Oklahoma
Iowa State women’s basketball team advances to Big 12 title game with win over Oklahoma
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Iowa State freshman Addy Brown dribbled around the top of the key as the seconds ticked down near the end of the first half Monday against Oklahoma. Brown found an open spot and unleashed a long 3-point shot.
Brown kept her hand skyward long after the ball swished through the net, then pushed it up a little higher to pump up the crowd and ignite the frenzied fan base of Iowa State as the Cyclones rolled into halftime with a 14-point lead.
The basket was as close to a knockout punch as there could have been. No. 4 seed Iowa State never looked back during a 85-68 victory over the top-seeded Sooners in the Big 12 Tournament semifinals. The victory moved the defending champion Cyclones into Tuesday’s championship game for the second straight season.
Iowa State, which has won six straight games, had to fight its way through a close call against Baylor in the semifinals on Saturday. Monday’s game was supposed to be just as difficult with the Cyclones taking on the Big 12’s regular-season champion − a team that rolled to a commanding win in Ames on Feb. 10.
But Iowa State had no issues with the 21st-ranked Sooners this time around.
The Cyclones had trouble getting stops and scoring during their first matchup, but they did whatever they wanted in both areas Monday. They even managed to slow down an Oklahoma team that has one of the top scoring offenses in the nation. The Sooners entered Monday’s matchup averaging 77.1 points per game, but couldn’t get going in the league semifinals.
Oklahoma shot 29% (10-for-34) from the floor in the first half, including 2-of-14 from 3-point range. Meanwhile, the Sooners could not slow down Iowa State. The Cyclones set the tone early by going on a 15-0 run to take a commanding 17-5 lead. Audi Crooks, who finished with 25 points, hit a rare 3-pointer during the run that included five straight makes for Iowa State.
Iowa State closed out the second quarter on a 7-0 run that was capped off by Brown’s 3-pointer to give Iowa State a 38-24 lead at halftime. Iowa State rattled off another big run in the third quarter, going on a 9-0 run to take a 49-26 lead. Even a full-court press by Oklahoma, a move that caused the Cyclones all sorts of problems in their win over Baylor, couldn’t stop Bill Fennelly’s team the rest of the second half.
Brown finished with 16. Emily Ryan had 12 points, 10 assists and six rebounds for the Cyclones.
What’s next? The Cyclones are likely hoping for K-State
Iowa State will face the winner of Monday’s Texas-Kansas State semifinal at 8 p.m. Tuesday (ESPN2). The Cyclones might be quietly pulling for a Wildcats upset. Texas posed problems for Iowa State in an 81-60 rout on Feb. 17 in Austin. Kansas State, meanwhile, lost twice to Iowa State during the regular season. One of those Cyclone wins was a double-overtime thriller in Ames. The other was a road victory at Kansas State two weeks ago.
Tommy Birch, the Register’s sports enterprise and features reporter, has been working at the newspaper since 2008. He’s the 2018, 2020 and 2023 Iowa Sportswriter of the Year. Reach him at tbirch@dmreg.com or 515-284-8468.
Oklahoma
Gov. Stitt signs off on $4.3M arch at Oklahoma Capitol
Gov. Kevin Stitt on Wednesday signed a measure to build an arch on the south side of the Oklahoma Capitol complex.
The cost is $4.3 million.
House Bill 4012 said the purpose of the arch is to honor the Oklahoma National Guard, which has a lengthy history of state and federal service.
Rep. Mark McBride, R-Moore, is the House author.
He said the arch could be built within the next two years.
“I think it will be a great addition to the Capitol complex to honor the Oklahoma National Guard,” McBride said.
He said the arch will tell the story of the Oklahoma National Guard, including the conflicts in which the men and women served.
Architect Solomon Layton included drawings of the arch in early plans for the Capitol, which was completed in 1917.
It was one of the structures, like the dome, that was not constructed because of a lack of funding at the time.
Some have been critical of spending money on an arch.
OPINION: Investing in a $4.3 million arch is a waste of Oklahomans’ hard-earned taxpayer dollars
Sometimes people take for granted the freedoms they have, McBride said, adding that it is important to build the arch to demonstrate and honor the sacrifices.
The arch is expected to be 30 feet tall and 60 feet tall.
An amphitheater seating 100 people and a veteran’s park will also be constructed, said Sen. Brenda Stanley, R-Midwest City.
“I am thrilled to death he signed it,” said Stanley, the Senate author. “It is going to be gorgeous.”
She said the arch will separate the Oklahoma Capitol from any other capitol in the country.
The state recently completed a $245 million renovation and upgrade to the building.
Years ago, a dome was added to the facility.
In 2015, the State Capitol Repair Expenditure Oversight Committee unveiled possible plans for a $65 million three-story parking garage, a reflecting pool and the arch.
The garage and reflecting pool have not been pursued.
Oklahoma Voice is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oklahoma Voice maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Janelle Stecklein for questions: info@oklahomavoice.com. Follow Oklahoma Voice on Facebook and Twitter.
