Oklahoma basketball: Aaryn Ellenberg scores 22 as Sooners beat Texas

“Obviously we had to have some sort of resolve,” Ellenberg said. “We really had to make a statement for ourselves and for the other teams watching.

“We responded from the loss and we did what we had to do to take care of our business.”

Oklahoma gets a rare six-day break beginning Sunday, and it comes at an ideal time; All-America center Brittney Griner and top-ranked Baylor — which has beaten the Sooners in five straight meetings — await next Saturday at 11 a.m.

“It's an opportunity to breathe more than anything,” Coale said. “You let your body settle down; you let your mind settle down.

“I like (the break) right here because we have had enough of a taste of what's going on, and we've positioned ourselves really well. ... We're gonna be on an ascension from here on out, and this is an opportunity for us to gather ourselves and then get started on finishing this thing off right.”