OU Women’s Basketball Loses to South Carolina 93-75

Reporting live on No. 10 Oklahoma’s tough 93-75 loss to No. 5 South Carolina in the semifinal round at Bon Secours Wellness Arena today.

Final: #5 South Carolina 93, #10 OU 75

We'll see y'all in March Madness ☝️

— Oklahoma Basketball (@OU_WBBall) March 8, 2025

Here are the key takeaways from the game:

Perimeter Defense: Oklahoma came into this game with strong perimeter defense, and they lived up to the reputation. South Carolina, which had averaged 33.5% shooting from three-point range this season, struggled throughout the game. The Gamecocks attempted 15 threes but only managed to make two, resulting in a dismal 13.3% shooting percentage from beyond the arc.

However, despite their strong perimeter defense, Oklahoma racked up 22 personal fouls, which allowed South Carolina to capitalize and score 19 points off free throws.

Payton Verhulst Shines: Despite the loss, senior guard Payton Verhulst was a standout performer for the Sooners. Verhulst led Oklahoma’s scoring efforts, finishing with 15 points. She was particularly effective from beyond the arc, hitting three of six three-point attempts. Her shooting percentage from deep this season sits at 35.3%.

Not just a scorer, Verhulst contributed in other areas too—delivering nine assists and securing six rebounds, showing off her all-around game.

Let. Rey. Hoop.@rsc0tt2 // 📺 ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/M9vfWKN2hW

— Oklahoma Basketball (@OU_WBBall) March 8, 2025

South Carolina’s Dominant Defense: On the other side of the court, South Carolina’s defense proved to be a major hurdle for Oklahoma. The Sooners’ offense had a rough time, plagued by turnovers—a recurring issue for them this season. The Gamecocks took full advantage of this, forcing Oklahoma into 16 turnovers and converting those into 22 points.

South Carolina’s defense was also relentless in terms of steals and blocks, swiping the ball seven times and blocking six shots from the Sooners.

Looking ahead, Oklahoma will head back to Norman, where they’ll prepare for their first game of March Madness at the Lloyd Noble Center.

That’s all from here. Stay tuned for further updates!

More news…..

South Carolina Women’s Basketball Preview of SEC Game Against Oklahoma

The South Carolina Gamecocks breezed through their first-round matchup against Vanderbilt, but Saturday’s contest against Oklahoma promises to be a much tighter affair.

As the SEC Women’s Tournament enters its semifinal phase, the No. 1-seeded South Carolina Gamecocks are set to face off against the No. 5 overall seed, Oklahoma. Both teams are ranked in the top-10 in women’s college basketball, making this game a highly anticipated showdown.

South Carolina vs. Oklahoma Prediction: ESPN’s Basketball Power Index gives the Gamecocks an 86.6% chance to win, while the Sooners are given a 13.6% chance.

South Carolina Women’s Basketball vs. Oklahoma Betting Line Update: According to FanDuel, South Carolina enters as a 12.5-point favorite, with the total set at 152.5 points.

Oklahoma’s head coach, Jennie Baranczyk, shared her thoughts on how to slow down the powerhouse Gamecocks, saying, “Well, I don’t know that. I don’t know, they are so good. It’s a game of runs and South Carolina is so good. And how many times have they played in this building, I just want us to come out here to compete.” She continued, “You don’t stop them, you just try to do the best you can.”

How to Watch: South Carolina Women’s Basketball vs. Oklahoma

• GameDay: Saturday, March 8th
• Game Time: 4:30 PM EST
• Location: Bon Secours Wellness Arena, Greenville, South Carolina
• Broadcast: SEC Network+