- Raegan Beers dominates with 20 points and 11 rebounds
- Oklahoma secures ninth consecutive win despite 31% shooting
- Georgia Amoore’s 29-point effort falls short for Kentucky
- Sooners face No. 5 South Carolina in semifinal clash
In a dramatic SEC Tournament quarterfinal, the 10th-ranked Oklahoma Sooners staged a second-half rally to topple No. 12 Kentucky 69-65 on Friday. The victory propels Oklahoma into a high-stakes semifinal matchup against two-time defending champion South Carolina, setting the stage for a critical test of their championship credentials.
The game turned on Oklahoma’s defensive adjustments against Kentucky star Georgia Amoore, who had torched the Sooners for 43 points in their previous meeting. While Amoore still managed 29 points, Oklahoma limited her to 3-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc – a stark contrast to her seven three-pointers in January’s matchup. Payton Verhulst’s back-to-back third-quarter threes sparked the comeback, erasing Kentucky’s 10-point lead and swinging momentum permanently in Oklahoma’s favor.
Regional Impact: This victory solidifies Oklahoma’s growing dominance in SEC basketball, marking their third consecutive semifinal appearance since joining the conference. The team’s ability to win consecutive tournament games against ranked opponents demonstrates their readiness to challenge traditional Southern powerhouses like South Carolina and LSU.
Industry analysts note Oklahoma’s victory exemplifies modern tournament basketball trends. Teams with strong bench rotations (Oklahoma outscored Kentucky’s reserves 18-7) and the ability to win low-percentage shooting games now hold a distinct advantage in March. The Sooners’ 44-38 rebounding edge, including 14 offensive boards, provided crucial second-chance opportunities despite their poor field goal percentage.
Kentucky now faces anxious NCAA Tournament seeding discussions. Despite the loss, their 22-7 record and strength of schedule suggest they’ll likely secure a No. 4 seed. However, their 4-of-23 three-point shooting performance raises concerns about perimeter scoring consistency against elite defensive teams.
As Oklahoma prepares for South Carolina, all eyes will be on their conditioning program. No team has won three SEC Tournament games in three days since 2019, but coach Jennie Baranczyk’s emphasis on deep rotations throughout the season appears strategically designed for this exact challenge.
