Oklahoma Sooners Triumph Over Alabama Crimson Tide
In a tense matchup on Sunday, the No. 10 Oklahoma Sooners emerged victorious against the 23rd-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide, sealing a 79-71 win at Tuscaloosa. Raegan Beers was a standout for Oklahoma, contributing 21 points, while Payton Verhulst scored 17.
Game Highlights
Despite leading by as much as ten points on three occasions, Oklahoma faced persistent challenges from Alabama, which managed to narrow the gap to four points multiple times throughout the game.
The game saw crucial late-game efforts from freshman Aaliyah Chavez, who scored nine of her total 15 points in the fourth quarter, coming alongside six rebounds and six assists. However, the Sooners struggled with their shooting, hitting only 23% from beyond the arc and converting just 58% of their free throw attempts. They also dealt with an issue of turnovers, totaling 19, which allowed Alabama to secure 15 points off those miscues.
Alabama’s Performance
For Alabama, Ta’Mia Scott led the scoring with 17 points, supported by Jessica Timmons and Ace Austin, who each added 11. The Crimson Tide attempted to find a rhythm with a more equitable offensive attack, seeing six players score at least eight points.
Their most significant moment came in the third quarter, when they executed an 18-4 run to take a 57-54 lead, marking their first advantage since early in the first quarter. Despite this surge, Alabama struggled to maintain momentum, particularly in the final quarter where they managed just three successful shots out of 15 attempts, ultimately being outscored 21-11 as Oklahoma’s strong rebounding, including 14 offensive boards leading to 19 second-chance points, played a crucial role in their win.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, Oklahoma will head to Georgia for their next game on Thursday, while Alabama is set to face off against No. 3 South Carolina on the same day.
