Verhulst and Chavez Ignite No. 10 Oklahoma’s Dominant 85-58 Upset Over Texas A&M—What Fueled Their Unstoppable Surge?

In a commanding display of precision and power, No. 10 Oklahoma surged to an emphatic 85-58 triumph over Texas A&M on Thursday night in Norman. Payton Verhulst led the charge with a solid 16 points, while Aaliyah Chavez chipped in a strong 14, showcasing the Sooners’ offensive depth. Raegan Beers and Sahara Williams weren’t far behind, each contributing 12 points as Oklahoma drained an impressive 12 of 23 attempts from beyond the arc. This victory marks Oklahoma’s third consecutive win — a streak ignited by an electrifying overtime victory against then-No. 2 South Carolina. With a weekend showdown looming against No. 4 Texas, the Sooners are making a statement that’s hard to ignore. Meanwhile, Texas A&M, struggling through a tough stretch with five losses in a row, found themselves overwhelmed despite a solid effort by Lauren Ware, who netted 15 points. Oklahoma’s new athletic director, Roger Denny, even energized the crowd mid-game, urging fans to keep the fire burning for coach Jennie Baranczyk’s squad. The Sooners’ tactical execution, highlighted by forcing turnovers and locking down shooting percentages in the second quarter, carved out a lead that grew insurmountable by the third. This matchup wasn’t just a win; it was an emphatic declaration that Oklahoma’s campaign in the Southeastern Conference is ready to roar louder than ever. LEARN MORE

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Payton Verhulst scored 16 points and Aaliyah Chavez added 14 to help No. 10 Oklahoma defeat Texas A&M 85-58 on Thursday night.

Raegan Beers and Sahara Williams each added 12 points for the Sooners (17-4, 5-3 Southeastern Conference), who made 12 of 23 3-pointers and had assists on 25 of their 30 field goals.

It was Oklahoma’s third straight victory, a streak that started last Thursday with an overtime win over then-No. 2 South Carolina. The Sooners visit No. 4 Texas on Sunday.

Lauren Ware had 15 points and Ny’Ceara Pryor added 12 for Texas A&M (8-9, 1-7). The Aggies have lost five straight, with four of them by at least 25 points to top-10 opponents Vanderbilt, Texas, LSU and Oklahoma.

Oklahoma won the previous meeting with the Aggies 72-50 on the road on Jan. 1.

New Oklahoma athletic director Roger Denny addressed the crowd during an early timeout, telling the fans to keep showing up to help throw “gasoline on the fire” coach Jennie Baranczyk has started.

Texas A&M scored the game’s first five points and was competitive early, but Oklahoma rallied to lead 23-18 at the end of the first quarter.

In the second, Verhulst made a 3-pointer and was fouled. Her free throw gave the Sooners a 44-20 lead and closed out a 19-0 run. The Aggies went more than seven minutes without scoring.

Oklahoma led 46-27 at halftime. The Sooners forced nine turnovers in the second quarter while holding the Aggies to 3-of-9 shooting.

Oklahoma pushed its advantage to 31 points in the third quarter.

Up next

Texas A&M: Hosts No. 3 South Carolina on Monday.

Oklahoma: The Sooners get their only crack at the Longhorns this season on Sunday.

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