“Oklahoma came out and played with a lot of composure. They never got rattled,” said Purdue’s Camille Cooper, who led everybody with 34 points. “It was hard to watch those final few minutes. You have to credit them with playing hard and with a lot of composure.”

The Sooners won despite trailing by 12 at the half, by 17 when the deficit grew largest and by 13 with 11:05 to play. They came two buckets short of hitting 50 percent (28 of 60) of their shots. They committed just 13 turnovers, only four of which weren’t credited as Purdue steals.

Just after the game, Whaley explained the night and her Sooner experience with a quote that stands up over time.

“We kept playing because we had nothing to lose. You play hard or go home,” she said. “I’m just proud to have been a part of building this program.”

It was Whaley’s next to last game. Five days later eventual national champion Connecticut ended OU’s season 102-80 in Richmond, Va.

Two yeas later, Connecticut won the national championship again, topping the Dales -, Caufield- and Hill-led Sooners 82-70 in the title game.

The Sooners were a five-seed eight years ago and a four-seed now. Then, they advanced on the strength of several strong performances. They’ll try doing the same thing again beginning Sunday.

“It was truly a team effort. We really willed it,” Coale said. “And to be able to go back to that same spot, and to kind of be engulfed by those memories is a pretty special thing.”

It will remain special just as long as OU can repeat its history, returning home after a pair of victories with another game to play.

Clay Horning

366-3526

cfhorning@normantranscript.com