Columbus, OH – Joanna McFarland registered a double-double with 20 points and a game-high 16 rebounds as sixth-seeded Oklahoma dismissed third-seeded UCLA, 85-72, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at St. John Arena.
Aaryn Ellenberg scored a game-high 27 points, shooting 6-of-13 behind the 3- point line for the Sooners (24-10), followed by Sharane Campbell and Nicole Griffin with 19 and 10 points, respectively.
The Bruins (26-8) were paced by Atonye Nyingifa who recorded 18 points and eight rebounds, while Markel Walker filled out her stat line with 14 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, but she also turned the ball over eight times before fouling out. Jasmine Dixon responded with 13 points and eight rebounds, followed by Alyssia Brewer and Thea Lemberger with 10 points apiece.
Tied at 20-20 at the 10:19 mark of the first half, Oklahoma put together a 9-0 run and then carried a 42-37 advantage into the break. Both teams shot just under 40 percent from the floor through the first 20 minutes of action.
In the second half the Sooners feasted at the free-throw line, 20-of-30, in order to pull off the double-digit win.
The Sooners now head to the regional semifinals later this week in Oklahoma City where they will contend against Tennessee after the Volunteers defeated Creighton, 68-52, on Monday.
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