OUWBB: Sooners Use Big Second Half To Knock Off Southern Illinois

Vionise Pierre-Louis had 18 points and six rebounds, Gioya Carter added 16 points and eight boards, and No. 16 Oklahoma used a big second half to beat Southern Illinois 80-48 on Sunday in a season opener.

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Oklahoma had just a 38-32 lead at halftime, but the Sooners started the third quarter on an 8-0 run and outscored Southern Illinois 23-2 in the period. The Salukis were 0-of-10 shooting in the quarter.

It was the fewest points allowed by Oklahoma in a quarter since the NCAA started the four 10-minute quarters format last season.

Oklahoma (1-0) was 1 of 16 from 3-point range but made 23 of 28 free throws. Freshman Nancy Mulkey had three of the Sooners' nine blocks.

Rishonda Napier, an all-Missouri Valley Conference selection last season, scored 14 points on 6-of-22 shooting for Southern Illinois (0-1). Kylie Giebelhausen added 12 points after making 5 of 18 shots for the Salukis, who were 19 of 75 from the floor (25.3 percent).