NORMAN, Okla. — Raegan Beers had an impressive performance with 26 points and 14 rebounds as the No. 10 Oklahoma Sooners triumphed over the Virginia Cavaliers with a score of 95-51 in their second matchup of the season.
In addition to Beers’ standout contributions, Sahara Williams netted 14 points for the Sooners, who maintained a comfortable lead of 44-27 at halftime and stretched it to 90-48 midway through the fourth quarter. Payton Verhulst also chipped in with 13 points, while Skylar Vann contributed with eight points and 10 rebounds. Beers, who transferred from Oregon State, shot 11 for 16 from the field, showcasing her prowess both offensively and defensively with two assists and two blocked shots.
The Cavaliers, now with a record of 1-1, were led by Breona Hurd, who scored 15 points, and Paris Clark, who added 11. However, Virginia faced significant challenges, managing to hit only 19 of their 69 attempts from the field, resulting in a shooting percentage of just 27.5%.
**Insights**:
Virginia struggled offensively against Oklahoma’s tenacious defense, which forced 21 turnovers. This aggressive play also led to Hurd, Clark, and leading scorer Kymora Johnson combining for a disappointing 14-of-53 shooting. On the other hand, the Sooners again faced difficulties from beyond the arc, making only 6 of 32 three-point attempts, but found success in the paint by feeding the towering Beers repeatedly.
**Turning Point**:
The Sooners enforced their dominance early in the second quarter, as Beers executed three consecutive layups during a 6-0 run, pushing Oklahoma’s lead to 38-20 and leaving the Cavaliers scrambling for answers defensively.
**Noteworthy Statistic**:
Oklahoma continued to assert their presence on the boards, once again out-rebounding their opponent decisively, tallying 66 rebounds to Virginia’s 39.
**Looking Ahead**:
Next up, the Sooners will face Western Carolina at home on Wednesday morning, while the Cavaliers will host Radford on the same evening.