OU's Comeback Falls Short Against KU

Saturday, March 5

Norman

2 PM

University of Oklahoma

23-7,12-6Big 12

Kansas

20-8,11-7Big 12

Kansas

Oklahoma

March 05, 2022 | Women's Basketball

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By: OU Athletics Communications

NORMAN – The Oklahoma women's basketball team erased a 13-point second-half deficit but couldn't complete the comeback Saturday, falling to Kansas 73-67 in Norman to close the regular season.

The loss dropped No. 19 Oklahoma (23-7, 12-6) to the No. 4 seed at next week's Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship, where it will get a rematch with No. 5-seeded Kansas (20-8, 11-7) at 11 a.m. Friday at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City in the conference quarterfinal.

"Not how we wanted this one to go," head coach Jennie Baranczyk said. "I thought we started the game with great energy and finished the game with great energy, but Kansas is a very good basketball team, so you've got to bring it for 40 minutes, and I'm disappointed that we didn't do that.

The Sooners battled in the first quarter to jump out to a 23-18 lead after 10 minutes at Lloyd Noble Center. But the Jayhawks dominated to close the half, outscoring OU 26-12 in the second frame to claim a 44-35 halftime lead.

In the third quarter, KU stretched its lead to a game-high 13 points before the Oklahoma defense locked down, holding KU to just one point over the final three minutes of the frame to cut the deficit to 55-50. Kansas rebuilt its lead back to eight points with 4:38 remaining in the game before the Sooners used one last run to get back into the game. A Taylor Robertson trey followed by a Madi Williams layup cut the gap to three before Kelbie Washington tied the game at 62 with 3:03 left. The Jayhawks called a timeout, but Oklahoma took the lead behind another Williams' basket out of the break. The Jayhawks then closed the contest on an 11-3 run over the final 2:37 to put the game away and knock off the Sooners. 73-67.

Skylar Vann once again led the Sooners offensively with 17 points, including a career-high four made 3-pointers. In addition, the Big 12 Sixth Player of the Year candidate pulled down five rebounds in her effort. She finishes the regular season with season averages of 12.3 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, making her the only Power Five player in the nation to average 12 points and five rebounds with 25 games logged off the bench. Taylor Robertson hit two 3-pointers to finish with 14 points as the McPherson, Kan., product added four assists in the loss. Nydia Lampkin, the only senior honored for Senior Day, finished with six points and a season-high eight rebounds.

The Sooners outrebounded the Jayhawks 47-46, marking Oklahoma's first loss of the season when outrebounding opponents. OU attempted a conference-high 40 3-pointers Saturday, hitting 11 of them to finish the regular season with 283 and counting made 3-pointers, shattering the previous school record of 251 in 2010-11.

Friday's Big 12 quarterfinal is set as the Sooners will be the No. 4 seed at the Championship and take on No. 5-seeded Kansas at 11 a.m. at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo.