Second-Half Dominance Powers Oklahoma Past Missouri

Sunday, February 16

Mizzou Arena • Columbia, Mo.

1 PM CT

University of Oklahoma

19-6,7-5SEC

Missouri

13-14,2-10SEC

Oklahoma

Missouri

Second-Half Dominance Powers Oklahoma Past Missouri

February 16, 2025 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Final Stats

By: OU Athletics Communications

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Payton Verhulst scored 15 points, four teammates also scored in double figures, and No. 16 Oklahoma dominated the second half to defeat Missouri 82-66 on Sunday.

After trailing 44-40 at halftime, the Sooners rolled through the third quarter, outscoring Missouri 25-10. Zya Vann added 10 points in the quarter.

The Sooners missed their first two shots of the second half, then made 14 of the next 20 to take control of the game. A 12-0 run gave Oklahoma a 77-57 lead halfway through the fourth quarter.

Oklahoma shot 60% in the second half and 48% for the game. Missouri was outscored 42-22 in the second half.

Skylar Vann scored 14 points, Zya Vann 14, Keys 10 and Sahara Williams 10 for the Sooners (19-6, 7-5).

Ashton Judd scored 13 and Laniah Randle and Grace Slaughter had 12 each for the Tigers (13-14, 2-10).

Paced by 3-pointers from Judd, De'Myla Brown and Slaughter, the Tigers scored 14 points in the first three minutes of the second quarter to take a 29-22 lead. A few minutes later Skylar Vann hit a 3-pointer and younger sister Zya added a layup in a 7-0 run that got the Sooners within 40-38 with a minute and a half to go before halftime.

Oklahoma hosts Vanderbilt on Thursday at 6 p.m. inside Lloyd Noble Center. Fans can purchase tickets to both of OU's remaining home games for just $12.

POSTGAME NOTES

• No. 16 Oklahoma defeated Missouri, 82-66, on the road inside Mizzou Arena on Sunday afternoon, improving to 19-6 overall and 7-5 in conference play.

• The Sooners trailed 44-40 at the break, but outscored the Tigers by 20 points in the second half, including a 25-10 third quarter, to win by 16. Oklahoma has won three straight games in SEC play for the first time. The Sooners shot 60% (15 of 25) in the second half and 89% from the free throw line.

• Oklahoma has now won eight straight against its former Big 12 foe, and 11 straight in the regular season. OU has won 13 of the last 14 meetings in the series.

• Earlier in the day, Oklahoma was tabbed as the No. 15 overall team in the NCAA Selection Committee's Top 16 reveal. The top 16 teams host first- and second-round games in the NCAA Tournament.

• Payton Verhulst led the Sooners again, finishing with a team-high 15 points, paired with four assists and two rebounds. The guard, who scored 38 points against Missouri in Norman on Jan. 16, shot 50% (6 of 12) from the field and made a trio of 3-pointers on Sunday.

• Skylar Vann finished with 13 points and four rebounds, while her younger sister, Zya, added 11 points on 4 of 6 shooting.

• Sahara Williams finished with 10 points and five rebounds. Lexy Keys hit three 3-pointers en route to 13 points, her first double-digit scoring game since OU's win over Michigan on December 17.

• Raegan Beers returned to the court for Oklahoma after a two-game absence. The All-American scored seven points and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.

• The Sooners shot 47.5% from the field, while the Tigers shot 50%, but OU forced 18 Missouri turnovers that led to 21 Sooner points. OU turned it over just 15 times.

• After each team only grabbed 16 rebounds in the first half, Oklahoma outrebounded the Tigers 20-7 in the second half.

• Up next: The Sooners return to Norman to take on (RV) Vanderbilt on Thursday at 6 p.m. on SEC Network+.