Oklahoma Takes Down Bedlam Rival for Sixth Straight Victory

Skylar Vann was prolific again and the Sooners got timely baskets from OSU transfer Lexy Keys and others as Jennie Baranczyk stayed unbeaten against the Cowgirls.

By OU Media Relations

STILLWATER, OK – Oklahoma trailed most of the game, but an overpowering second half guided the Sooners past Oklahoma State 81-74 in their final conference meeting at Gallagher-Iba Arena on Saturday afternoon.

Senior Skylar Vann finished with a game-high 22 points, eclipsing 20 points for the third straight game and adding seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks in the win. Freshman Sahara Williams, playing in her first edition of Bedlam, found herself in early foul trouble but scored all 15 of her points in the second half and was 7-of-9 from the field.

Payton Verhulst notched a double-double with 10 points and a career-high 10 assists, and added seven rebounds for her most complete game of the conference slate.

Lexy Keys, who transferred to Oklahoma from OSU in the offseason, buried four of her five 3-point attempts to score a critical 12 points to send the Sooners across the finish line. Off the bench, Beatrice Culliton was crucial to the victory as the sophomore post grabbed a team-high nine rebounds, scored six points and dished out four assists.

The win was OU’s sixth in a row and pushed the Sooners (15-6, 9-1 Big 12) into a tie atop the Big 12 standings with No. 2-ranked Kansas State. Third-year head coach Jennie Baranczyk is now 5-0 vs. the Cowgirls (11-11, 4-7 Big 12).

The Sooners trailed early as the Cowgirls used their home-court advantage to jump out to a 12-7 lead in the first quarter. OU got within two later in the frame, but OSU's Hannah Gusters was effective inside as the Cowgirls took a 24-16 lead into the second. Oklahoma outscored OSU 17-16 to cut into the deficit but trailed by seven, 40-33, at the break.

Keys and Williams lit the spark and powered an 8-0 Oklahoma run to open the second half and take a lead, and that's when the two teams started to exchange blows.

The game featured 11 lead changes, but it was a fourth-quarter run guided by Vann and Nevaeh Tot that pushed the Sooners past Oklahoma State and into first place in the league. The Sooners outscored the Cowgirls by 14 points in the second half and a dominant nine points in the final frame.

OU shot 49 percent from the floor, including 38 percent (10-of-26) from behind the 3-point arc. On the defensive end, OU held the Cowgirls to 44 percent and 29 percent from deep. The game was won on the glass where OU outrebounded Oklahoma State 43-31 and scored 14 second-chance points to seal the win. Twenty-seven assists on 33 made field goals highlighted the offensive attack for OU as the Sooners continue to lead the Big 12 in assist/turnover ratio.

OU returns to the floor on Wednesday when TCU comes to Norman. Tip is set for 6 p.m. on ESPN+.