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BOX SCORE
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) -- Phylesha Whaley has extended her record-setting career at Oklahoma by at least one more game.
The Big 12 player of the year scored a season-high 33 points to
become Oklahoma' career scoring leader and lead the 18th-ranked
Sooners past Brigham Young 86-81 Saturday in the first round of the
NCAA East Regional.
|  | | Stacey Dales puts up a shot over BYU's Caroline Beus on Saturday. |
"I know that at any time it may be my last (college) game. I'm
just happy to know that I have one more game to play with these
girls," Whaley said.
Oklahoma (24-7) next plays defending NCAA champion Purdue, which beat Dartmouth 70-66 Saturday night.
Whaley, who also has started a school-record 114 games in four
seasons, came in with 2,119 points, 28 short of the record Molly
McGuire set from 1980-83.
"I think it's a challenge," Whaley said of leading her
teammates. "If they believe in me, then it gives me the confidence
to make it easier on myself."
The senior forward also has set school career records for
offensive rebounds, defensive rebounds, free throws made and
minutes played.
"We're going to ride on the back of Phylesha Whaley as long as
we can," Oklahoma coach Sherri Coale said.
Whaley's final points came on a crucial layup in the final
minute, after Brigham Young (22-9) had cut a 12-point deficit to
one with an impressive effort from behind the 3-point line.
"Her quick shot was difficult to defend," said BYU's Jennifer
Leitner of Whaley's 12-of-20 effort from the field. "Her ability
to get an open shot was also hard to defend."
Whaley and LaNeishea Caufield, who had 22 of her 26 points in
the second half, led a 16-3 run to start the second half, putting
the Sooners ahead to stay.
Despite a five-minute stretch without a field goal, Brigham
Young led 33-32 at halftime. Oklahoma took the lead for good by
scoring the first nine points of the second half.
The Cougars regrouped by shooting 8-for-12 from behind the arc
in the second half. For the game, Brigham Young was 13-for-35 on
2-pointers and 13-for-25 on 3-pointers.
"We were aware of how they're able to stay in games," Coale
said. "They reminded me of Kansas State and the way they hit a lot
of 3-pointers to keep games close."
Cady Williams scored 27 points for Brigham Young, and Leitner
and Erin Thorn had 17 apiece, with Thorn sinking five 3-pointers.
Whaley's jumper and two free throws gave the Sooners a 69-61
lead with 6:27 left. Three consecutive 3-pointers by Williams, who
made six, left Brigham Young trailing 71-67 with 5:26 to play. She
then missed two free throws with 4:56 remaining. Three seconds
later, Lori Cuff missed the front end of a one-and-one opportunity.
Williams had to leave the game with about three minutes
remaining when she was inadvertently elbowed in the face and
knocked down.
"She was playing very well. Sometimes things like that happen
and you have to go on," BYU coach Trent Shippen said. "The
trainers were looking at her in the locker room and I hope she will
be fine."
Two free throws by Thorn followed by her 3-pointer left Oklahoma
holding a 79-78 lead with 54 seconds to go. Whaley's layup with 30
seconds remaining put Oklahoma up 81-78, and the Sooners held on as
Caton Hill made four straight free throws in the final 19 seconds.
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ALSO SEE
Womens College Basketball Scoreboard
BYU NCAA Team Report
Oklahoma NCAA Team Report
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