No. 11 Women's Basketball Returns Home on Sunday

NORMAN – No. 11 Oklahoma (7-1) returns home to the Lloyd Noble Center for thre first time in nearly a month on Sunday when it hosts Alabama State (2-6) at 1:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network+. The Sooners are fresh off a road win at No. 22 Louisville and will look to remain undefeated in Norman this season against the Lady Hornets.

In addition to the live broadcast on SEC Network+, the game will air on the Sooner Radio Network (1520 AM KOKC) with Brian Brinkley and Kevin Henry on the call.

FAN INFO

At halftime of the contest, the program will hold its annual Teddy Bear Toss where fans will throw stuffed animals onto the floor where the toys will be collected and donated to local children in need. Fans are enoucraged to bring as many plush toys as they'd like to join in on the cause.

The Sooners take the court every Sunday in December, offering fans an unbeatable deal with the Family Four Pack for just $48. This package includes four tickets, hot dogs, soft drinks, and one popcorn - just $12 per person! The Family Four Pack is available for all Sunday games throughout the season.

Season ticket holders can pick up their free Watch More OU Women's Basketball shirts on the south concourse before the game.

Doors to the arena open one hour before tip for the general public, and the Lloyd Noble Center's clear-bag policy is in effect.

THE STARTING FIVE

Oklahoma's home winning streak stands at 12 games, the 12th-longest active streak in the nation and the longest of the Baranczyk era. The Sooners' last loss in Norman came on Dec. 22, 2023. The streak is the program's longest since a 15-game run from Feb. 19, 2014, to Feb. 25, 2015, and ranks as the third-longest in the past 15 years of Oklahoma basketball.
The Sooners enter Sunday's contest ranked No. 13 in the latest NET ranking and 11th in the AP Poll. Baranczyk's team is 2-1 in Quad 1-2 games after the win at No. 22 Louisville and the lone loss coming to then-No. 13 Duke on a neutral court in overtime. OU's 5-0 in Quad 3-4 games with an average margin of victory of 39.0.
Payton Verhulst, who was named SEC Co-Player of the Week on Monday after a 29-point triple-double vs. Duke, is on a hot streak. Over her last five outings the guard averages 18.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game while shooting 51.5% from 3-point range. She has made four 3-pointers in three consecutive games for the first time in her career.
Four Sooners score in double figures as OU pours in 90.3 points per game, good for fifth nationally. Oklahoma is the only team in the country to boast four double-digit scorers who all play 27.0 MPG or less. All-American Raegan Beers (18.6 PPG) leads the way on the offensive front and leads the nation in FG% at 71.8%. Additionally Payton Verhulst (14.4), Sahara Williams (11.6) and Skylar Vann (10.8) also average 10+ PPG.
In the latest ESPN bracketology, Oklahoma was tabbed as a No. 3 seed, which would provide hosting duties in the tournament for the second time of the Baranczyk era (2022).

LAST TIME OUT

Payton Verhulst scored 21 points against her former team, Raegan Beers had 11 points and 11 rebounds and No. 11 Oklahoma rallied from a 17-point deficit to beat 22nd-ranked Louisville 78-72 on Wednesday night in the SEC/ACC Challenge. Verhulst, who transferred from Louisville in December 2022, grabbed an offensive rebound and was fouled before making two free throws with 2:21 remaining in the fourth quarter to give Oklahoma its first lead, 70-68, since it was 14-13.

SERIES HISTORY

Sunday's meeting between Oklahoma and Alabama State is the second ever with the first coming last season in Norman. Oklahoma defeated ASU 92-46 in 2023 and holds a 1-0 series advantage.

UP NEXT

The Sooners stay in Norman to host Oral Roberts on Sunday, Dec. 15 at 1:30 p.m. CT at Lloyd Noble Center.

FOLLOW OKLAHOMA BASKETBALL
For updates, follow @OU_WBBall on Twitter and Instagram, or like Oklahoma W omen's Basketball on Facebook.