Oklahoma Continues Impressive Stretch, Demolishes Oklahoma State in Bedlam Rout
NORMAN — One last time, it was a Bedlam Blowout.
No. 23 Oklahoma improved to 20-7 on the season by crushing in-state rival Oklahoma State 91-56 on Saturday in Norman.
The win marks OU's 14th victory in their last 16 contests and sixth consecutive defeat of the Cowgirls. Additionally, the Sooners are now just one win away from their second straight Big 12 title with two regular season games remaining.
Freshman forward Sahara Williams led the way for Jennie Baranczyk's squad with 20 points, seven rebounds, one assist and one block while shooting 2-for-2 from beyond the arc.
Skylar Vann got Oklahoma's offense started, scoring the Sooners' first seven points while going 3-for-3 from the floor.
After an Oklahoma State 3-pointer with five minutes left in the first quarter cut OU's lead to one, senior guard Nevaeh Tot knocked down a triple of her own to put Oklahoma up 18-14.
The Cowgirls continued to hit shots from the perimeter, however, as freshman guard Stailee Heard knocked down a 3-pointer that brought the Cowgirls within one.
Despite Oklahoma State knocking down five triples in the opening frame, a 3-pointer from redshirt senior guard Kennady Tucker put the Sooners' up 25-18 at the end of the first quarter.
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With OU ahead 27-22 midway through the second, Vann scored two consecutive baskets give Oklahoma a 31-22 lead, its largest of the game to that point. After the Cowgirls started to claw back, a 3-pointer and a mid-range jump shot from junior guard Payton Verhulst pushed the Sooners' advantage back to seven.
With 18 seconds left in the second quarter, Verhulst knocked down her second triple of the game to give OU a 43-35 lead heading into halftime. At the break, Vann led the Oklahoma with 11 points, going 5-for-6 from the field while Verhulst chipped in 10 points, shooting 4-of-6 from the floor.
Williams had an impressive start to the second half, knocking down two mid-range shots and two triples in addition to tipping a rebound over to Vann who finished the play at the rim.
After the flurry, which continued with a pair of free throws from Vann and a basket from sophomore forward Kiersten Johnson, OU held a 59-44 lead over Oklahoma State with around five minutes left in the third quarter.
Following a nice take to the rim from sophomore guard Reyna Scott and a basket in the post from Johnson a few moments later, the Sooners' advantage ballooned to 21 late in the penultimate period.
Heading into the final frame, Oklahoma held a 72-48 lead over the Cowgirls as OSU went 1-for-10 from the field to close the third quarter.
OU grew its lead in the fourth as the Sooners' bench began to take over the game, putting the home team ahead 88-56 with just under two minutes left in the contest.
In the end, Baranczyk's team grabbed 25 more rebounds than Oklahoma State and scored 22 more points in the paint. Additionally, Oklahoma's bench outscored Oklahoma State 30-4 while the Sooners' shot 47% from the field and 38% from beyond the arc.
Oklahoma will take the court again on Wednesday, Feb. 28, when it faces the Texas Longhorns in Norman at 6 p.m. with a share of the Big 12 Championship on the line.
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