No. 10 Oklahoma (25-7, 11-5 SEC) fell to No. 5 South Carolina (29-3, 15-1 SEC) 93-75 in the semifinal round on Saturday at Bon Secours Wellness Arena.
Final: #5 South Carolina 93, #10 OU 75We'll see y'all in March Madness ☝️
— Oklahoma Basketball (@OU_WBBall) March 8, 2025
Here are three takeaways from today’s loss:
Perimeter defense
The Sooners excelled at defending the perimeter. This season, South Carolina had averaged 33.5% from within the three-point range. South Carolina tried to make 15 attempts, but were only able to make two from within the range, making its three-point shooting percentage 13.3%.
Despite being proficient at defending the perimeter, Oklahoma tallied 22 personal fouls allowing South Carolina to gain 19 points off of free-throws.
Payton Verhulst led the Sooners
Senior guard Payton Verhulst was the top scorer for the Sooners on Saturday. The senior led the team in three-point shooting achieving three of six from the range. This season, Verhulst has an average 35.3% three-point shooting percentage.
Verhulst helped her teammates bring in nine assists and was defensive at the glass grabbing six rebounds, finishing her game with 15 points.
Let. Rey. Hoop.@rsc0tt2 // 📺 ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/M9vfWKN2hW
— Oklahoma Basketball (@OU_WBBall) March 8, 2025
South Carolina’s defense outplayed Oklahoma
The Gamecocks put the Sooners’ offense to work from the start of the game. On offense, the Sooners struggled with turnovers, something that has plagued them all season. South Carolina forced 16 turnovers out of Oklahoma, scoring 22 points as a result.
South Carolina’s defense was able to steal the ball seven times from the Sooners and blocked six of Oklahoma’s shots.
Next, Oklahoma will travel back to Norman to play its first March Madness game of the postseason at the Lloyd Noble Center.
This story was edited by Hannah Bryant.
Oklahoma women’s basketball schedule
Nov. 4: Oklahoma 76, Southern 44
Nov. 8: Oklahoma 95, Virginia 51
Nov. 13: Oklahoma 122, Western Carolina 56
Nov. 19: Oklahoma 79, Wichita State 49
Nov. 22: Oklahoma 88, UNLV 58
Nov. 25: Oklahoma 85, DePaul 62
Nov. 27: Duke 109, Oklahoma 99
Dec. 4: Oklahoma 78, Louisville 72
Dec. 8: Oklahoma 110, Alabama State 46
Dec. 15: Oklahoma 94, Oral Roberts 54
Dec. 17: Oklahoma 72, Michigan 62
Dec. 22: Oklahoma 111, Omaha 65
Dec. 29: Oklahoma 82, New Mexico State 64
Jan. 2: Texas 80, Oklahoma 73
Jan. 5: Oklahoma 87, Tennessee 86
Jan. 9: Mississippi State 81, Oklahoma 77
Jan. 12: Oklahoma 77, Texas A&M 62
Jan. 16: Oklahoma 80, Missouri 63
Jan. 19: South Carolina 101, Oklahoma 60
Jan. 26: Oklahoma 86, Georgia 55
Jan. 30: LSU 107, Oklahoma 100
Feb. 2: Kentucky 95, Oklahoma 86
Feb. 6: Oklahoma 66, Mississippi 56
Feb. 10: Oklahoma 73, Auburn 71
Feb. 16: Oklahoma 82, Missouri 66
Feb. 20: Oklahoma 101, Vanderbilt 81
Feb. 23: Oklahoma 94, Arkansas 54
Feb. 27: Oklahoma 89, Florida 65
March 2: Oklahoma 91, Alabama 84
March 6: Oklahoma 70, Georgia 52
March 7: Oklahoma 69, Kentucky 65
