Sooners bump Drake

[bluesooner17]

By Tyler Palmateer
Transcript Sports Editor

Oklahoma has found a groove.

The Sooners won their third consecutive game Tuesday in a 93-84 rout over Drake.

Taylor Robertson scored 21 points, Madi Williams poured in 17 and Tatum Veitenheimer added 16 for OU, which led by as many as 24 points over the Bulldogs.

OU (7-4) has scored at least 90 points the past three games going into Saturday’s clash at Connecticut.

The Sooners had five players in double figures against Drake, with Gabby Gregory adding 13 points in her third consecutive start and Ana Llanusa scoring 11.

Drake (7-3) star Becca Hitner scored 22 points on 9-of-17 shooting, hitting 4 of 8 shots from 3-point range.

Sara Rhine also added 22 points for the Bulldogs.

But until the second half when Drake finished on an 11-0 run, it was an uphill battle for the Missouri Valley Conference visitors.

OU shot 43 percent from the field, but tallied 12 treys. Robertson made 5 of 11 and Veitenheimer hit 3 of 4.

Veitenheimer has asserted herself at point guard since Kamryn Lemon left the team. OU coach Sherri Coale has said the sophomore doesn’t even have to be a shooter to be successful on this team.

“Her deal is just, she’s going to be a bulldog that locks down the other team’s point guard and gets you organized and spaced on offense and makes good decisions,” Coale said on Sunday. “That’s going to be her identifying trait as a player at this level.”

The scoring was a bonus Tuesday.

OU also forced more than 20 turnovers (21) for the second consecutive game.

The Sooners finish nonconference play Saturday at 2nd-ranked Connecticut (3 p.m., CBSSN).

 

[Mac]

It’s going to be interesting seeing how things finish out with Tatum at the point, Sherri said she doesn’t need to be a shooter, but most of the best teams at ou had a scoring point guard... with Mandy starting who isn’t a big scorer, having 2 players the other team doesn’t have to guard isn’t ideal for success. Tatum was hitting her shots yesterday and if she is going to start then she needs to keep that part of her game up.... I also think it’s time Sherri bring Madi back into the starting line up, would hate to see us lose one of our best players behind a bench role.

 

[SoonerinNC]

I don't get the deal with Maddi. Sherri starts Gabbi and Maddi is in the game almost immediately. Harkins back to the day when Mulkey started at center and ViVi was in at the first whistle.

 

[Soonerguy06]

I believe in order for this team to be remotely successful the rest of the season TV needs to be a scoring option, like she was last night, and Simpson needs to continue being aggressive offensively and rebounding. everyone knows I'm not a huge fan of Simpson but I've noticed and increased effort the last three games and the team has played very well these past three games. Not sure if it's just a coincidence or if everything is finally coming together. If we play as good Saturday as we did the first three quarters last night the Connecticut game might be remotely close..

 

[sybarite]

I think Tatum will be a scorer. Perhaps, she won't be a consistent three point shooter. I thought I read that she hit about 30% in high school. But, she can hit the short jump shot, and she can be effective on steals and breaks. That may not amount to 20 ppg, but it can contribute consistently. As she becomes more comfortable, her shots may increase.

As I remember, Sherri said last year that Tatum was close to becoming the guard that she wanted. Then, late in the year, she seemed to struggle, and Jessi came on a bit. When Tatum got the start after Lemon's problems began, she seemed to come together. Right now, she isn't bad. I think she has begun to see how she can work with the four starters, still has a bit of problem with Gabby, like they don't know where each other are going.

She got a turnover late on a bogus call. With about two minutes left, a Drake player came at her, bumping into her. They called an offensive foul on Tatum for pushing off. Wrong call. She made no move to push off that I could see on replay or rerun. She just had her arm extended in front of her as the Drake player ran into her shoulder, upper arm area.

 

[Leroy]

Gabby still has pneumonia and had to leave the bench during the game to get a breathing treatment. She is going to a specialist today. She is one tough girl.