LAS VEGAS — In a commanding performance on Friday night, senior Skyar Vann netted 15 points, and her freshman sister, Zya Vann, contributed 14, leading the No. 9 Oklahoma Sooners to an impressive 88-58 victory over UNLV.
Raegan Beers also played a significant role for the Sooners, adding 10 points to help the team improve their record to 5-0. Skyar Vann showcased her shooting skills, making 3 of her 6 attempts from beyond the arc. As a team, Oklahoma excelled, achieving a 41.4% success rate from three-point territory, hitting 12 out of 29 attempts.
On the other side of the court, Kiera Jackson was the standout player for UNLV (4-2), scoring 20 points, while Mikinna Brackens supported the scoring effort with 12 points.
Oklahoma’s defensive strategy was particularly effective, as they managed to restrict the Rebels to only two field goals during the third quarter, substantially increasing their lead from a narrow one-point advantage at halftime to a dominating 67-42 by the end of the quarter. The Rebels struggled significantly in this period, making just 2 out of 16 shots and committing four turnovers.
In the first half, UNLV managed to keep the game competitive due to their effective three-point shooting, as they reached a rate of 43.8%. Both Jackson and Brackens each contributed 10 points by halftime, helping their team stay within striking distance.
A pivotal moment in the game came right after the halftime break when the Sooners launched an impressive run, scoring the first 16 points of the second half after entering the locker room with a 39-38 lead. Beers, who averages 21.3 points per game, found her rhythm in this quarter, making two baskets after a slow start where she only managed one shot in the first half. The Rebels finally broke their scoring drought with a layup from Jackson at the 3:58 mark of the third.
A notable statistic from this matchup is that Oklahoma has achieved victories over each of their last four opponents by a margin exceeding 30 points. However, they faced a challenge this time, needing to outscore the Rebels by 29 points in the second half to maintain their strong performance. As the clock wound down in the final minute, UNLV missed a crucial free throw and a three-pointer that could have altered the outcome.
Looking ahead, the Sooners will remain in the Las Vegas area to face DePaul on Monday during the Ball Dawgs Classic. Meanwhile, UNLV is set to host UCF next Wednesday.