Mar 8, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Maddie Manning (23) dribbles as Texas Longhorns guard Brianna Taylor (20) defends during the first half at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
After claiming its first Big 12 win of the season, the Iowa State women’s basketball team will return to Hilton Coliseum tonight to take on the Oklahoma Sooners at 7.
Everything to know about the Oklahoma Sooners
Oklahoma is seen as one the best teams in the Big 12. And it’s not hard to see why.
The Sooners, who are ranked No. 22 in the nation, sit at 12-4 for the season and 3-1 in the conference. They blew out the likes of Kansas (84-54) and TCU (87-72) respectively. Their third Big 12 win came in overtime, 85-80, to then No. 25 Kansas State. However, Oklahoma is coming off a 83-73 loss to No. 17 West Virginia on the road.
For the season, the Sooners are led by Peyton Little. The redshirt senior gaurd is averaging 13.6 points per game while shooting 39.7 percent from the floor. In the Sooners’ four Big 12 games, Little is averaging 16.3 points per game.
Oklahoma is also getting big time minutes out of freshman center Nancy Mulkey. She stands at 6-foot-9. Considering Iowa State’s lack of size and rebounding, expect the Sooners to use Mulkey’s height advantage over the Cyclones.
While Oklahoma has a dominant all around player and a blossoming post, it also has a talented 3-point shooter in Gabbi Ortiz. During the last four contests, Ortiz is shooting 57.1 percent behind the arc.
Although the Sooners possess a wealth of scorers, their defense has been lacking this season. Oklahoma is allowing 66.6 points per game which is third to last in the Big 12.
Two Sooners return home
The game between the Iowa State and Oklahoma marks a homecoming for Shaya Kellogg, an Ames native, and Maddie Manning, an Ankeny native. Kellogg has only appeared in six games for the Sooners, but Manning is lighting it up for the Sooners. Manning ranks No. 2 on the team in scoring with 12.6 points per game. She also currently leads the Big 12 in steals per game, at 2.6.
This team can block
Last season, Oklahoma couldn’t buy a blocked shot. The Sooners only blocked 112 shots in 2015-16 which gave them an average of 3.4 per game and ranked them No. 136 in the nation. This season, Oklahoma seems like it is swatting every shot that is attempted on it. Through 16 games, the Sooners have logged 98 blocks (6.1 per game) this season. That ranks No. 6 in the country.
They light up the scoreboard
For the entire season, the Sooners rank No. 4 in the conference at 76.9 points per game. Since the start of Big 12 play, Oklahoma has been one of the hottest shooting teams averaging 82.2 points in league play. It also is shooting a blistering 42 percent between the 3-point line in Big 12 games as well, which is good for No. 1 in the conference.
They force their opponents to turnover the ball
Iowa State rarely turns over the ball. Against the Sooners, the Cyclones will have to be extra careful with the rock. For the season, the Sooners are averaging a conference high, 10.8 steals per game.
Both teams possess high scoring offenses and lacking defenses and this one may turn into a barn burner because of it.
