Greenville, S.C. — The Oklahoma Sooners women’s basketball entered their opening tournament game determined to assert control against the Florida Gators women’s basketball, who were coming off an impressive first-round victory over the Arkansas Razorbacks women’s basketball behind the strong performance of Me’arah O’Neal. Oklahoma, meanwhile, leaned on its veteran leadership, particularly First Team All-Conference senior Raegan Beers, to guide the team through the tournament.
First Quarter
Oklahoma set the tone early after winning the opening tip. On the Sooners’ first possession, sophomore guard Zya Vann knocked down a three-pointer to score the game’s first points. The shot sparked a quick 7–0 run as Florida struggled to find its offensive rhythm.
Midway through the quarter, the Gators called a timeout and regrouped. Florida responded with strong defensive play, stringing together several stops and holding Oklahoma scoreless for nearly three minutes. The Gators slowly chipped away at the deficit and eventually took their first lead, 16–14, with just under three minutes remaining in the period.
Oklahoma answered behind the grit and physical presence of Beers in the paint, helping the Sooners regain momentum. By the end of the first quarter, the teams were locked in a 22–22 tie.
Second Quarter
The second quarter continued the tight back-and-forth battle. Both teams pushed the tempo and battled for rebounds on both ends of the floor.
Oklahoma managed to build a slight edge midway through the quarter, leading by five with 4:47 remaining in the half. Freshman guard Aaliyah Chavez provided a major spark for the Sooners, adding eight points in the quarter and bringing her first-half total to 13.
Florida kept pace thanks to sophomore guard Liv McGill, who led all scorers in the first half with an impressive offensive showing.
Despite Florida’s push, Oklahoma carried a narrow 40–38 lead into halftime.
Third Quarter
Oklahoma opened the second half with the same energy it showed late in the second quarter. Chavez immediately made an impact, scoring on the Sooners’ first possession to extend the lead.
Behind aggressive defense and quick transition scoring, Oklahoma went on a decisive run. With 7:53 remaining in the third quarter, the Sooners had stretched their advantage to 50–38, their largest lead of the game at that point.
The surge was fueled by defensive stops that turned into fast-break opportunities for Oklahoma. Florida struggled to regain momentum as the Sooners dominated the period.
By the end of the third quarter, Oklahoma had outscored Florida 26–7, building a comfortable lead heading into the final frame.
Fourth Quarter
Entering the fourth quarter facing a 20-point deficit, Florida fought to stay within reach but could not slow Oklahoma’s offense.
The Sooners continued to control the pace and maintain their defensive pressure, preventing the Gators from mounting a comeback.
Beers led Oklahoma with 18 points and 7 rebounds, while Chavez added 17 points in a balanced offensive effort. McGill delivered a standout performance for Florida with 28 points, but the Gators were unable to overcome Oklahoma’s second-half surge.
The Sooners closed out the game with an 82–64 victory, advancing to face the No. 4 seed LSU Tigers women’s basketball in the next round of the tournament.
