WBB Game Preview: OU Hits Music City for Top-15 Battle at Vanderbilt

NORMAN — No. 11 Oklahoma (17-5, 5-4 SEC) is set for its sixth top-10 test of the season, and its fifth over its last seven games, facing No. 7 Vanderbilt (22-2, 8-2 SEC) on Monday at Memorial Gymnasium.

Tip in Nashville is set for 8:05 p.m. CT on ESPN2 with Courtney Lyle (play-by-play) and Stephanie White (analyst) on the call. Fans can listen on the Sooner Sports Radio Network (107.7 FM) with Brian Brinkley and Tyler Neal, or in Spanish on Los Sooners Radio (1560 AM) with Luis Rendon, with both broadcasts streaming on the Varsity App.

Monday night features two of the nation's top offenses as Oklahoma ranks third nationally in scoring offense (88.0 PPG), a mark that would set a program record, while Vanderbilt ranks 11th in PPG (84.7). OU's starting five has been one of the most productive units in the country, ranking second nationally at 69.0 PPG with all five starters averaging double figures. The Sooners also rank near the top nationally across several offensive categories, including pace (78.4, 1st), scoring offense (88.0, 3rd), second-chance points (16.8, 3rd), fast-break points (17.8, 4th), assists (20.7, 4th) and paint points (43.7, 8th).

FAN INFORMATION AND HOW TO FOLLOW

Limited tickets for the game in Nashville are still available through the Vanderbilt ticket office. The game will air on ESPN2 and on the Sooner Sports Radio Network.

Fans can follow live stats throughout the game.

(11) Oklahoma at (7) Vanderbilt
Date: Monday, Feb. 9
Tip Time: 8:05 p.m. CT
Location: Nashville, Tenn.
Arena: Memorial Gymnasium

WATCH
LIVE STATS
GAME NOTES

LAST TIME OUT

Oklahoma (17-5, 5-4 SEC) fell on the road to No. 4 Texas, 78-70, at the Moody Center in Austin on Sunday. The loss snapped 10th-ranked OU's winning streak at three as all of OU's five losses this season have come to ranked teams, with four of the five to top-10 foes. The Sooners struggled offensively in the first half, finishing with 24 points, their second-lowest point total in a half this year. Trailing by 16 entering the break, OU battled back in the third, cutting the deficit to nine at three different points in the frame. The Sooners made their last run in the fourth, cutting the Texas lead to seven points with 7:15 remaining the game but Texas answered with a 9-0 run that iced the game.

THE FAST BREAK

• Oklahoma is seeking its third ranked win of the season, which would add to a neutral-site victory over then-No. 23 Oklahoma State (92-70) and an overtime win against then-No. 2 South Carolina on Jan. 22 (94-82). The Sooners also own a top-30 NET win over NC State in Norman on Dec. 3. All five of OU's losses have come against AP top-20 opponents, including four against teams then ranked inside the top 10.

• Both Wooden Award midseason finalists, freshman guard Aaliyah Chavez and senior All-America center Raegan Beers, form one of the nation's most productive duos and are both top-10 finalists for their respective positional Player of the Year awards. The pair combines to average 34.5 PPG, ranking 10th among Power Five tandems and third in the SEC. One of the two has led Oklahoma in scoring in 15 games this season, with the Sooners going 13-2 in those contests. When Chavez and Beers combine for at least 35 points, OU is 11-1, with the lone loss coming to No. 18 Ole Miss.

• Monday's marquee matchup comes in the backcourt as Oklahoma freshman star Aaliyah Chavez faces 2025 SEC Freshman of the Year Mikayla Blakes. Chavez, the nation's No. 1 recruit in 2025, has earned six SEC Freshman of the Week honors this season, third most in SEC history behind Blakes (7) and Rhyne Howard (8). Chavez and Blakes are two of three underclassmen guards nationally averaging at least 18.5 PPG and 4.0 APG while committing 3.0 turnovers or fewer per game, joining Ohio State's Jaloni Cambridge.

• While Oklahoma's offense often draws the spotlight, the Sooner defense has been the engine behind this season's success. OU ranks third nationally and leads the SEC in opponent field goal percentage (33.2%) and ranks seventh nationally in defensive rating at 79.5 points allowed per 100 possessions. The Sooners hold opponents 12.0 points below their scoring average and 10.7% below their season field goal percentage. Only three teams this season, Florida State, NC State (in OT) and Auburn, have scored above their season scoring average against OU.

• OU is 30-8 over the last five seasons on five days or more of rest (4-2 this season) - OU will enter Monday on seven days of rest.

SERIES HISTORY

Monday marks the fifth meeting between Oklahoma and Vanderbilt with the series tied 2-2. OU won the lone meeting last season, defeating the Commodores 101-81 in Norman.

UP NEXT

OU faces a quick turnaround after the late Monday night game as it hosts Florida at Lloyd Noble Center on Thursday night at 6 p.m. CT. Following that contest, OU heads to Tuscaloosa for a ranked matchup at Alabama on Sunday afternoon.