Sooners Win Sixth Straight, Defeat KU in Lawrence

Sunday, February 19

Lawrence, KS

2 PM

University of Oklahoma

22-4,12-3Big 12

Kansas

16-9,6-8Big 12

Oklahoma

Kansas

Sooners Win Sixth Straight, Defeat KU in Lawrence

February 19, 2023 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Final Book Highlights $5 Tickets to OU/Texas

By: OU Athletics Communications

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Madi Williams scored 23 points, Liz Scott posted a double-double, and No. 15 Oklahoma escaped Allen Fieldhouse with a come-from-behind, 86-80, win over Kansas on Sunday.

The win kept Oklahoma (22-4, 12-3 Big 12) in a tie for first place in the Big 12 standings through 15 games of conference play. The Sooners held Kansas (16-9, 6-8 Big 12) scoreless over the final 3:12 of regulation to grab the victory, extending their winning streak to six.

"Another really good game for the Big 12 and women's basketball," head coach Jennie Baranczyk said. "I thought that Kansas played incredible, and they're so well-coached. They had a bunch of players step up and shine, but so did we. I thought that Madi (Scott) was great for us today and set the tone on both ends of the floor, and that Liz (Scott) was just huge for us."

The first quarter was a shootout between the two teams, as the Jayhawks opened up a five-point lead before a Taylor Robertson 3-pointer and Skylar Vann layup pushed it to 27-27 after one. Kansas used an 8-0 run to gain its largest lead of the game at 35-27, but the Sooners responded as Williams had 10 second-quarter points to push OU in front, 50-46, at the break and give the Sooners a lead they wouldn't surrender. The Sooners built their lead to eight points in the third, but KU kept chipping away as the Jayhawks closed the third on an 8-2 run to cut OU's lead to one entering the final quarter. The teams traded blows throughout the final 10 minutes, with KU cutting the deficit to one multiple times, but the Oklahoma defense held KU scoreless over the final 3:12 as Kansas missed its last nine shots. The Sooners finished a perfect 4-of-4 from the free throw line in the final minute to finish off the 86-80 win.

Madi Williams finished with 23 points, five rebounds, five steals and three assists in a dominant effort. Ana Llanusa added 18 points with four boards and four assists on an efficient 6-of-10 shooting. Liz Scott's 15-point, 10-rebound double-double was crucial in OU's success, as the post controlled the paint for large stretches of the contest. Aubrey Joens finished with 12 points, while fellow sharpshooter Taylor Robertson added 11 points of her own in her curtain call in her home state of Kansas.

Both teams shot a matching 31-of-64 (.484) from the field, but the Sooners hit two more 3-pointers, which proved to be the difference. Oklahoma also matched Kansas on the boards, with each team pulling down 38 rebounds, and KU narrowly edging the Sooners with eight second-chance points to OU's seven. Oklahoma, the nation's leader in assists per game, dished out 19 dimes, compared to KU's 20, but the Sooners only turned it over seven times, while forcing KU into 12 turnovers.

A battle for first place in the Big 12 awaits the Sooners when they host Texas (21-7, 12-3) at Lloyd Noble Center on Saturday at 1 p.m. The two teams are tied at 12-3 in conference play, with the Longhorns winning the matchup in Austin, 78-58, earlier in the season. Oklahoma seeks its first Big 12 championship since 2009.

The game will air on ESPN+ and be carried on the Sooner Radio Network.