OKLAHOMA CITY — Courtney Paris will get the chance to back up her national championship guarantee in the Final Four.
Paris led the way with 19 points, 13 rebounds and six blocks as top-seeded Oklahoma surged ahead in the second half to beat Purdue 74-68 on Tuesday night to earn the second trip to the Final Four in school history.
“It’s been a long four years,” Paris said, “but this just makes it all worth it.”
Paris, who earlier in the day became the first player to be selected as a four-time AP All-American, added another accomplishment to her list against Purdue by becoming the first player ever to block at least 100 shots in each of her four years in college.
The Sooners (32-4) will face Louisville on Sunday in their first Final Four appearance since losing to Connecticut in the 2002 championship game.
Paris led an 11-0 run that gave the Sooners the lead for good and flapped her arms to encourage the crowd after she — as a 56 percent free- throw shooter — hit two late foul shots to push the lead to nine in the final minute.
“I’m a senior. I don’t get another chance, and it’s to go to the Final Four,” Paris said. “You want to make sure you give everything you can.”
Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton led Purdue (25-11) with 20 points and 13 rebounds.
Connecticut 83, Arizona State 64
TRENTON, N.J. — Maya Moore scored 25 points and Renee Montgomery added 22 as the Huskies advanced to the national semifinals for the ninth time in the past 14 years.
The Huskies (37-0) will face Stanford on Sunday in a rematch of last season’s national semifinal. The Cardinal won that game before losing in the championship to Tennessee. UConn hasn’t lost since.
