No. 11 Oklahoma overcomes 21-point deficit to rally past Kansas State for 64-58 win

No. 11 Oklahoma rallies past Kansas State 64-58

MANHATTAN, Kan. — Nyeshia Stevenson led all scorers with 24 points and No. 11 Oklahoma overcame a 21-point deficit to defeat Kansas State 64-58 on Sunday.

Oklahoma (19-7, 9-3 Big 12) has won four of its last five while Kansas State (12-14, 4-8) has dropped five of six.

Trailing by 16 at the half, it looked as though Oklahoma wouldn’t be able to overcome the Wildcats’ lead. Kansas State opened the half on a 9-4 run to extend its lead to 43-22, but then the Sooners rallied.

A layup by Stevenson ignited a 20-2 run that narrowed the gap to three midway through the half. Oklahoma’s defense stiffened during that span, holding Kansas State to a free throw for almost 10 minutes. The Sooners grabbed a 53-51 lead when Carlee Roethlisberger connected on a shot with about four minutes remaining. It was their first lead since the game’s opening minutes.

A 3-pointer by Kansas State’s Brittany Chambers briefly gave the lead back to the Wildcats, but Oklahoma made late free throws and closed out the game on an 11-4 run.

Amanda Thompson added 17 points and Danielle Robinson 10 for Oklahoma. Ashley Sweat led Kansas State with 19 points while Chambers and Jalana Childs scored 13 and 11, respectively.

Stevenson started fast, knocking down two shots in the first minute to give the Sooners a 5-2 lead, but then Kansas State took control for the rest of the half. Four straight points by Sweat sparked a 20-4 run that gave the Wildcats a 22-9 lead.

Kansas State’s defense was key in the first half, forcing two Oklahoma scoring droughts of over six minutes and forcing 14 turnovers. The Wildcats held the Sooners to just eight field goals en route to a 34-18 halftime lead.