NORMAN, Okla. — In a commanding display, Raegan Beers delivered an impressive performance with 25 points and 18 rebounds, guiding the No. 3 seed Oklahoma to a decisive 81-58 victory over 14th-seeded Florida Gulf Coast in the opening round of the women’s NCAA Tournament on Saturday.
The Sooners maintained a narrow lead at 55-48 as they entered the fourth quarter, but they surged ahead by outscoring the Eagles 26-10 in the final stretch, securing their win.
Beers, standing at a towering 6-foot-4, dominated against the opposition that featured no starters over 5-9, significantly contributing to the Sooners’ commanding 72-35 rebounding advantage over the Eagles.
Additionally, Skylar Vann added 24 points to the scoreboard, while Payton Verhulst contributed with 13 points, six rebounds, and six assists for Oklahoma, who now holds a 26-7 record.
The Sooners look forward to facing No. 6 seed Iowa on Monday, where they aim to secure a spot in the Sweet 16. This matchup holds sentimental value for Oklahoma’s coach, Jennie Baranczyk, as Iowa is her alma mater.
In last year’s tournament, Oklahoma prevailed over Florida Gulf Coast with a narrow 73-70 victory in the first round.
Emani Jefferson, remembered for her standout performance with 22 points and 12 rebounds against Oklahoma last year, managed 12 points and eight rebounds in this rematch. However, facing challenges with fouls, she only made 3 of her 11 field goal attempts.
Despite Dolly Cairns’ effort to keep her team competitive with a personal contribution of 15 points, the Eagles fell short. Florida Gulf Coast, coming off a 23-game winning streak, struggled with their accuracy, shooting only 23.6% from the field and managing just 8 for 41 from beyond the arc, equating to a 19.5% success rate.
