March 1, 2006

Box Score

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) -- Courtney Paris got a triple double and set an NCAA freshman rebounding record as No. 9 Oklahoma held off Texas Tech 60-59 on Wednesday night, denying Lady Raider coach Marsha Sharp a final regular-season home win.

Paris, a candidate for national player of the year, scored 18 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and blocked 10 shots for the Sooners (26-4, 16-0), who became the first team to go undefeated in the Big 12 since the league began in 1996. She got her record-breaking 444th rebound of the season late in the game.

Last week, Sharp announced she was resigning at the end of the season, her 24th at Tech. Her record is 571-188.

After the game, an emotional Sharp spoke to fans, telling them she's been honored to be the "caretaker" of the program.

"It has been the most incredible ride you can imagine," she said to loud cheers from a near-sellout crowd in United Spirit Arena, known to many in Lubbock as "The House that Marsha Built." A freeway under construction will bear her name and will be the only freeway in Texas named after a woman.

LaToya Davis scored 27 points and had 10 rebounds to lead the Lady Raiders (14-13, 9-7).

Down by 17 points early in the second half, Tech used runs of 16-4 and 7-0 to go up 57-56 on a layup by Davis with 2:32 remaining. But Oklahoma answered with two free throws by Paris and a bucket by Leah Rush with 1:36 to go that put the game out of reach.

Britney Brown scored 12 points and Chelsi Welch added 11 for the Sooners.

The Sooners jumped in front early, using a 12-0 run to lead 18-5 with about 14 minutes left in the half. But Tech didn't wilt.

The Lady Raiders used a 7-3 run capped by a tough layup by Davis and an ensuing free throw to pull within 32-26 with just more than a minute remaining in the half. Welch finished the half with a 3-pointer to give the Sooners a 37-26 lead at halftime.

During practice before the game, Tech players donned shirts that read, "Thanks, Marsha. From the Lady Raider Nation," with all of her accomplishments listed on the back. The Sooners, as a show of respect, came out just before the tip wearing the same shirts.

It was Sharp's final regular-season home game. If they do not get an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament, they could host a Women's National Invitational Tournament game.

During 24 seasons in Lubbock, Sharp has taken Tech to 16 straight NCAA appearances -- 18 overall -- reaching the regional finals four times and the regional semis seven times. The Lady Raiders won the national title in 1993.