HENDERSON, Nev. — Reigan Richardson delivered an impressive performance, scoring a career-best 35 points, helping No. 13 Duke secure a 109-99 overtime victory against No. 8 Oklahoma during the championship of the Ball Dawgs Classic on Wednesday evening.
Oklahoma managed to rally from a 15-point deficit in the first half, equalizing the score with 4:45 remaining in regulation, then forcing overtime with a clutch 3-pointer from Payton Verhulst as time expired. However, during the extra period, Duke asserted their dominance, outpacing Oklahoma with a 15-5 scoring run.
For her outstanding display, Richardson was awarded the tournament MVP title. Supporting her efforts, Ashlon Jackson contributed 18 points, while Jordan Wood added 13. Jadyn Donovan and Taina Mair chipped in 12 and 10 points, respectively, helping the Blue Devils improve their season record to 7-1.
On the other side, Verhulst had an exceptional game for Oklahoma, finishing with a triple-double of 29 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. Raegan Beers contributed 26 points, with Skylar Vann and Sahara Williams scoring 13 and 12 points respectively, as the Sooners moved to a 6-1 record.
Takeaways from the game highlight Duke’s consistent performance, particularly in second-chance opportunities, where they have outscored opponents 128-56 this season. They have also accumulated significantly more points from their bench compared to their rivals, with a tally of 278 points to 146.
Conversely, Oklahoma entered the match boasting a strong defensive record, having limited their first six opponents to 31% shooting and holding the second-best opponent field-goal percentage (28.0%) nationally. However, against Duke, they allowed an unusually high shooting percentage of 56.3% (40 of 71) from the field.
A pivotal moment occurred late in overtime when Beers was charged with an offensive foul while her team was down by six, potentially swinging the momentum. Immediately following, Richardson sank a 3-pointer, effectively sealing the victory for the Blue Devils.
In terms of shooting efficiency, Duke excelled from beyond the arc, hitting 11 of 20 attempts (55.0%) for 3-pointers, marking a new season high for them in that category.
As for what’s next, Duke will host Columbia on December 1, while Oklahoma is set to travel to face Louisville on December 4.