It certainly wasn’t the start the Quinnipiac women’s basketball team expected when it stepped on the court to face No. 5 seed Oklahoma in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

It’s halftime at Maples Pavilion at Palo Alto, and Tricia Fabbri’s Bobcats are down 57-40 to the Sooners. Oklahoma came out firing on all cylinders, hitting eight of its first 10 shots. At the under-12 minute timeout, Quinnipiac was down 31-16.

Everything on offense for Oklahoma went through forward Kaylon Williams. The senior hit four of her first five shots.

Oklahoma is shooting 21-for-34 from the field and 6-for-14 from 3-point range.  On the other side, Quinnipiac has struggled to convert. The Bobcats are 10-for-32 from the field, good for 31 percent. Jasmine Martin has 12 points, while Samantha Guastella has 10. Both teams have eight turnovers, and the Sooners hold a slight 19-18 rebounding advantage.

In order for the Bobcats to beat the Sooners, it cannot allow second chance points to Oklahoma, turn the ball over, and contain Oklahoma’s Gabbi Ortiz, who has 13 points for the Sooners.