No. 11 Women's Hoops Set For Top-25 Challenge at Louisville

NORMAN – No. 11 Oklahoma will look to get back in the win column and notch its first ranked win of the season on Wednesday when it takes on No. 22 Louisville in Louisville, Ky., as part of the second annual SEC/ACC Challenge.

Louisville, participants in three of the last four Elite Eights, is 5-2 this season with its only losses coming to top-25 squads.

The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2 and the Sooner Radio Network.

THE STARTING FIVE

Payton Verhulst, who transferred to Oklahoma from Louisville in December 2022, posted Oklahoma's fourth triple-double (29 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists) in program history vs. No. 13 Duke in the Sooners' last game. She became one of two players (joining Caitlin Clark) since 1999 to post a 25-point triple-double against a top-25 team. In 2024-25, Verhulst is the only player nationally averaging 13.0 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 5.0 APG, and 1.0 BPG in under 30 minutes per game. Since 1999, just seven players have achieved the 13-6-5-1 line, with only two from high-major conferences. Verhulst was named SEC Co-Player of the Week for her effort.
Oklahoma has been one of the most well-rounded teams in the nation and is Division I's only squad to rank in the top 10 nationally in scoring offense (92.0 PPG, 5th), rebounding (52.71 RPG, 1st) and FG% defense (32.6%, 9th). Each of the last two NCAA national champions ranked in the top 15 of each category at the end of the season.
Four Sooners score in double figures as OU pours in 92.0 points per game, good for fifth nationally. The Sooners are one of two teams (Texas) to boast four double-digit scorers that all play 26.5 minutes or less per game. All-American Raegan Beers (19.7 PPG) leads the way on the offensive front and leads the nation in FG% at 72.2%. Additionally Payton Verhulst (13.4), Skylar Vann (11.6) and Sahara Williams (11.1) also average 10+ PPG.
Oklahoma doesn't just return talent - it returns experienced talent. The Sooners have combined to play over 1,000 games in their careers. The 14-player roster has amassed 466 combined starts.
A victory would secure Baranczyk's 12th top-25 win as the OU head coach and second in a true road game vs. a non-conference opponent. The Sooners have just one top-25 win in a true, non-conference road game in the last 17 seasons (W at #12 Ole Miss in Nov. 2023).

LAST TIME OUT

The No. 8 Oklahoma Sooners battled back from a 15-point first-half deficit to force overtime before falling to No. 13 Duke, 109-99, in the championship game of the Ball Dawgs Classic on Wednesday. Payton Verhulst's 3-pointer at the buzzer sent the game into overtime, capping off her impressive performance. Verhulst recorded 29 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, becoming just the fourth player in program history to record a triple-double and the first since 2006.

SERIES HISTORY

Wednesday's contest between the Sooners and Cardinals is the third ever and first in over a decade. All three contests have been top-25 battles.

UL leads the all-time series 2-0 with a win in Norman in 2013 and a victory in the Final Four in 2009. Both games have been decided by single digits.

UP NEXT

The Sooners return to Norman for the first time since Nov. 13 when they host Alabama State on Sunday (Dec. 8) at Lloyd Noble Center.

Tickets are on sale starting at $10, but fans can buy a four-pack for just $12. Fans are encouraged to bring stuffed animals for the annual Teddy Bear Toss for local charities which will take place at halftime.

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