Oklahoma (6-3) suffered its third loss in four games against UNLV (9-0) 92-76 on Saturday in Norman.
Freshman forward Sahara Williams posted a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. OU shot 44% from the field and 29% from the 3-point line. Senior forward Skylar Vann scored 26 points and grabbed eight rebounds.
Here are three takeaways from the Sooners’ loss:
Toughest opponent yet
UNLV posed one of the toughest challenges for OU.
The key to the Lady Rebels’ scoring success lay in its use of a highly physical offense, centered heavily on cutting through lanes and scoring on the inside, an area that proved to be the most effective blow against OU’s defense. UNLV tallied 56 points in the paint, roughly 61% of their final score. Additionally, it shot 50% from field goal range. UNLV’s 92 points are the most the Sooners have conceded this season.
“We’ve got to be able to get a little bit more (in the) paint,” head coach Jennie Baranczyk said. “… That was the number one key of the game on both ends, and they kicked our tail. We didn’t post hard enough, we didn’t cut hard enough, we didn’t drive hard enough, we were real hesitant. Disappointing.”
UNLV senior center Desi-Rae Young put up more points against OU than any opposing player this season, scoring a season-high 32 points along with eight rebounds. Following Young was UNLV junior guard Kiara Jackson, who dropped 20 points and grabbed six rebounds.
Vann and Williams helped OU manage to remain within striking distance throughout the first half and into the third quarter. When the Lady Rebels pulled ahead 71-65 going into the fourth quarter, the Sooners broke down defensively and allowed UNLV to make 7 of its 13 field goal attempts down the stretch.
OU mainly relied on its ability to shoot, which ultimately created its downfall in the fourth quarter. The Lady Rebel’s defense were able to lock down OU’s shooting game and forced them to frantically try to score. Causing OU to miss 11 of their 16 attempts in the fourth quarter. UNLV commenced a 12-5 run in the remainder of the game to bury OU before the final buzzer.
“We left a lot out of the rim I feel like today,” Baranczyk said. “We didn’t get the second chances that we normally do. That was a big disappointment as well. I didn’t think that we had a lot of offensive crashers. I also think we settled a lot for the three-ball today.”
Payton Verhulst returns
Junior guard Payton Verhulst returned to the court Saturday for the first time in two weeks. The Louisville transfer injured her ankle during the Sooners’ loss to Tennessee in Fort Myers on Nov. 25. Verhulst also missed OU’s 103-69 win over Grambling State.
Verhulst was featured in the Sooners’ starting lineup and played 19 minutes. She finished with two points on 1-for-4 shooting with two rebounds.
Oklahoma will need Verhulst, who averages 13 points per game, heading into Big 12 play.
“It’s been a little bit of a challenge just like every injury is,” Baranczyk said. “Reintegration is sometimes a little bit of a challenge as well. I think she would probably say the same thing. Hopefully she continues to get better. I thought she did what she could do today.”
A moment of silence
Both teams participated in a brief moment of silence before the introduction of the starting lineups. The fans in the Lloyd Noble Center stood silent for ten seconds before the game continued on.
The moment of silence was in light of a recent tragedy that took place on UNLV’s campus. On Wednesday, three UNLV staff members were killed and one was left hospitalized when a gunman unexpectedly opened fire in the Frank and Estella Beam Hall.
“Sometimes the beautiful part (of sports) is that you can honor and you can make aware to people something that is not good,” Baranczyk said. “Today, it was about UNLV and to have a moment of silence because that is something that, unfortunately, is all too common. As a parent, it scares the heck out of you. As a coach, it scares the heck out of you that that can happen anywhere.”
Next, Oklahoma heads back on the road to face No. 24 North Carolina (6-3) as part of the Jumpman Invitational in Charlotte on Dec. 19 on ESPN 2.
This story was edited by Colton Sulley and Louis Raser.
