No. 17 Sooners almost upset...almost doesn't count

FORT WORTH, TX -- Kaylon Williams cleaned up the mess tonight for the Oklahoma Sooners.  Williams led the Sooners with 18 points and was instrumental in the win. After trailing the TCU Horned Frogs for the duration of the first three-quarters, the Oklahoma aggression became apparent as they took over in the final minutes to take down TCU 78-65.

TCU came out firing in Schollmaier Arena, never falling behind the Sooners in the first quarter, finishing it out leading 19-16. Oklahoma put up a steady counter tying it up three times in the quarter, but was unable to come out on top at any point. Standout guard for the Horned Frogs, Zahna Medley posed her usual threat, leading TCU with 5 points by the end of the period.

The Frogs didn't waiver come the second quarter, scoring eight consecutive points including two 3-pointers. TCU continued to dominate the Sooners throughout the period, securing the majority of rebounds - 23 verse Oklahoma's 17 - and capitalizing on the Sooner's mistakes.

Horned Frogs guard AJ Alix and Medley proved to be crucial for the lead providing 10 points each by the end of the half. Despite a small surge by Oklahoma's offense towards the end of the period, cutting TCU's 12-point lead, Oklahoma couldn't keep up with the Frogs' consistency. TCU closed out the half on top of the Sooners 38-32.

The Horned Frog's momentum didn't end at halftime. They continued to pull away from Oklahoma through the beginning of the first half, taking a 14-point lead after three minutes of play. However the Sooners didn't bow down - they turned it around with 10 consecutive points towards the end of the period, pulling within four points by the end of the quarter.

"They're a good team. There's not a single team in the Big 12 you can feel comfortable with a lead. Not until that final buzzer." TCU Head Coach Raegan Pebley said following the game.

Oklahoma forward Williams owned the second half, leading the team with 18 points overall - 11 of them in the third quarter. William's performance was not the only thing that changed for the Sooners in the second half. Oklahoma took over on rebounds with 27 compared to TCU's 13, tremendously helping in the victory.

"I think was the demeanor," Williams said after the game. "We just wanted to do it for each other, and just had a refuse-to-lose mentality."

The Sooners kept it close until the beginning of the fourth quarter; the intensity of their attack far greater compared to the first half of play. Oklahoma fixed the mistakes of the first period, taking their first lead of the game with 3 minutes to play - setting them up for their major comeback.

The Sooners Head Coach Sherri Coale takes none of the credit for the shift of momentum in the second half, saying the players simply gained a will to win.

"Well I would like to be able to explain what happened, but I'm not really sure," Coale said. "We were less than stellar for three-quarters and then the fourth quarter we played hard and played together, we were connected. And I think you saw a will."

Oklahoma closed out the comeback on top of TCU, 78-65, rebounding from their loss against Baylor earlier this week. This puts the Sooners at 11-3, 2-1 in the Big 12, and the Frogs at 10-4, and 2-1 in the Big 12.