Vann's Scores Career High, OU Falls to UNLV

Saturday, December 9

Norman

2 PM CT

University of Oklahoma

6-3,0-0Big 12

UNLV

9-0,0-0Mountain West

UNLV

Oklahoma

Vann's Scores Career High, OU Falls to UNLV

December 09, 2023 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Final Book

By: OU Athletics Communications

NORMAN – Skylar Vann poured in a career-high 26 points, but UNLV pulled away late from Oklahoma to dispatch the Sooners 92-76 in Norman on Saturday.

Oklahoma (6-3, 0-0) had rallied to even the score midway through the third quarter, but the undefeated Lady Rebels (9-0, 0-0) outscored OU 35-19 over the final 15 minutes, including a 21-11 advantage in the last quarter to win.

The first quarter lived up to the billing as the two high-powered offenses traded blows early. The lead changed four times in the first 10 minutes as OU opened up a 25-22 lead after one. UNLV held a four-point advantage at the break but couldn't push its lead past five points until the Lady Rebels buried a jumper at the third-quarter buzzer to take a 71-65 into the fourth. The Sooners got open looks in the fourth, but the shots didn't fall as the UNLV lead ballooned to 15 points just after the midway point of the frame, and OU couldn't catch up.

Vann came off the bench for the first time this season on her career day. The senior's 26 points came on a career-high 11 made field goals on 22 attempts, tying a career-best with four 3-pointers. Vann added eight rebounds and two assists in the loss. Freshman Sahara Williams notched her third double-double of the season with a 15-point, 10-rebound performance as the Waterloo, Iowa, product dished out four assists, too. Williams' three double-doubles are tied for third nationally among Division I freshmen.

The Sooners hit nine 3-pointers, three more than UNLV, but the Lady Rebels outscored OU in the paint by 20 points as Mountain West Conference Player of the Year Desi-Rae Young scored a career-high 32 points. OU shot 43.7% from the floor, but the Lady Rebels shot 50% (36-72), becoming just the fifth team to do so against an OU team in the last three seasons. Oklahoma tallied 22 assists, 10 more than UNLV.

Saturday's defeat snapped a 17-game home non-conference winning streak in the regular season that opened the Baranczyk era.

The Sooners next travel to Charlotte, N.C., for the Jumpman Invitational, where they face No. 24 North Carolina (6-3) on Dec. 19 at 8:30 p.m. CT on ESPN2.