NORMAN — Morgan Hook hit the free throws and Kaylon Williams blocked the shot, grabbed the rebound, got fouled and made one of two from stripe to put the game away.

The fans, on their feet the last few minutes, loved it, their team having found a way to win. Perhaps because they didn’t want to think about how close it had come to losing.

The Oklahoma women topped Missouri 64-60 Saturday afternoon at Lloyd Noble Center, averting disaster by making those plays and a few others down the game’s final stretch.

The Tigers (10-13, 0-12 Big 12), still winless in the conference, have suffered both of their nearest misses at OU’s hands.

The Sooners (16-7, 8-4), still in line to challenge for the second spot in the conference race, must bounce back from one of the season’s most lackluster performances in time to face No. 3 Connecticut at 8 p.m. Monday, right back at Lloyd Noble Center.

Oklahoma coach Sherri Coale conceded her team has become quite adept at escaping tense close games with narrow victories. But while better than the alternative, it’s not all it’s cracked up to be.

“Our team’s Achilles’ heel is putting ourselves in that position,” she said.

OU did it by continuing to miss a ton of shots, and have only shot even 40 percent twice in their last six games and four times in their last 10. Saturday, it was 38.2 percent accuracy (21-of-55) from the field and 33.3 percent accuracy (3-of-12) from 3-point land. The Sooners’ saving grace was hitting 19 of 23 free throws.

OU took its biggest lead, 45-32, with 14:42 remaining. Missouri never edged in front, but trailed 57-56, 59-58 and 61-60, the last one-point deficit coming with 21 seconds remaining.

The first time, Whitney Hand drove to the basket to push the lead back to three points.

The second time, after OU failed to respond, Sharane Campbell drew a charge from Sydney Crafton, giving OU back the ball and leading to another basket from Hand.

The last time only left Missouri in position to foul Hook, OU’s point guard, who made two free throws with 14 seconds remaining. Then, with Missouri needing a 3-pointer to force overtime, freshman forward Kaylon Williams rejected Liz Smith.

The victory appeared to be cold comfort to OU, which was coming off a 27-point loss to top-ranked Baylor.

Hand, who led OU with 17 points, five rebounds and four assists, found the missed shots troublesome.

“I didn’t really feel that we were out of synch,” Hand said. “I just felt like, ‘We’re just not hitting shots,’ ‘We’re just not hitting shots.’”

And one issue can lead to another.

“When you don’t make baskets, it sucks the life out of you,” Coale said. “For anyone who has ever played, you can be so tired and then make a 3 and you could guard Kobe Bryant for the next possession. That’s just the way it happens.”

Missouri was led by BreAnna Brock’s 20 points and 10 rebounds. Christine Flores added 14 points and seven boards, but was 4-of-14 shooting for the Tigers, who were 35.8 percent (19-of-53) overall.

Hook was leveled by a screen in the first half and lay sprawled on the court for about a minute, but returned to finish with 12 points and four assists.