OU Women Drop One On The Road 82-76 Against UCLA

2-Via the Associated Press: "Atonye Nyingifa had career highs of 28 points and 16 rebounds, Nirra Fields added a career-best 17 points...."

I'm just saying, it's a real thing.

As for the game itself, this Oklahoma team playing their first game away from the friendly confines of the Lloyd Noble Center couldn't quite pull this one out.

While not on the same level as the UCLA team Oklahoma eliminated from last year's NCAA Tournament, this is still a talented and athletic Bruins squad who took advantage of that home crowd momentum.  And they also took advantage of what sure seemed to be a....shall we say generous Pac 12 officiating crew.  The home team wound up shooting 14 more free throws that Oklahoma, but the difference in this game was UCLA's significant rebounding advantage.

The Sooners were out-rebounded 50-29 overall and an alarming 20-5 on the offensive end.  Which obviously led to countless easy put back baskets for the Bruins who made the plays (and got the foul calls) at the end of the game to win 82-76.

Oklahoma will struggle to win any game when Aaryn Ellenberg shoots 2-13 from the field and 0-4 from behind the arc. She would finish with 11 points, but seven of those came from the free throw line.  OU's leading scorer was Nicole Griffin who played incredibly well and was the dominant inside presence she needs to be consistently for this team.

One thing this team is struggling to adjust to are the new rules this year.  Oklahoma had three players foul out in this game and that is quickly becoming a recurring problem.  There is little doubt Sherri Coale will get the problem corrected, but in the meantime the Sooners are having to play extended periods of time without some of their best players.

The Sooners have the week off because of the Thanksgiving holiday and will return to action Sunday, December 1st for a home game against Creighton.