NORMAN, Okla. — In a thrilling matchup, the No. 5 Texas Longhorns overcame a fierce challenge from No. 9 Oklahoma, securing an 80-73 victory in their Southeastern Conference opener on Thursday night. Freshman Jordan Lee emerged as a key contributor off the bench, putting up 17 points in just 33 minutes of action. Lee demonstrated his shooting prowess, hitting 6 of 11 overall, including an impressive 4-for-5 from beyond the arc.
Rori Harmon also played a significant role for Texas, scoring 16 points, while Taylor Jones had an efficient outing with 14 points, shooting 7-for-9. Additionally, Kyla Oldacre contributed with 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds, helping the Longhorns extend their winning streak to seven consecutive games. This victory also marked a crucial turning point, as Texas snapped a two-game losing streak against Oklahoma from the previous season when both teams competed in the Big 12 Conference.
On the other side, Oklahoma’s Payton Verhulst led the Sooners with 23 points, and Liz Scott added 14 to the scoreboard. The Sooners initially held a 12-point lead in the second quarter, but struggled to maintain it, especially in the absence of their leading scorer Raegan Beers, who was hindered by early foul trouble, finishing with 11 points in limited minutes.
Verhulst made a significant impact during the third quarter, scoring 11 points and leveling the game at 60, but the fourth quarter belonged to Texas. The Longhorns surged ahead with a pivotal 20-13 scoring advantage in the final frame, thanks in part to solid performances even with some starters dealing with foul issues. Notably, the Texas bench stepped up in crucial moments, compensating for any absence from leading scorer Madison Booker, who managed just eight points while navigating foul troubles himself.
A key turning point occurred when Texas found itself down 32-20, only to bounce back with a fierce 21-7 run that enabled them to lead 40-39 at halftime. Statistics revealed that Texas capitalized on Oklahoma’s struggles, amassing 28 points off 26 turnovers, while the Sooners could only convert 18 Texas turnovers into 15 points.
Looking ahead, Texas will face Arkansas at home this upcoming Sunday, while Oklahoma will travel to Tennessee the same day, as both teams continue to strive for success in their conference campaigns.