Oklahoma
Going to Oklahoma: Northern Colorado softball supporters turn out for send off to NCAA Tournament
The Northern Colorado softball team left Greeley Wednesday evening for Stillwater, Oklahoma where the Bears will play in the NCAA Tournament this weekend.
Before the team bus to Denver International Airport, the UNC players, coaches and staff making the trip received a mini send-off celebration. Fans, alumni, other UNC staff and athletes were among those gathered outside of Butler-Hancock Athletic Center to send good wishes to the softball team.
UNC (27-24) is making its second straight appearance in the 64-team NCAA Tournament after winning a second consecutive Big Sky Conference Tournament title last weekend in Pocatello, Idaho.
The Bears were placed in the Stillwater region and will play No. 5 seed and site host Oklahoma State (44-1) at 3:30 p.m. Friday. The tournament’s first round is comprised of 16 four-team tournaments in double elimination format through Sunday. Michigan and Kentucky are the other two teams in Stillwater.
UNC played Michigan twice in Santa Barbara, California in February during its non-conference schedule and lost both games to the Wolverines, 9-1 and 4-1. Michigan led 3-1 after four innings in the first game before scoring six with a three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth to turn in the lopsided result. UNC led the second game 1-0 through five innings. Michigan hit a grand slam in the top of the sixth for the win.
“Everybody we play will be good,” UNC coach Dedeann Pendleton-Helm said Sunday of facing Oklahoma State. “It’s time to go to the show.”
Pendleton-Helm asked the well wishers Wednesday evening to join the team to form a large circle of about 75 people on the sidewalk near the team bus. The coach made the same request Sunday evening with those who watched the tournament selection show and the announcement of the challenging task of facing national powerhouse Oklahoma State.
On both evenings, Pendleton-Helm thanked everyone who was there and insisted the circle close tighter in a show of unity, pride and team spirit.
Pendleton-Helm has been in the UNC program for 23 months. In two seasons, the UNC teams have a 53-47 record with a regular-season Big Sky Conference title this year, the two conference tournament titles and two NCAA Tournament appearances.
The Bears played at the University of Washington in last year’s NCAA Tournament, where they lost to the host Huskies and Minnesota in region play.
Oklahoma
Severe Thunderstorm Watch Active In Parts Of Green Country
Active Watches & Warnings:
- Severe Thunderstorm Watch for Osage, Pawnee, Washington counties until 1 a.m.
Strong to severe weather is likely Wednesday night in Northeast Oklahoma.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for Kay, Noble, Osage, Pawnee, Payne and Washington counties until 1 a.m. on Thursday.
Chief Meteorologist Travis Meyer says that large hail, damaging winds and flooding are the biggest concerns, but the tornado threat will still be monitored.
News On 6 will have the latest updates on the storm timeline throughout the night.
What are the chances for severe weather in Oklahoma on Wednesday, May 15?
A period of unsettled weather is likely to produce periodic showers and storms across a large portion of the area Wednesday night through Friday morning.
This will bring increasing rain and thunder chances, including severe weather threats, to parts of the area beginning later Wednesday night across the western half of the state before storms begin migrating eastward into parts of northeastern and eastern Oklahoma.
All modes of severe weather will be possible, with the primary threats of damaging winds and hail. A tornado threat is possible with this system, mostly along and northwest of the I-44 corridor.
Due to antecedent conditions, and the possibility of pockets of moderate to locally heavy downpours, the potential for some low-land and street level flooding will be possible before ending as the last wave in this current series moves out of the area Thursday night late into early Friday morning.
Based on the current timing, most of Friday afternoon and evening should be precip free with mostly pleasant conditions.
What will the weather be like this weekend in Oklahoma?
This weekend some midlevel ridging should nudge northward from part of Texas into most of Oklahoma bringing dry weather, some sunshine, and highs into the mid and upper 80s both days.
South winds will continue to transport low-level moisture into the state resulting in increasing humidity values. Some minor heat index values should occur allowing values into the lower 90s.
The top-edge of the ridge positioned across far northern OK and southern Kansas may still allow a weak boundary to slide southward and stall Sunday into Monday where a complex of storms will be possible during this period.
Early next week, most data support the return of a stronger developing upper-level trough arriving from the southwest. This pattern coupled with climatology supports mentions of more spring severe weather opportunities nearing the region. As we draw closer to next week, we’ll offer more specifics regarding timing and locations.
Outages Across Oklahoma:
Northeast Oklahoma has various power companies and electric co-operatives, many with overlapping areas of coverage. Below is a link to various outage maps.
PSO Outage Map
OG&E Outage Map
VVEC Outage Map
Indian Electric Cooperative (IEC) Outage Map
Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives Outage Map – (Note Several Smaller Co-ops Included)
The Alan Crone morning weather podcast link from Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5j0ovActG8BZCOTqZQzrfU
The Alan Crone morning weather podcast link from Apple:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/weather-out-the-door/id1499556141?i=1000646589555
Follow the News On 6 Meteorologists on Facebook!
Meteorologist Travis Meyer
Meteorologist Stacia Knight
Meteorologist Alan Crone
Meteorologist Stephen Nehrenz
Meteorologist Aaron Reeves
Meteorologist Megan Gold
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