Oklahoma Women’s Basketball Triumphs Over Texas A&M
In a commanding performance, the No. 10 Oklahoma women’s basketball team cruised to an 85-58 victory over Texas A&M on Thursday evening in Norman, Oklahoma. Payton Verhulst was a key player for the Sooners, contributing 16 points to the scoreboard, while Aaliyah Chavez followed closely with 14 points. Raegan Beers and Sahara Williams also made notable contributions, each scoring 12 points as Oklahoma improved its season record to 17-4, with a 5-3 mark in the Southeastern Conference.
Game Highlights
The victory marked Oklahoma’s third consecutive win, building on a previous triumph over then-No. 2 South Carolina last week that went into overtime. The Sooners demonstrated exceptional shooting prowess, sinking 12 of their 23 attempts from three-point range and recording assists on 25 of their 30 field goals.
Texas A&M, now 8-9 overall and struggling in the conference at 1-7, was led by Lauren Ware’s 15 points and Ny’Ceara Pryor’s 12 points. The Aggies are currently facing a tough stretch, having lost five games in a row, with four of those losses coming at the hands of top-10 teams including Oklahoma, who previously defeated them 72-50 earlier this month.
Game Progression
Initially, the Aggies took an early lead, scoring the first five points of the game, but it was short-lived as Oklahoma fought back to lead 23-18 by the first-quarter buzzer. The Sooners began to dominate in the second quarter with Verhulst hitting a 3-pointer that sparked a decisive 19-0 run, allowing Oklahoma to pull ahead to a commanding 44-20 advantage after a lengthy scoring drought for Texas A&M that lasted over seven minutes. At halftime, the Sooners held a 46-27 lead, having forced nine turnovers during the second quarter while limiting the Aggies to just three successful shots out of nine attempts.
The second half saw Oklahoma extend its lead to as much as 31 points during the third quarter, demonstrating their offensive and defensive strength. As the Sooners prepare for their next matchup against No. 4-ranked Texas on Sunday, new athletic director Roger Denny encouraged fans during a timeout to keep supporting the team, pivotal in fostering the momentum that coach Jennie Baranczyk has cultivated.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, Texas A&M will aim to turn their season around as they face No. 3 South Carolina next Monday, while Oklahoma will face its season’s only opportunity against the Longhorns this Sunday.
