THURSDAY'S GAME BASICS
Oklahoma and Northwestern State meet for the second time in series history on Thursday as the Sooners host the Lady Demons at Lloyd Noble Center. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. CT. OU won its 11th straight season opener last Friday, topping Western Kentucky, 90-83. Northwestern State enters the contest with a 1-1 overall record this season.
The Lady Demons opened their season with a 98-53 loss to Arkansas, but rebounded with a 100-40 win over LeTourneau (Division III) at home on Monday.
ON THE AIR
Thursday's game will be televised on Fox Sports Oklahoma with Chad McKee, Kevin Henry and Megan McDonald on the call. The contest will air on the Sooner Radio Network with Brian Brinkley calling the action.
TICKETS
Tickets are available for $8 at the OU Athletics Ticket Office (800-456-4668) and online here. Lloyd Noble Center's north and east ticket windows will open at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday. OU students will be admitted free with a valid school I.D.
Fans with a ticket to Saturday's football against Kansas will receive free admission to Thursday night's basketball game.
IN THE BONUS
• The OU Bookstore is offering season ticket holders an opportunity to save on Sooner gear heading into the holiday season. Season ticket holders will receive a coupon for up to 30% off of a purchase. Between OU's first three games (Northeastern State on Nov. 5, Western Kentucky on Nov. 9 and Northwestern State on Nov. 15), fans can build up their discount, starting with 10% off for attending one game, 20% off for attending two games and 30% off for attending all three. Coupons will be sent in early December.
• Fans with a ticket to Thursday night's game will receive a buy-one, get-one BBQ sandwich at Rudy's, located at Highway 9 and Chautauqua Avenue.
• Fans are encouraged to #ArriveSooner to avoid delays into the gates with enhanced screenings. For more gameday information at Lloyd Noble Center, visit the LNC's information page. The University of Oklahoma instituted a clear-bag policy in Aug. 2018 at all OU Athletics event.
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
• Oklahoma wraps up a two-game homestand on Thursday as the Sooners host Northwestern State at 7 p.m. CT inside Lloyd Noble Center. OU won the only meeting between th two teams, 96-31, in Norman on Nov. 29, 2012.
• Sophomore guard Shaina Pellington looks to build off her 33-point, nine-rebound performance in OU's season-opening victory against Western Kentucky. Pellington's 33 points against the Lady Toppers are the most scored by a Sooner in a season opener in school history. Her 33 points are also the most points scored by an OU player during a game in the month of November.
• Four members of OU's freshman class made their debut last week against WKU. Taylor Robertson knocked down eight 3-pointers off the bench to finish with 24 points. Robertson earned Big 12 Co-Freshman of the Week honors for her performance. Madi Williams filled the box score with 15 points, 15 rebounds, four assists and three blocks. Tatum Veitenheimer added in 11 points and a team-high five steals in 35 minutes of action, while Nydia Lampkin added one point and played eight minutes off the bench in her collegiate debut.
• The Sooners earned their 19th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance last season and tied for third place with an 11-7 mark in the Big 12. The Sooners return two starters from last year's squad: sophomore guard Ana Llanusa (12.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg) and sophomore guard Shaina Pellington (13.1 ppg, 2.2 apg). Pellington was the 2018 Big 12 Freshman of the Year and both players were selected to the All-Big 12 Freshman Team along with earning All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selections.
• Oklahoma will be missing sophomore guard Ana Llanusa in its lineup for Thursday's game. The sophomore underwent foot surgery on Monday. Freshman guard Taylor Robertson is projected to move into the starting lineup for the Sooners.
GAME ONE RECAP: WKU
• Sophomore Shaina Pellington scored a career-high 33 points and freshman guard Taylor Robertson added in 24 points off the bench as Oklahoma defeated New Mexico, 90-83, inside Lloyd Noble Center on Friday. OU knocked down 14 3-pointers in the victory as the Sooners won their 11th consecutive season opener. Pellington's 33 points are the most scored in a by Sooner in a season opener in program history. The sophomore was 10-of-24 from the field, hit three 3-pointers and set a career-high with nine rebounds.
• Robertson's eight 3-pointers are tied for the fourth most in a single game in program history and the single-game record for an OU freshman. The McPherson, Kan., native chipped in six rebounds and pair of assists in 28 minutes off the bench. Freshman Madi Williams recorded her first career double-double in her OU debut, finishing with 15 points, 15 rebounds, four assists and three blocks in the win. Williams is the first OU freshman since Courtney Paris (2005-06, vs. SMU) to have at least 15 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks in a game.
• OU led 38-25 at halftime and limited the Lady Toppers to just a .294 shooting percentage in the first half. In the fourth quarter, WKU trimmed the OU lead down to 64-57 with 6:47 to play, but the Sooners answered with a trio of 3-pointers from Pellington, Robertson and Tatum Veitenheimer to extend their lead back to double-digits. Veitenheimer also finished in double figures, scoring 11 points and finishing with a team-high five steals in 36 minutes.
• The Sooners' pressure defense forced 25 turnovers as OU scored 18 points off Lady Toppers' turnovers. WKU finished the game with .425 shooting from the field, while OU posted a .423 clip from the field. On the glass, OU won the rebounding battle by a 53-41 margin.
Nydia Lampkin was one of four OU freshmen to make their collegiate debuts against WKU.
ROBERTSON HONORED BY THE BIG 12
• Taylor Robertson was earned Co-Freshman of the Week honors after scoring 24 points and picking up six rebounds off the bench in OU's victory over WKU. Robertson's eight 3-pointers set an OU single-game record for a freshman, besting the previous mark of seven held by Morgan Hook (Stephen F. Austin, 2010-11) and Derica Wyatt (UT-Arlington, 2013-14).
• Robertson's eight treys were one shy of tying the OU single-game record. The McPherson, Kan., native is just one of six players to make eight or more 3-pointers in a single game since 2000.
THE TRIPLE THREAT
• Sophomore guard Shaina Pellington spent the offseason improving her range from the outside. The hard work has paid off as Pellington scored a career-high 33 points in the season opener against WKU. Pellington's 33 points are the most by a Sooner in a season opener in program history.
• The sophomore knocked down three 3-pointers in the win, her first made 3-pointer in a game as a Sooner. Pellington, the 2018 Big 12 Freshman of the Year, finished 10-of-24 from the field against the Lady Toppers.
• The sophomore's 33 points are the most points scored by a Big 12 player so far this season and are tied for 16th all-time on OU's single-game scoring list.
FILLING THE STAT SHEET
• Freshman guard/forward Madi Williams recorded an eye-popping stat line in Friday's win over WKU. Williams picked up her first career double-double with 15 points and 15 rebounds, while also leading OU with four assists and three blocks.
• Williams joins Courtney Paris as the only OU freshman in school history to have at least 15 points, 15-rebound, four-assist and three-block game. Paris accomplished the feat on Jan. 18, 2006 at Texas Tech in her 18th game (17 points, 19 rebounds, seven blocks and four assists).
• Williams nearly had a double-double at halftime, finishing the first half with nine points and 11 rebounds. The Fort Worth, Texas, native finished the game 7-for-10 from the field in 35 minutes.
UP NEXT
• OU hits the road for the first time this season to face No. 21/21 South Florida on Sunday in Tampa, Fla. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. CT from the Yuengling Center. The Sooners won last year's matchup, 79-74, in Norman.
For more information on Oklahoma women's basketball, follow the Sooners on Twitter (@OU_WBBall) or like Oklahoma Sooners Women's Basketball on Facebook.
