fresh.”
OU dominated the paint, scoring 58 points inside.
Five Sooners scored in double figures, with senior Maddie Manning pouring in 17 points while limiting Belmont star Kylee Smith 3-of-10 shooting.
Smith, who averaged 15.9 points for the NCAA tournament team Bruins a year ago, had just five points until she nailed a 3-pointer late in the third quarter. She finished with 11 points.
“Kylee likes to get to the basket, so playing with a cushion, I think Maddie’s length was a little bit of a problem for her,” Coale said. “We made her work really hard to get any looks.”
OU limited the Bruins to 35.7 percent shooting and scored 19 points off 13 turnovers.
More than 3,000 fans attended the game, with many excited about another OU campaign but equally interested in how OU would honor Paris. She was introduced at halftime by longtime public-address announcer Mark Hyde, Coale and OU athletic director Joe Castiglione.
Paris, a seven-year WNBA veteran now with the Dallas Wings, was joined on the floor by Wings coach Fred Williams and his staff, as well as OU’s 2009 Final Four team, of which she was a crucial member.
OU built a 49-29 lead by halftime, shooting 59 percent in the first half. Coale praised the seniors for that, saying that cushion helped her get through Paris’ ceremony with a clear mind.
Pierre-Louis was at the heart of a 9-4 run to close the half.
She scored a bucket inside with a minute before intermission, then began running the floor when LaNesia Williams blocked a shot at the other end.
Williams dropped off a pass and Pierre-Louis finished with a nice layup, pushing OU’s lead to 20 points. The Sooners led by as many as 32.
Paris watched it all from a court-side seat. It will be difficult for any player to match what the California native did in a Sooner uniform.
But if Pierre-Louis can make a habit of playing like she did Friday, it will help OU immensely.
“You look at the teams that win championships, they don’t win without a post factor,” Manning said.
“And then having one like Vivi, where she can do a lot of things on the court.
… Just the trust that we’ve built over the years, I’d go to battle with her.”