OU women’s basketball fights off Tennessee late for first SEC victory

OU women’s basketball coach Jennie Baranczyk said she was looking forward to how her team would respond to Thursday night’s loss to Texas.

The Sooners answered the challenge, handing Tennessee its first loss, 87-86, on Sunday at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tennessee.

OU led by 19 in the second half and by 15 early in the fourth quarter before the Lady Vols started making a push.

Tennessee ripped off a 23-9 run to close within one in the final minute before an OU turnover via a shot-clock violation with just less than 10 seconds remaining gave the Lady Vols a chance to pull off the comeback.

But coming off a timeout, Tennessee got a fairly open look by Sara Puckett at the top of the key, but the shot clanged off the back of the rim and Raegan Beers grabbed the rebound and OU dribbled the clock out to secure the victory.

The victory was OU’s first-ever in SEC play and first-ever in Knoxville.

Payton Verhulst led the Sooners with 16 points, while Beers added 13 and Reyna Scott a season-high 11. Liz Scott also scored 11.

The Sooners (13-2, 1-1 SEC) play at Mississippi State at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

Here are three quick takeaways from the Sooners’ win:

OU overcomes turnovers

Turnovers have been an issue for the Sooners all season and were in Thursday’s loss to the Longhorns when they equaled a season-high with 27.

The Sooners turned the ball over even more often Sunday, with 31 against Tennessee’s press.

It was their most since the 2019-20 season when they also had 31. OU hasn’t had more in at least 20 seasons.

In the first half, OU had 17 turnovers, leading to 17 Lady Vols points.

But even with turnovers being such an issue, OU took the lead early and maintained it, grabbing the lead for good just more than three minutes into the game.

The Sooners did it by shooting lights-out — at least from inside the arc — when they did break Tennessee’s press.

OU struggled on 3-pointers early — hitting just 2 of 10 from beyond the arc in the first half — but the Sooners were 17 of 23 (73.4%)  inside the 3-point line after the break.

While OU was outscored 30-20 on points off turnovers, the Sooners outscored Tennessee 41-23 on the fast break and outrebounded the Lady Vols 42-33.

Third quarter winds up being the difference

While OU led almost the entire way, the game was mostly close — until the Sooners made a big run in the third quarter.

Both teams had struggled from beyond the arc, until hitting 3-pointers on back-to-back-to-back possessions early in the third.

Lexy Keys hit the first one, then after a Tennessee answer by Jewel Spear, Keys hit another.

Keys’ second 3-pointer ignited what wound up being a 12-0 Sooners’ run that put them up 18.

OU finished with eight 3-pointers — half of them in the third quarter as the Sooners outscored the Lady Vols 29-10.

Tennessee then outscored OU 27-12 in the fourth quarter to push the game down to the wire.

Skylar Vann shut out

For the first time since Feb. 3, 2021, OU’s Skylar Vann was held scoreless.

Vann played 20 minutes but was in foul trouble often and attempted just one shot — a 3-pointer.

She did finish with seven rebounds and three assists.

OU women’s basketball vs Tennessee: Prediction, picks, injury updates for SEC game

Oklahoma vs Tennessee live score updates

What channel is Oklahoma vs Tennessee on today?

TV channel: ESPN

Livestream: ESPN+ (here’s how to stream it live)

Oklahoma vs Tennessee will be broadcasted on ESPN. It will also be streamed on ESPN+.

Watch Oklahoma vs Tennessee live with ESPN+

More: OU women’s basketball roster: A look at the 2024-25 Oklahoma Sooners

What time does OU play today? Oklahoma vs Tennessee time

• Date: Sunday, Jan. 5

• Start time: 2 p.m. CT

The Oklahoma vs Tennessee game starts at 2 p.m. from Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Oklahoma women’s basketball schedule 2024

All times are Central Standard Time (CST)

• Monday, Nov. 4: Oklahoma 76, Southern 44

• Friday, Nov. 8: Oklahoma 95, Virginia 51

• Wednesday, Nov. 13: Oklahoma 122, Western Carolina 56

• Tuesday, Nov. 19: Oklahoma 79, Wichita State 49

• Friday, Nov. 22: Oklahoma 88, UNLV 58

• Monday, Nov. 25:Oklahoma 85, DePaul 62

• Wednesday, Nov. 27:Duke 109, Oklahoma 99 (OT)

• Wednesday, Dec. 4: Oklahoma 78, Louisville 72

• Sunday, Dec. 8: Oklahoma 110, Alabama State 46

• Sunday, Dec. 15:Oklahoma 94, Oral Roberts 54

• Tuesday, Dec. 17: Oklahoma 72, Michigan 62

• Sunday, Dec. 22: Oklahoma 111, Omaha 65

• Sunday, Dec. 29: Oklahoma 82, New Mexico State 64

• Thursday, Jan. 2: Texas 80, Oklahoma 73

• Sunday, Jan. 5: at Tennessee at 2 p.m. (ESPN)

• Thursday, Jan. 9: at Mississippi State at 6:30 p.m. (SEC Network+)

• Sunday, Jan. 12: vs. Texas A&M at 4 p.m. (SEC Network)

• Thursday, Jan. 16: vs. Missouri at 6 p.m. (SEC Network+)

• Sunday, Jan. 19: at South Carolina at 2 p.m. (ESPN or ESPN2)

• Sunday, Jan. 26: vs. Georgia at 1:30 p.m. (SEC Network+)

• Thursday, Jan. 30: at LSU at 6 p.m. (ESPN2)

• Sunday, Feb. 2: vs Kentucky at 3 p.m. (SEC Network)

• Thursday, Feb. 6: at Ole Miss at 6:30 p.m. (SEC Network+)

• Monday, Feb. 10: vs. Auburn at 7 p.m. (SEC Network)

• Sunday, Feb. 16: at Missouri at 1 p.m. (SEC Network)

• Thursday, Feb. 20: vs. Vanderbilt at 6 p.m. (SEC Network+)

• Sunday, Feb. 23: at Arkansas at 2 p.m. (SEC Network+)

• Thursday, Feb. 27: at Florida at 6 p.m. (SEC Network+)

• Sunday, March 2: vs. Alabama at 1:30 p.m. (SEC Network+)

More: OU women’s basketball schedule: Dates, times, TV channels for 2024-25 season

Oklahoma vs Tennessee women’s basketball highlights

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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU women’s basketball holds off Tennessee late for first SEC victory