No. 22 Oklahoma 53, San Francisco 51

11/27/2005 1:11 AM

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Leah Rush scored 17 points and Kendra Moore made a key steal as No. 22 Oklahoma beat San Francisco 53-51 Saturday night to win the Odwalla Classic title.

Lisa Olden came off the bench to score a season-high 15 points and grab a career-high nine rebounds for San Francisco (1-3), and Dominique Carter added 10 points.

Oklahoma freshman Courtney Paris was held to 12 points and six rebounds - well below her averages of 23.6 points and 13.6 rebounds.

Though San Francisco never led in the game, the Dons overcame an early 15-point deficit to get within 50-49 on Shay Rollins' 3-pointer with 1:49 left.

Rush responded with a 10-footer to extend the lead to 52-49, but Nickie Warren scored on a drive and the Dons were down one with just 38 seconds left.

After Moore hit one of two free throws, San Francisco got the rebound and called time with 14 seconds left, but Moore stole the ball from Rollins nine seconds later and Oklahoma (5-1) escaped with the win.

The Sooners held San Francisco without a basket for the first 5:22. Rush led the early surge with eight quick points and Oklahoma extended the margin to 15-4.

Sooner guards Erin Higgins and Chelsi Welch sparked a 15-5 burst to make it 30-15, the largest Sooner lead of the night. USF responded again, this time with an 8-0 run, and went into the locker room trailing only 31-23.

A 10-footer by Carter brought the Dons within six right after the break, but after 3-point plays by Paris and Rush, Oklahoma took control of the game again - though not for long. Paris, the tournament MVP, picked up her fourth foul with 13:11 left, and San Francisco clawed back into the game one more time.

Olden's inside score made it 43-38 with 9:04 remaining, and when Paris picked up her fifth foul with 3:32 left, Olden converted two free throws to make it 50-46.