Oklahoma Meets No. 7 LSU Thursday in Baton Rouge

NORMAN – No. 13 Oklahoma is set for its seventh top-25 showdown of the season on Thursday, traveling to Baton Rouge to face No. 7 LSU (21-1, 6-1 SEC). The Sooners (16-4, 4-3 SEC) hold a 3-3 record in ranked matchups this season, and Thursday's game marks their fifth January contest against a team ranked or receiving votes in the AP poll.

Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. CT on ESPN2, with Courtney Lyle (play-by-play and Carolyn Peck (analyst) on the call from Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Brian Brinkley (play-by-play) will call the action on the Sooner Sports Radio Network (107.7 FM The Franchise; Varsity Radio App).

No. 13/12 Oklahoma at No. 7/5 LSU
Date: Thursday, Jan. 30
Tip Time: 6 p.m. CT
Location: Baton Rouga, La.
Arena: Pete Maravich Assembly Center

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Game Notes

NOTES TO KNOW

• For Baranczyk's team, the formula for success is simple: shoot a better percentage from the floor than the opponent. Over the last four seasons, when Oklahoma outshoots its opponent, the Sooners are 76-3 (.962) and have won 66 of the last 68 in those situations. On the defensive end this season, OU is 15-0 when holding opponents under 80 points but just 1-4 when giving up 80 or more, with the lone win coming in a 87-86 thriller at No. 16 Tennessee. Additionally, both teams are undefeated when leading at the half (OU 14-0; LSU 15-0).

• Oklahoma has navigated the 25th toughest schedule in the nation this season, taking on six top-25 opponents and an additional road matchup against a team receiving votes in the AP poll. The Sooners already have three Quad 1 wins under their belt and seven of their remaining nine games are Quad 1/2 contests.

• Oklahoma is the No. 13 team in the AP Poll and the Sooners have been ranked in the top 15 all season, rising as high as No. 8 in the Nov. 25 poll. The Sooners checked in at 12th in the WBCA Coaches Poll on Jan. 28. The Tigers enter ranked No. 7 in the AP poll and No. 5 in the WBCA Coaches poll. In the latest ESPN bracketology on Jan. 28, Oklahoma was tabbed as a No. 4 seed, which would provide hosting duties in the tournament for the second time of the Baranczyk era (2022).

• Reyna Scott, a point guard from Harlem, New York, has stepped up against league competition, averaging 7.1 points and 2.7 assists per game. Three of her four double-figure scoring performances have come in SEC play (11 vs. Tennessee, 11 vs. Texas A&M, 10 vs. South Carolina). She earned her first career start on Jan. 26, helping lead the Sooners to a dominant 31-point win over Georgia in place of Nevaeh Tot.

• Sahara Williams played alongside LSU standout Mikaylah Williams, helping lead Team USA to back-to-back gold medals at the 2022 and 2023 FIBA 3x3 U18 World Cups. UConn's KK Arnold and Sarah Strong were part of the 2022 squad, while Oregon's Katie Fiso joined the team in 2023, replacing Arnold.

A WIN WOULD...

• Secure Baranczyk's 15th top-25 win since arriving at Oklahoma in 2021. It would be the fourth ranked win of the season. Over the last four years, OU is 5-5 against top-10 games.

• Improve the Sooners to 5-3 in conference play and secure back-to-back SEC wins for the second time this month.

• Mark Oklahoma's first top-10 win of the year and first since it knocked off No. 3 Texas on Feb. 28, 2024.

LAST TIME OUT

• Raegan Beers totaled 13 points and 11 rebounds and No. 15 Oklahoma was never threatened in an 86-55 romp over Georgia on Sunday. Beers notched her eighth double-double of the season for the Sooners (16-4, 4-3 Southeastern Conference), who beat the Bulldogs (9-12, 1-6) for the second time in seven all-time matchups.

SERIES HISTORY

• Thursday night marks the second meeting between Oklahoma and LSU, with the Sooners winning 90-68 in their previous matchup in 2019.

• Facing head coach Kim Mulkey is nothing new for Oklahoma. During her time at Baylor (2000-2021), Mulkey faced the Sooners 47 times, with Oklahoma recording a 20-27 record against her teams. The Sooners won both Big 12 Tournament finals against Mulkey in 2002 and 2006.

UP NEXT

The Sooners take on No. 12 Kentucky on Sunday in Norman. Tip is set for 3 p.m. CT on SEC Network. The game is Oklahoma's annual OU Health Pink Game, and cancer survivors are encouraged to RSVP for the Survivor Experience, which includes two free tickets to the game, pink carpet treatment upon arrival and a complimentary pink t-shirt. The first 1,000 fans to arrive at Lloyd Noble Center will receive a free pink OU Health t-shirt to pack the arena pink.

Oklahoma will also celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day on Sunday, and fans can use the promo code NGWSD to get $5 general admission tickets to the game.