Oklahoma Topples Baylor to Win Ninth Straight
By OU Media Relations
NORMAN — Sophomore Kiersten Johnson had a career-high 20 points off the bench, Payton Verhulst had a double-double and No. 23 Oklahoma pulled away from No. 21 Baylor in the fourth quarter to win its ninth straight, 84-73 on Wednesday night at Lloyd Noble Center.
The Bears scored nine unanswered points to pull within four, 72-68, midway through the fourth, but Skylar Vann hit two baskets and Johnson made a layup to quickly push the lead back to 10. Baylor committed three straight turnovers, which offset a string of six straight baskets.
The last Baylor basket was a 3-pointer by Jana Van Gytenbeek that made it 80-73 with 2:12 to play but the Bears missed their last three shots.
Verhulst had 16 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists and five blocks for the Sooners (18-6, 12-1 Big 12), who are 4-3 against ranked teams. Nevaeh Tot and Sahara Williams both had 14 points and Vann had 10.
The last time the Sooners were 12-1 in league play was the 2008-09 season when they finished 15-1 and made the Final Four.
Sarah Andrews had 14 points for Baylor (18-6, 7-6 Big 12), which is 5-3 in top-25 games. Dre'una Edwards and Van Gytenbeek both had 13 points.
Five different players scored during an 11-0 Oklahoma run to take at 13-3 lead, but Yaya Felder and Edwards combined for nine points to get Baylor back within one, 13-12. Johnson, whose previous career high was 11, scored Oklahoma's last 10 points of the first quarter to take a 21-19 lead.
Edwards hit a 3-pointer that put Baylor up 24-21 but the Sooners had a 10-2 run and ended up on top 35-29 at the half.
Oklahoma had a 24-14 rebounding advantage at the break but also had 10 turnovers. The Sooners were 1-of-12 from 3-point range but had 20 points in the paint. Baylor was 4-of-12 from 3 but 7 of 20 inside the arc.
The Sooners found the range from long distance in the third quarter, going 5-of-10 on 3s, and 5-of-10 inside the arc and stretched the lead to 64-51. Baylor only shot 6-of-21 but made 8-of-8 from the foul line.
Oklahoma returns to the floor Saturday when it takes on No. 24 West Virginia in Morgantown at noon CT on ESPN+.