Notre Dame-Oklahoma Preview

3/24/2008 1:59 PM

By KATE HEDLIN
STATS Writer

Oklahoma stumbled into the NCAA tournament on a three-game losing streak after failing to get much offensive production from anyone other than Courtney Paris.

After breaking out of their offensive slump in their tournament opener, the fourth-seeded Sooners face fifth-seeded Notre Dame's high-scoring offense on Tuesday in the second round at West Lafayette, Ind.

Oklahoma (22-8) snapped its losing streak Sunday with a 69-61 win over Illinois State. Paris recorded her 96th career double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds, although both were below her season averages of 18.5 points and 15.0 rebounds.

The 12 points were her fewest since scoring 10 in a win over Texas Tech in January, and she attempted just five shots - her second-fewest of the season.

With Paris being double teamed, it opened things up for her teammates. Twin sister Ashley finished with 13 points, while Danielle Robinson and Rose Hammond each added 12. Hammond's points, which came in 25 minutes off the bench, were a career high.

"The name of the game is surviving and advancing," Courtney Paris said. "It's about people like Rose Hammond stepping up, being confident and making shots. We told Rose to go score because they were leaving her open."

Oklahoma shot 40.6 percent and led by as many as 17 points in the second half. The Sooners had averaged 57.5 points on 34.3 percent shooting in the three losses, with Courtney Paris averaging 24.7 points during that stretch.

"I was really proud of the resilience of our kids," coach Sherri Coale said. "They're just a young bunch who just aren't accustomed to this stage and feel the pressure of everything."

The Sooners now face Notre Dame (24-8), which has the ninth-highest scoring offense in the nation at 76.5 points per game, as they try to advance to the round of 16 for the third straight season.

The Irish are coming off a 75-62 win over Southern Methodist on Sunday. Ashley Barlow scored 20 points and had a career-high 12 rebounds, while Charel Allen added 14 points and 11 boards.

Notre Dame also came into the tournament on a losing streak after dropping two straight. The Irish had been held below 54 points in both those games.

Coach Muffet McGraw credited Notre Dame's 49-26 rebounding advantage for the extra offensive chances Sunday. The Irish had 24 offensive rebounds which led to 20 second-chance points.

"We went into our first practice after losing in the Big East tournament determined that we were going to be a better rebounding team," McGraw said. "We worked on that pretty much nonstop for the past two weeks and I think we really showed today what we are capable of doing."

Notre Dame hasn't advanced past the second round since 2004. The Irish have won two straight games at Mackey Arena - Purdue's home court - after losing eight in a row there going back to 1985.

Barlow, who is from Indianapolis, had 22 points earlier this season at Purdue. The sophomore, who is averaging 12.0 points this season, has averaged 16.3 the last three games.

"I think it's because of my family," Barlow said. "Mackey Arena is so close that a lot more of them can be here."

The winner of this game will face either Tennessee or Purdue on Sunday in Oklahoma City.