Verhulst, Chavez power No. 10 Oklahoma women past Texas A&M 85-58, building momentum before Texas

Oklahoma stretches winning streak with decisive second-quarter run

No. 10 Oklahoma continued its midseason surge Thursday night, defeating Texas A&M 85-58 at Lloyd Noble Center in Norman. The result lifted the Sooners to 17-4 overall and 5-3 in Southeastern Conference play, while the Aggies fell to 8-9 and 1-7 in the league.

Payton Verhulst led Oklahoma with 16 points and Aaliyah Chavez added 14 as the Sooners created separation with a dominant second quarter. Raegan Beers and Sahara Williams contributed 12 points apiece in a balanced scoring effort that reflected Oklahoma’s ball movement and perimeter efficiency.

Ball movement and three-point shooting set the tone

Oklahoma made 12 of 23 three-point attempts and assisted on 25 of its 30 made field goals, a statistical profile that underscored how consistently the Sooners generated open looks. The perimeter accuracy also allowed Oklahoma to punish extended defensive pressure and stretch Texas A&M’s coverage.

After Texas A&M scored the game’s first five points and stayed within striking distance early, Oklahoma closed the first quarter ahead 23-18. The game pivoted in the second quarter, when the Sooners produced a decisive 19-0 run. A four-point play by Verhulst—knocking down a three-pointer while drawing a foul—helped cap the sequence and pushed the lead to 44-20.

• Oklahoma led 46-27 at halftime after forcing nine Texas A&M turnovers in the second quarter.
• Texas A&M went more than seven minutes without scoring during Oklahoma’s second-quarter surge.
• The Sooners expanded the margin to 31 points in the third quarter.

Aggies’ slide continues against top competition

Texas A&M was led by Lauren Ware’s 15 points, with Ny’Ceara Pryor adding 12. The Aggies have dropped five straight games, including four losses by at least 25 points against top-10 opponents. Thursday’s defeat also completed a season sweep by Oklahoma in the teams’ first year meeting as SEC counterparts.

Oklahoma won the first matchup 72-50 in College Station on Jan. 1, when Chavez scored 20 points to open conference play. The second meeting in Norman showed a different offensive shape for Oklahoma, with higher three-point volume and a heavier emphasis on assisted scoring.

Context: Oklahoma’s stretch of results and what comes next

Thursday’s win was Oklahoma’s third straight, following an overtime victory over then-No. 2 South Carolina on Jan. 22 and a road win at Auburn on Jan. 25. During an early timeout against Texas A&M, Oklahoma’s new athletic director, Roger Denny, addressed the crowd and urged continued home support.

Oklahoma’s next SEC game is Sunday, Feb. 1, at No. 4 Texas in Austin, the teams’ only regular-season meeting.

Texas A&M will remain in conference play, hosting No. 3 South Carolina on Monday.