University of Washington
Oklahoma
Plum Nets Husky Record 45 Points, But UW Falls
November 14, 2014 | Women's Basketball
Box Score
NORMAN, Okla. – Washington started the season with a tough road test at Oklahoma, falling 90-80. The story for the Dawgs was Kelsey Plum who set a new school record with 45 points, breaking the record of 43 set by Giuliana Mendiola back in 2003.
“Kelsey is a special scorer and is capable of nights like this,” said head coach Mike Neighbors. “She worked really hard in the offseason to improve on a lot of things. She can score so many different ways, but I know she doesn't want to set a school record in a loss.”
Plum finished 15-27 from the floor, including 3-7 from 3-point range, while going a perfect 12-12 from the free throw line. She broke the 11-year old record of Mendiola that the Husky legend set against UCLA.
Despite the record-breaking game, Plum focused on the team result.
“I don't care too much about an individual performance if it didn't lead to a team performance of winning the game,” said Plum.
A slow start was the difference for Washington as the Dawgs fell in an early hole. The Huskies struggled at the offensive end early on, starting 0-8 from the floor. Oklahoma led 11-0 just 4:10 into the game, before Jazmine Davis ended the scoreless drought with a fadeaway in the lane.
“We got shots we could make early on, they just weren't falling,” said Neighbors. “I did want us to drive it a little more and that is what we started doing.”
After the scoring drought, the Huskies picked it up at the offensive end, led by Plum. The sophomore guard was nearly unstoppable, driving to the lane and drawing fouls. She finished the half 7-14 from the floor and 7-7 from the free throw line for 22 points.
Washington could never cut all the way into the lead despite an offense that got rolling. Oklahoma seemed to have a big shot every time the Dawgs made a mini run. The Sooners finished the first half 17-33 from the floor, including 6-11 from 3-point range.
After the break, Washington made the run they had been looking for, scoring 10 of the first 12 points. The Dawgs got the stops they needed and the defense led to offense in transition. Chantel Osahor made a pair of great long outlet passes as Plum found Aminah Williams for a layup and then drew a foul and made two more free throws.
It seemed that every time the Huskies had a run, the Sooners would answer, however. Sharane Campbell led Oklahoma with 26 points as the Huskies had trouble guarding the Sooners in the post.
“Their post play was better than we thought,” said Neighbors. “That is a credit to them.”
Despite the resiliency showed by the Sooners, Washington continued to attack. Oklahoma had extended the lead back to 18 points with 4:30 to play, but Washington had one more run in them. Plum was nearly unstoppable in the final minutes, driving and scoring, while also hitting a pair of pull-up 3-pointers. The Dawgs pulled within six with 1:12 remaining and had a chance to cut it to three when Talia Walton had a great look from 3-point range from the top of the key, but it rimmed out. UW would get no closer as the Sooners extended the lead over the final seconds.
It was a brilliant night for Plum, who also added five assists, finding open teammates when the defense converged on the Husky sophomore. Davis and Walton also finished in double figures with 12 points apiece. Walton made four 3-pointers, often the beneficiary of the driving and kicking of Plum and Davis.
Williams led the Dawgs with 10 boards, but Washington was outrebounded, 43-30. Washington also committed an uncharacteristic 20 turnovers, although they forced 17 from the Sooners.
The loss is a missed opportunity for Washington, who was looking for an early quality win over a team who has made the NCAA Tournament 15 years in a row. Instead, Washington will have to know it comes away better have faced such a tough opponent early in the season.
“Oklahoma is a really good team and really good program, that is why we scheduled them,” said Neighbors. “I knew that we would leave here today knowing something about our team. We could have played a lot of other schools and gone home not knowing anything. We know a lot about our basketball team now. We have a pretty good team, but this will help us get better.”
The Dawgs will now return home to face South Dakota on Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. at Alaska Airlines Arena. Sunday, Washington will welcome Yale to Seattle. That game will feature the return of UW all-time winningest coach Chris Gobrecht who now coaches the Bulldogs.
