GREENVILLE, S.C. — Raegan Beers led the charge with a stellar performance, posting 20 points and 11 rebounds as No. 10 Oklahoma orchestrated a thrilling comeback to defeat No. 12 Kentucky 69-65 on Friday in the SEC Tournament. Payton Verhulst contributed significantly with 16 points, helping Oklahoma rally from a 10-point deficit in the second half to secure their spot in the semifinals.
Sahara Williams provided additional support, scoring 13 points for the Sooners, who are riding a nine-game winning streak. The victory sets up a highly anticipated clash against two-time defending Southeastern Conference champion South Carolina, who triumphed 84-63 over Vanderbilt, on Saturday.
For Kentucky, Georgia Amoore stood out with an impressive 29 points, complemented by Clara Strack’s 12 points and 16 rebounds. The Wildcats had previously bested the Sooners 95-86 in the season, leveraging that win to claim a tiebreaker advantage and a double bye into the tournament. Amoore was a star in that encounter, recording a career-high 43 points with seven 3-pointers, marking her as a key player Oklahoma had to manage.
In a tightly contested first half where neither team led by more than five, a 3-pointer from Amoore midway through the third quarter gave Kentucky a 10-point cushion. However, Verhulst’s consecutive 3s spearheaded a counter-charge, giving Oklahoma a slender 50-49 lead entering the final quarter.
Observations reveal that Oklahoma, despite the fatigue from their second game in as many days, seemed more resilient than a rested Kentucky squad down the stretch. The Wildcats struggled from behind the arc, managing just 4 of 23 with Amoore only connecting on 3 of 8 attempts, two of them in the dying moments.
A pivotal moment came with Skylar Vann’s strategic layup, pushing Oklahoma ahead 64-59 with just over a minute left in play.
Remarkably, the Sooners clinched victory while shooting only 31% from the field, showcasing their determination and tactical prowess.
Moving forward, Oklahoma will face a rigorous schedule as they prepare for their third game in three days. Meanwhile, Kentucky must await the announcement of their NCAA Tournament positioning.