Oklahoma Falls to UCLA in Competitive Women’s Basketball Clash

In a highly anticipated early-season matchup, the No. 6 Oklahoma Sooners faced off against the No. 3 UCLA Bruins in Sacramento, California. Despite a strong effort, Oklahoma succumbed to UCLA, with the Bruins securing a 73-59 victory. The game saw key players from both teams navigating foul troubles, particularly impacting the Sooners’ performance.

Game Summary and Key Performers

Oklahoma managed to stay competitive well into the third quarter, trailing by just one point at one stage. However, UCLA surged ahead with a decisive 16-3 run, extending their lead to 59-45. From that point, the Sooners could not bridge the gap, finishing the game without getting closer than seven points.

Payton Verhulst led Oklahoma’s scoring with 16 points, while Zya Vann contributed 13 points. Vann played a crucial role early in the game, particularly after Aaliyah Chavez found herself in foul trouble. The Sooners struggled offensively, shooting only 30.7% from the field, which proved detrimental against a strong UCLA defense.

For UCLA, Gianna Kneepkens was the standout performer, scoring 20 points. Additionally, Angela Dugalic made a significant impact with 16 points and 15 rebounds, underscoring the Bruins’ dominance on both ends of the court.

Chavez and Beers Struggle with Foul Trouble

Oklahoma’s freshman point guard, Aaliyah Chavez, faced challenges early in the game. Within the first four minutes, she picked up two fouls, limiting her time on the court. The Sooners were leading 9-7 when she left the game, but UCLA capitalized on her absence, outscoring Oklahoma 17-7 during that period. Despite this setback, Chavez returned to the game late in the first quarter and managed to play significant minutes without accumulating a third foul, finishing with 11 points and three assists.

Chavez’s shooting was inconsistent, going 4 of 16 from the field. Nevertheless, she showcased her potential, notably assisting Sahara Williams for a midrange jumper just after the first quarter buzzer, which highlighted her playmaking abilities.

The matchup between Oklahoma’s Raegan Beers and UCLA’s Lauren Betts drew attention as the two former teammates faced off. Betts, the reigning national defensive player of the year, recorded nine points and ten rebounds, but also had a career-high seven turnovers. Beers finished with seven points and 14 rebounds while avoiding serious injury after a brief scare in the fourth quarter.

Turnover Management and Next Steps for Oklahoma

While Oklahoma has generally struggled with turnovers, they managed to limit themselves to just nine against UCLA, a notable improvement compared to their season opener, where they committed 18 turnovers. This efficiency allowed them to outscore the Bruins 16-9 off turnovers, a positive takeaway for head coach Jennie Baranczyk.

The Sooners, now with a record of 1-1, will look to bounce back when they face Kansas City on November 15 at 8 p.m. at the Lloyd Noble Center. As the season progresses, Oklahoma will aim to refine their offensive strategy while leveraging their defensive strengths to compete effectively against top-tier teams.