Oklahoma Crushes Texas Tech, Now Tied for First Atop Big 12

There was no upset this time.

No. 15-ranked Oklahoma had lost two of its last three home games against Texas Tech, but Wednesday night at Lloyd Noble Center, the Sooners left no doubt.

OU routed the Red Raiders 84-57 as the Sooners led by as many as 29 in the fourth quarter and limited Tech to 1-of-16 perimeter shooting over the first 33 minutes and 3-of-19 overall.

It was Oklahoma’s fifth consecutive victory and puts the Sooners back in a tie with Texas for first place atop the Big 12 Conference standings. They each have four games left this season, including a Feb. 25 showdown at the LNC.

OU improved to 21-4 overall and 11-3 in Big 12 play, while Tech fell to 16-10 and 4-9.

OU has dominated the series with Tech since 2006, leading 32-6 head-to-head. But the Red Raiders came into Wednesday owning two of the last three meetings in Norman, including last year’s 97-87 stunner.

OU won this year’s first meeting 89-79 in Lubbock back on Jan. 11.

Oklahoma got 23 points and 10 rebounds from Aubrey Joens, who made 5-of-8 from 3-point range and 9-of-14 from the floor. Joens’ career-high is 24 during her tenure at Iowa State. Her previous career high at OU was 14, scored back on Dec. 11 against Robert Morris.

Liz Scott scored 13, Madi Williams 12 and Nevaeh Tot 11 as the Sooners put four players in double figures.

OU handed out 27 assists as a team, compared to just 7 for the Red Raiders. Beatrice Culliton led Oklahoma with 10 assists.

The Sooners jumped out to a 12-0 lead that grew to 26-13 at the end of the first quarter on Nevaeh Tot’s 3-pointer.

Oklahoma led by as many as 19 in the second quarter as Joens closed a 8-0 run with a layup that made it 34-15.

The Red Raiders made just 1 of their last 9 field goal attempts in the first half and were scoreless the final 2:22.

OU held Bre’Amber Scott to just 12 points — nine in the fourth quarter — on 4-of-18 shooting after averaging 21 points per game in Big 12 play this season.

OU shot 49 percent (16-of-33) from the floor in the first half, including 7-of-14 from 3-point range. Joens made 3-of-4 from the perimeter and Ana Llanusa and Tot combined to shoot 4-of-7.

Taylor Robertson finished with 7 points but hit a 3-pointer in the first half to extend her Big 12 record to 67 games in a row with at least one trey.

The Sooners are back on the floor Sunday at Kansas, a 2 p.m. tipoff at Phog Allen Field House in Lawrence.