Sooners Seek 5-1 Big 12 Start at Houston on Saturday

NORMAN – Defending Big 12 co-champion Oklahoma heads to the Bayou City this weekend for a matchup with Big 12 newcomer Houston on Saturday night as OU looks to improve to 5-1 in Big 12 play for the third straight year.

The Sooners (10-6, 4-1 Big 12) have won four of their last five and Houston (11-6, 2-4 Big 12) has dropped five of its last seven.

Tip is set for 6 p.m. on ESPN+.

THE STARTING FIVE

In Big 12 play, the Sooners have been strong on both sides of the ball, positioning themselves among the top teams in the league. Alongside No. 11 Texas and West Virginia, Oklahoma is one of three teams that rank in the league's top five in both scoring offense and defense through five conference games. Against league foes, the OU offense averages 70.2 PPG (5th Big 12), while its defense allows only 61.6 points (4th Big 12). Notably, Oklahoma limits Big 12 opponents to 36.7% shooting (2nd Big 12) and leads the conference in rebounding at 42.4 RPG through five games.
Oklahoma's bench runs 11 players deep, featuring four double-digit scorers, tied for the most in the Big 12. Additionally, two more players contribute at least 5.0 PPG. Skylar Vann, the only two-time Big 12 6th Player of the Year, leads the team with 14.3 points and 7.1 rebounds, while veteran point guard Nevaeh Tot spearheads the attack with 3.4 assists per game.
OU has been the best in the Big 12 in conference play when it comes to sharing the ball and limiting turnovers. The Sooners lead the league in assists per game in Big 12 games at 19.0 but also have turned the ball over just 63 times, good for a league-low 12.6 turnovers per game.
Oklahoma is no stranger to winning close games - it is 9-1 in games decided by one possession under Baranczyk, winning on a last-second shot five times.
The sophomore class that consists of Reyna Scott, Kiersten Johnson and Beatrice Culliton have been strong options off the bench for Baranczyk. The trio of second year players combine for 14.5 points, 8.9 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game.

SERIES HISTORY

Saturday's meeting is the fifth all-time between Oklahoma and Houston and will provide the rubber match as the all-time series is split 2-2.

OU is 1-1 at Houston and 1-1 in Norman vs. the Coogs. Houston has won the last two meetings, sweeping a home-and-home series in 2019 (at UH) and 2020 (at OU). When the two last met in 2020, point guard Nevaeh Tot made her college debut, playing 20 minutes while scoring four points with three rebounds and two assists.

LAST TIME OUT

Skylar Vann scored 20 points and Oklahoma posted 25 assists on 29 made field goals as the Sooners dispatched Texas Tech in Norman on Saturday, 73-55. The win pushed Oklahoma (10-6, 4-1 Big 12) to 4-1 in Big 12 play for the third consecutive season and marked the Sooners' third straight win over the Lady Raiders. The OU defense was stout once again, holding Texas Tech (13-5, 2-3 Big 12) to 55 points, marking the fourth time in five conference games that the Sooners have held their opponent to fewer than 65 points.

UP NEXT

The Sooners hit the road next Wednesday night when they travel to Austin for the Red River Showdown vs. No. 11 Texas.

The game tips at 6 p.m. CT on ESPNU.