Among the major conferences the Big XII has become the least predictable. Last night Mizzou, which remains below .500 in conference play, took out Nebraska, which had been tied for first. Tiger posts Savant and Riddle led the attack with 17 and 16.

Texas A&M, tied for first last week, needed Takia Starks' buzzer-beater to get past another team below .500 in conference play, Oklahoma State: the Cowgirls have lost twice to A&M, by one possession each time.

The Sooners-- who swept the conference last year-- had problems to solve as of last week: after three losses in four tries, coach Coale replaced her veteran backcourt with underclassfolks.

Result: a blowout victory over Texas, and a hard-fought win yesterday at Texas Tech. Frosh PG Jenna Plumley, who led her Cheyenne-Arapaho team to national titles in Native American tourneys, looked great: 22 points, 6-8 from downtown.

Her Sooners needed every one: TTU tied things up with seconds to go, but Plumley's final trey gave OU the win. Courtney Paris had the usual (18 and 16).

Despite last week's hiccups, OU's success has been inspiring girls in the state: the Big XII conference tournament in Oklahoma City has sold plenty of tickets by now.