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SOONERS

OU women's basketball vs Iowa recap: Sooners roll into Sweet 16 with March Madness blowout

Ryan Aber Jenni Carlson Joe Mussatto
The Oklahoman

NORMAN — The Sooners are headed to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2013. 

OU routed Iowa 96-62 on Monday afternoon in Norman. Neither team shot the ball well, but the Sooners outmuscled and outhustled the Hawkeyes. 

OU outrebounded Iowa 64-33. Raegan Beers, who was twice smacked in the nose, had a team-high 13 boards. 

The Sooners shot just 30% from 3-point range, but they punished the Hawkeyes in the paint and on second-chance opportunities. 

OU trailed 10-4 early before going on a 10-0 run. The Sooners never relinquished the lead after that. 

OU busted the game open in the third quarter, outscoring Iowa 30-16. 

No. 3 seed OU will travel to Spokane, Washington, for the Sweet 16 against No. 2 seed UConn on Saturday.

Oklahoma vs Iowa score updates in March Madness

End 3: OU 68, Iowa 43 | Sahara Williams provides scare, Skylar Vann takes over

Sahara Williams has carried OU against her home-state squad.

But Williams provided a bit of a scare late in the third, when she was hobbling during play and ultimately had to be helped off the floor.

Williams didn’t put any weight on her right leg as she hobbled to the bench, but when she turned around, it looked as if there wasn’t much to be concerned about long term.

Instead of looking at her knee or ankle, trainers gave Williams electrolyte packets and fluids and soon after massaged Williams’ right leg to work out an apparent cramp.

Soon after, Williams walked to the other end of the bench and was laughing and joking with teammates and staffers.

The Sooners outscored Iowa 30-16 in the second, with Skylar Vann scoring 12 points in the quarter.

After hitting just two 3-pointers in the first half, OU hit four in the third quarter to take a 68-43 lead.

Williams re-entered the game in the closing seconds of the quarter.

—Ryan Aber, Staff writer

8:52 left in 3Q: OU 38, Iowa 29 | Raegan Beers exits after getting hit in face

Raegan Beers went down to the floor just 1:09 into the second half, after taking a hand to the face from Iowa’s Hannah Stuelke.

Stuelke drove baseline for a layup, and flipped her non-shooting hand up as she moved past Beers.

After a review, Stuelke was called for an intentional foul, Payton Verhulst hit a pair of free throws and OU maintained possession with a 40-29 lead.

Skylar Vann quickly hit a 3-pointer to extend the Sooners' lead to 14.

Beers went to to the locker room after being tended to on the bench briefly.

Beers rejoined her team on the bench shortly, joining the celebration on the floor after Payton Verhulst's 3-pointer put the Sooners up 49-32.

—Ryan Aber, Staff writer

Halftime: Oklahoma 38, Iowa 27 | Sahara Williams, Sooners lead Hawkeyes at break

Sahara Williams is terrorizing her home-state team.

The Waterloo, Iowa, product already has 13 points, seven rebounds and three assists as OU took an 11-point lead on Iowa heading into halftime. 

Williams was particularly big during a stretch midway through the quarter. She grabbed a rebound on the offensive end and scored a putback. On the next OU possession, Williams looked to have an open jumper in the lane but instead found Liz Scott for an even better look at the rim. 

Then to finish things off, Williams found Zya Vann for an open three. The make pushed OU’s lead to 11 points and forced an Iowa timeout amid an electric Lloyd Noble Center.

The Sooners’ big second quarter would’ve been even bigger if not for some woeful shooting. They’re only 2 of 16 from behind the arc and 2 of 5 from the free-throw line.

—Jenni Carlson, Staff writer

End 1: Oklahoma 20, Iowa 11 | Sooners close quarter strong defensively

Sahara Williams pump faked once, waited for the Iowa defender to clear, then sent right back up for a layup just before the buzzer to give OU a 20-11 lead at the end of the first.

The Sooners finished the quarter on a 16-1 run, as Iowa missed its last five shots of the quarter.

The Hawkeyes’ last field goal was with 6:51 remaining in the first.

Williams, from Waterloo, Iowa, leads the Sooners with eight points on 4-of-6 shooting.

OU forced eight turnovers in the quarter, scoring 12 points off the Iowa giveaways. Liz Scott has two steals.

—Ryan Aber, Staff writer

Pregame update: OU football team expected to be in attendance

OU’s football team is expected to be in attendance Monday cheering the Sooners against Iowa.

The section in the north end of the lower bowl of Lloyd Noble Center that typically holds the OU band is lined with folding chairs and will hold the Sooners’ football team and potentially other athletes for the game.

About five minutes before tipoff, football players including wide receiver Deion Burks, started filtering into the section.

Other campus athletes, especially those not in season, are expected to join the football program at the game.

Sunday, it was announced that OU students would be admitted to the game for free.

—Ryan Aber, Staff writer

Oklahoma vs. Iowa start time, location

  • Date: Monday, March 24
  • Start time: 3 p.m. CT
  • Location: Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Oklahoma

The Oklahoma vs Iowa game starts at 3 p.m. CT from Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Oklahoma.

What channel is Oklahoma vs Iowa on today? Where to watch, stream 

Oklahoma vs Iowa will be broadcast on ESPN.

How to listen to Oklahoma basketball vs Iowa on the radio

Brian Brinkley (play-by-play) and Tyler Neal (analyst) will have the call today on the Sooner Sports Radio Network (KRXO 107.7 FM The Franchise in Oklahoma City and KTBZ 1430 AM in Tulsa).

Oklahoma vs Iowa basketball betting odds, score predictions

Betting odds: As of Monday morning, OU was a 5.5-point favorite (-110) on BetMGM. The over/under is set at 155.5. The money line odds are Iowa +170 and OU -210.

Oklahoma vs Iowa prediction, game picks

OU 76, Iowa 73: Iowa has the tournament experience, even without Caitlin Clark from the teams that were national runners-up in back-to-back seasons. The Hawkeyes shoot 46.7% from the floor, top 20 nationally, and 18.1 assists per game, also among the nation’s best. But Oklahoma shoots 45.9% and leads the nation in assists per game at 21.9. The interior tandem of Raegan Beers and Skylar Vann makes the difference, and Peyton Verhulst bounces back on the perimeter after shooting just 1 for 5 from beyond the arc in the first round. The game is tight throughout but the Sooners find a final defensive stop to secure the victory.

Oklahoma women's basketball schedule 2024-25

All times are Central Daylight Time (CDT)

Oklahoma vs Iowa women's basketball highlights

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