Reigning Champs Host Razorbacks Monday

¹ Oklahoma

Arkansas

Monday, Jan. 20 / 1:15 p.m. CT / Norman, Okla. / Lloyd Noble Center

NORMAN – The Sooners are set for their home opener as they welcome Arkansas to Lloyd Noble Center Monday at 1:15 p.m. CT. The meet will air on Fox Sports Oklahoma.

NOTES AND NUMBERS FOR MEET FOUR

HOME SWEET HOME
The Sooners are at home for the first time in 2020 after spending the first three weekends in California, Arizona and Alabama.

Oklahoma is 102-4 inside Lloyd Noble Center since the arrival of K.J. Kindler in 2007. The Sooners have posted 26 consecutive victories dating back to 2014. The 2020 senior class has never lost a home meet in their career.

WEEKEND REWIND
The Sooners moved to 5-0 on the year, defeating No. 9 Alabama in Tuscaloosa Friday night. OU posted a nation-best 198.250 in the victory.

Maggie Nichols was the highlight of the night as she recorded her 18th career perfect 10 with her sixth perfect score on vault. The senior finished with a 39.825 all-around score, the highest score in the nation. The Sooners notched 15 scores of 9.9 or better, including at least three on each event and five on vault.

TO 198 AND BEYOND
For the third year in a row, the Sooners became the first team in the country to reach a score of 198 or better with a 198.250 on Jan. 17 at Alabama. In each of last two seasons, the Sooners have posted at least eight marks of 198 or higher. Since 2016 OU has totaled 27 scores of 198 or better and has 34 such scores in program history.
Of those 34, only 11 have been earned at home with the other 23 all coming at road or neutral sites. Nine of those scores have come in regional or national competition, including the 198.475 mark at the 2019 NCAA Athens Regional which is the top road score in NCAA history.

In 2018, OU set the NCAA record with 10 scores of 198 or better in a single season. OU has more scores of 198 in the last four years than any other program has in their entire history.

STILL ON TOP
For the second week in a row, the Oklahoma women's gymnastics team posted the top score in the nation to continue its hold on the top spot in the country. The Sooners were one of just two teams (Florida) to break the 197 threshold as they posted a 197.675 on the road at Arizona State.

OU holds the No. 1 spot on bars (49.475 average), the No. 2 ranking on vault (49.275) and beam (49.388) and comes in at No. 3 on floor (49.375).

Through the first two weeks, the Sooners are averaging a 197.513. Florida moved in to second after their first week of competition with a 197.350. Denver is ranked third (196.725), followed by Utah (196.713) and UCLA (196.688).

NATIONAL RANKINGS
Senior Maggie Nichols is ranked on every event and in the all-around with three top-five appearances. The Little Canada, Minn., native is No. 3 in the all-around (39.688), tied for second on vault (9.912) and tied for third on bars (9.938). Nichols is also seventh on floor (9.925) and 11th on beam (9.913).

Junior Anastasia Webb is also in the top 10 of the all-around, coming in at No. 9 with a 39.488 average. Webb is also ranked 13th on both bars (9.875) and floor (9.900).
Freshman Ragan Smith is No. 18 in the all-around (39.275). Smith is tied with Nichols on bars at No. 3 with a 9.937 average. The Lewisville, Texas, native is ranked 23rd on beam (9.887).

In her first year competing on bars, senior Jade Degouveia is tied with Webb for 13th with an average of 9.875.

THE ROAD TO FORT WORTH RUNS THROUGH NORMAN
The road to the NCAA Championships will make a journey through Norman and Lloyd Noble Center in 2020.

OU is one of four host sites this season, meaning the Sooners will have a home-floor advantage during the three-day regional competition. This will be the fourth time since 2011 that the Sooners will play host as they hosted in 2011, 2013 and 2015. OU has won all three regional championships in the LNC and will look to make it four in April.

SWAGS VS. THE BOSS
Oklahoma senior Maggie Nichols and UCLA senior Kyla Ross will go down as two of the best collegiate gymnasts in history. Known as "Swaggie" Maggie and Kyla "Boss" among their fan bases, the two will be in a tight race to see if either can break the long-standing record for total perfect scores in a career.

Currently, Kentucky's Jenny Hansen holds the record with 28. Ross and Nichols are fifth and seventh, respectively with Ross holding a three-score advantage over Nichols. Nichols currently has 18 perfect 10s and needs 10 to tie the record. Ross has 21, needing seven to tie. Nichols currently needs two to move into fifth, three to move into fourth, six to move into third and nine to move into second.

QUICK HITS

OU was ranked No. 1 in the WCGA preseason coaches poll, the sixth-straight season the Sooners have been ranked in the top two to begin the year.
Twelve of Oklahoma's 13 regualr season opponents are ranked in the preseason coaches poll.
OU will face six preseason top-10 opponents during the 2020 season including No. 4 UCLA, No. 6 Michigan, No. 7 Denver, No. 8 Georgia, No. 9 California and No. 10 Alabama.
Oklahoma returns seven previous NCAA All-Americans who own 23 total accolades: Jade Degouveia (VT, FX), Maggie Nichols (AA, VT, UB, BB, FX), Bre Showers (VT, AA), Karrie Thomas (UB), Olivia Trautman (FX), Anastasia Webb (UB, FX), Carly Woodard (BB).
The Sooners will be featured on ESPN networks four times during the regular season: at Arizona State (ESPNU), at Alabama (ESPN2), Denver (ESPNU) and the Big 12 Championship (ESPNU).

SCOUTING ALABAMA
Under first-year head coach Jordyn Wieber, the Razorbacks have started the year 0-2, but faced top-10 teams in each of its first two outings. Arkansas posted a program record for a home opener with a 196.825 on Friday against No. 3 Denver.

PROMOTIONS

The first 500 fans will receive replica national championship rings. The first 250 student will receive a national champion t-shirt. There will be post-meet autographs on the floor following the meet and a post-meet Orangetheory Fitness workout class.

TICKETS

Season tickets for the 2020 season are currently available for purchase. Tickets are available for $40 for general admission and $60 for reserved seating, which will reserve a seat location for the entire season. Youth (6-18) and senior (55+) season tickets will be $30. Discounted tickets are available for $5 for groups of 10 or more. Group tickets must be purchased at least 24 hours prior to the event. Fans can order online through SoonerSports.com or over the phone at (405) 325-2424 or toll-free at 800-456-GoOU.

UP NEXT

The Sooners will head to the Lone Star State for the Metroplex Challenge on Saturday. The Sooners will compete against Alabama, Denver and Georgia in the podium quad meet inside the Fort Worth Convention Center at 7 p.m. CT.