Oklahoma tops Iowa State in battle of top Big 12 offenses

NORMAN, Okla. — Ana Llanusa scored 23 points, Skylar Vann hit the final go-ahead basket, and No. 17 Oklahoma defeated No. 11 Iowa State 82-79 on Sunday in a matchup of the Big 12’s top two offenses.

In a game with 25 lead changes, Oklahoma struck last. Vann scored at the basket to give the Sooners an 80-79 lead with seven seconds left. After a timeout Ashley Joens drove baseline for Iowa State, only to be met by Madi Williams who blocked Joens’ layup, grabbed the rebound and called timeout to essentially seal the win. Iowa State fouled Taylor Robertson who made two free throws for a three-point lead with 1.6 seconds left. After another timeout, Iowa State’s 3-point attempt by Nyamer Diew from the top of the key came up well short.

Llanusa was 9-of-15 shooting, 4 of 9 from 3-point range, and Vann finished with 13 points and eight rebounds for Oklahoma (12-2, 2-1 Big 12). Nevaeh Tot also scored 13 points, and Robertson finished with 10.

The Sooners’ Kennady Tucker and Llanusa hit 3-pointers in the final minute of the third quarter to give OU a 59-48 lead heading to the fourth.

Iowa State got hot from 3-point range, making 4 of 5 in the first five minutes of the fourth quarter to get within 67-64. Joens added two free throws and the Cyclones were within one point with 5:07 to go. Denae Fritz’s 3-pointer gave the Cyclones a 70-69 lead with 3:23 to go.

There would be nine more lead changes, including four in the final minute.

Joens finished with 27 points and nine rebounds. She made 12-of-13 free throws. Lexi Donarski scored 20 and Diew 14 for the Cyclones (10-3, 2-1).

Iowa State scored the first five points of the game and that would be the largest lead of a first half in which both teams shot less than 37 percent overall and less than 30 percent on 3-pointers. Iowa State led 36-35 at halftime, helped in large part by making 11-of-12 free throws and committing only four fouls. Oklahoma did not attempt a free throw in the first half.

Oklahoma, averaging 87 points per game, has the No. 7 scoring offense in the nation. Iowa State’s 79.7 points per game is second to Oklahoma in the Big 12 and 21st in the nation.