No. 10 Oklahoma (25-6, 12-5 SEC) defeated No. 12 Kentucky (22-7, 11-6 SEC) 69-65 on Friday at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena.
Sooner Magic is heading to the SEC semis!#BoomerSooner ☝️ pic.twitter.com/qsxQSqhP5Z
— Oklahoma Basketball (@OU_WBBall) March 7, 2025
Here are three takeaways from the win:
Sooners overcame shooting trouble
In the quarterfinal round of the SEC Tournament, Oklahoma had trouble shooting on the floor. In the first half of the game, the Sooners shot 26.3%, making 10 of 38 shots and executing two of 14 three-point shots (14.3%) from within the range. Despite the difficulty on offense, OU’s defense held Kentucky to shooting 9.1% within the range, making only one three-pointer out of 11.
During the second half, Oklahoma improved on its shooting, sinking 22 of 72 shots (30.6%) and made six of 27 three-point attempts (22.2%). Defense continued to hold Kentucky in the three-point range. At the end of the game, the Sooners held Kentucky to shoot under its average three-point shooting percentage of 32.2% to 17.4%, achieving only four of 23 threes.
Raegan Beers has dominant game
Junior center Raegan Beers was a key player for the Sooners against the Wildcats. The center took initiative inside the paint with one steal and nine defensive rebounds.
💪 RAE BEERS AND-1@RaeganBeers // 📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/bPBecHKt9R
— Oklahoma Basketball (@OU_WBBall) March 7, 2025
The Lisa Leslie Center of the Year Award Finalist made seven of 13 baskets and was nearly perfect from the free-throw line, going six for seven. Early in the fourth quarter, Beers found herself in foul trouble with four personal fouls, but was able to stay on the court, achieving her 12th double-double this season with 20 points and 11 rebounds, along with one assist.
A back-and-forth game
In a nail-biting matchup, both teams came out on fire. The first half of the game was a struggle for both teams. Kentucky outplayed and outscored the Sooners leading at the half 31-26. By the second half of the game, Oklahoma found its momentum and kept up with the Wildcats.
At the end of the third quarter Oklahoma was leading by one and looking to extend the lead. Kentucky put up a fight to come within four points, but OU held strong. In the end, the Sooners were able to keep up the momentum and took down Kentucky to advance to the semifinals.
Next, the Sooners will play No. 5 South Carolina (27-3, 15-1 SEC) in the semifinals at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena on ESPN2.
This story was edited by Hannah Bryant.
Oklahoma women’s basketball schedule
Nov. 4: Oklahoma 76, Southern 44
Nov. 8: Oklahoma 95, Virginia 51
Nov. 13: Oklahoma 122, Western Carolina 56
Nov. 19: Oklahoma 79, Wichita State 49
Nov. 22: Oklahoma 88, UNLV 58
Nov. 25: Oklahoma 85, DePaul 62
Nov. 27: Duke 109, Oklahoma 99
Dec. 4: Oklahoma 78, Louisville 72
Dec. 8: Oklahoma 110, Alabama State 46
Dec. 15: Oklahoma 94, Oral Roberts 54
Dec. 17: Oklahoma 72, Michigan 62
Dec. 22: Oklahoma 111, Omaha 65
Dec. 29: Oklahoma 82, New Mexico State 64
Jan. 2: Texas 80, Oklahoma 73
Jan. 5: Oklahoma 87, Tennessee 86
Jan. 9: Mississippi State 81, Oklahoma 77
Jan. 12: Oklahoma 77, Texas A&M 62
Jan. 16: Oklahoma 80, Missouri 63
Jan. 19: South Carolina 101, Oklahoma 60
Jan. 26: Oklahoma 86, Georgia 55
Jan. 30: LSU 107, Oklahoma 100
Feb. 2: Kentucky 95, Oklahoma 86
Feb. 6: Oklahoma 66, Mississippi 56
Feb. 10: Oklahoma 73, Auburn 71
Feb. 16: Oklahoma 82, Missouri 66
Feb. 20: Oklahoma 101, Vanderbilt 81
Feb. 23: Oklahoma 94, Arkansas 54
Feb. 27: Oklahoma 89, Florida 65
March 2: Oklahoma 91, Alabama 84
March 6: Oklahoma 70, Georgia 52