Skip to main content
Oklahoma

OU women take Round 1 of Bedlam, 81-74

Bob Przybyloby: Bob Przybylo02/04/24BPrzybylo
Syndication: The Oklahoman
OU forward Skylar Vann (24) and Oklahoma State forward Praise Egharevba (24) fight for control of the ball in the first quarter during an NCAA basketball game between Oklahoma State (OSU) and University of Oklahoma (OU) at the Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater Okla., on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024. (Nathan J. Fish - The Oklahoman/USA TODAY Network).

Emotional week, positive responses across the board for OU women’s basketball. It can’t be the high point of the season, but it sure feels good.

The Sooners walk out of Stillwater with another Bedlam victory. OU used a strong fourth quarter to wear down the Cowgirls 81-74 at Gallagher-Iba Arena on Saturday afternoon.

It is OU’s fifth straight win in the Bedlam series. The Sooners have now won six games in a row and nine of their last 10. A win vs. No. 2 Kansas State one day, taking out your rival the next. Not bad.

OSU came into this one struggling, but you knew the Bedlam atmosphere was going to bring the best out of them. The Cowgirls led 24-16 after the first quarter, but OU never flinched.

One reason you don’t flinch is when you have someone like Skylar Vann. The 3-point shot wasn’t falling, but Vann found a lot of other ways to impact this one. She finished with a game-high 22 points and seven rebounds.

Still, OSU held a 59-57 lead going into the final quarter. But OU’s ability to finish in recent weeks is just next level. No panic, no fatigue. Settle down, execute and end by outscoring OSU 24-15 in the last 10 minutes and 48-34 in the second half.

Game 21 Takeaways from the couch

*Riding the roller coaster wave of emotion for Lexy Keys. Making her first return to OSU, she was brilliant for the Sooners. Keys was 4-for-5 from 3-point territory and finished with 12 points. A lot was said, understandably, about Keys returning to her former school. She was able to handle the moment just fine.

*OU hasn’t won any of its last five games by more than seven points. But you can see how that’s actually helping Jennie Baranczyk’s team. They know it’s going to be tight and tough. They’re ready for the crunch time moments. OU has definitely been in enough of them.

*Sahara Williams came up huge. First Bedlam game? No problem. Williams had 15 points, four rebounds and two steals. Payton Verhulst had 10 points and came up big time with the 10 assists.

Up next

*Let’s look at those top 25 rankings Monday. It’s not just a nice little run anymore. The Sooners are 15-6 overall and 9-1 in the Big 12. A return to the top 25? OU heads back to the Lloyd Noble Center to host TCU on Wednesday night.

You may also like