Women's Hoops' Road Trip Continues Sunday vs. UTA

FORT WORTH – For the first time since 2013, No. 16 Oklahoma and UT Arlington will meet on the hardwood. The two NCAA Tournament teams a season ago are off to strong starts in 2022 and are set to square off in the Maggie Dixon Classic in Fort Worth, Texas, this Sunday at 3:30 p.m. The game will be available via stream on ESPN+ with Ron Thulin and Brandi Poole on the call. Brian Brinkley will call the action on the Sooner Radio Network live on 1520 KOKC in Oklahoma.

Sunday's contest marks the third of a four-game road swing that will pit Oklahoma against three NCAA Tournament teams from a season ago. The Sooners knocked off BYU, 77-66, in Provo on Tuesday afternoon, dropped a road trip to No. 25 Utah and now takes on 2022 Sun Belt Champions UT Arlington.

THE STARTING FIVE

Oklahoma is 3-1 entering the contest, but is looking to rebound after a defeat vs. No. 25 Utah last Wednesday. The high-powered OU offense is led by Madi Williams (18.5 PPG) and Big 12 3-point queen Taylor Robertson (9.8 PPG). Six other Sooners average at least five points per game, with defending Big 12 Sixth Player of the Year Skylar Vann pouring in 11.5 points per contest.
Under the leadership of second-year head coach Jennie Baranczyk, Oklahoma is ranked No. 16 in the AP Poll and returns over 90% of its scoring, rebounding and assists from last year's 25-win NCAA Tournament team. Wooden and Naismith Award watch list honorees Madi Williams and Taylor Robertson highlight to OU attack.
For the first time since 2017, Oklahoma appeared in the preseason AP Top 25 poll, debuting the season at No. 15. The Sooners were also ranked No. 16 in the USA TODAY WBCA Coaches Poll. Currently the Sooners are ranked 16th in both polls.
Once playing against each other, lethal 3-point shooters Taylor Robertson and Aubrey Joens have joined forces this season in Norman after Joens transferred to Oklahoma from Iowa State. The two have combined for 558 career treys, with Robertson sinking 455 and Joens hitting 103. Last season, the two sunk a combined 186 3-pointers, which was more than 234 Division I teams tallied as a whole.
Oklahoma is undefeated (12-0) under Baranczyk when holding opponents under 70 points. On the flip side, the Sooners are 20-2 under her when scoring 80 points or more. Oklahoma's 17-1 record when winning the turnover battle is another key to victory.

SERIES HISTORY

Sunday's contest marks the 14th all-time meeting between the Sooners and Lady Mavericks. Oklahoma maintains a 10-3 series advantage but the two sides have never met at a neutral site. The Sooners have won the last two meetings by an average of 43 points, but UTA won the previous three matchups in the 1990s.

LAST TIME OUT

On the tail end of back-to-back games, No. 16/16 Oklahoma was downed 124-78 by No. 25/24 Utah in a ranked matchup at the Huntsman Center on Wednesday night. The loss was the first of Oklahoma's (3-1) season as the Utes jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, despite multiple runs from the Sooners.

UP NEXT

The Sooners will wrap up their four-game road swing Tuesday night when they travel to Jonesboro, Ark.,, for a matchup with Arkansas State (1-2). Tip is set for 7:30 p.m. on ESPN+ at First National Bank Arena.