Oklahoma (23-9) defeated 12 seed Florida Gulf Coast University (29-5) 73-70 during the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana, on Saturday afternoon.
The Sooners will make a trip to the second round for the third consecutive season under head coach Jennie Baranczyk. Forwards Skylar Vann and Sahara Willams combined for 38 points and eight rebounds.
Here are three takeaways from the OU’s win:
Sooners scouting struggles
Florida Gulf Coast is not unfamiliar with breaking brackets.
And the Eagles do it in their own way.
FGCU had beaten five seeds, as a 12 seed, during the first round of the NCAA Tournament during the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons.
By spacing the floor and putting up a high volume of 3-pointers, the Eagles are able to spread defenses out and create gaps in the lane, capitalizing on holes in the paint or open looks beyond the arc.
The Sooners fell victim to FGCU’s trademark style, especially in the first half, during Saturday’s matchup.
After not getting the starting lineup in on time, Florida Gulf Coast was able to go up 2-0 before the game clock even started, and the Sooners failed to defend tightly around the 3-point line, allowing Florida Gulf Coast to build a 14-point lead in the first quarter.
Oklahoma let the Eagles make four 3-pointers, grab four offensive rebounds and score nine points off turnovers in 10 minutes of play. Although OU’s performance improved on both ends of the floor heading into halftime, only letting FGCU make two of their last 10 shots, it still faced a 35-33 deficit.
The Eagles finished the half 6 of 14 from beyond the arc and shot 37.5% from the floor. The Sooners shot 3 of 10 from the 3-point line and 40% from the floor.
Skylar Vann steps in
In her first NCAA Tournament appearance, freshman forward Sahara Williams kept the Sooners in the game during the first half with 10 points and four rebounds.
But after getting her fourth foul in the middle of the third quarter, senior forward Skylar Vann stepped up.
Oklahoma shoots early and 20% of their points come from transition. However, Vann struggled in the first half as the Sooners failed to get quick baskets and convert on fast break opportunities.
After half time, OU’s pace increased and so did the forwards' scoring opportunities.
The senior capitalized on easy looks around the rim, and pushed defenders deep in the lane to get position, contributing to the Sooners 34 points in the paint and nine fast break points.
🔥🔥🔥 @skyvannatic 🔥🔥🔥 https://t.co/HdnEEd7dKj
— Oklahoma Basketball (@OU_WBBall) March 23, 2024
Vann finished the game with 24 points off 9 of 18 shooting and grabbed three rebounds, and Williams, who came back in for OU in the fourth quarter, before falling hard in the lane and heading to the bench, had 14 points and five rebounds.
Oklahoma finished the outing shooting 44.6% from the floor, making 6 of 18 its looks at the 3-point line and went 17 of 22 at the free throw line.
OU posts a comeback
If there is one thing Oklahoma has done this season, it is come back.
The Sooners were not ahead a single time in the first 20 minutes, and heading into the matchup, FGCU was 28-0 when it had the lead heading into half time.
Down 14 at one point in the first quarter, it was a long road back for OU, but its non-conference struggles prepared the team to compete heading into the second half. As the two teams exchanged leads, the Sooners were able to create, execute and make timely plays.
A fadeaway jumper from junior guard Payton Verhulst gave OU a 72-70 boost with 45 seconds to play.
The P stands for playmaker! OU 72, FGCU 70 | 36.7 4Q pic.twitter.com/g3o2l2gpom
— Oklahoma Basketball (@OU_WBBall) March 23, 2024
The Sooners ended FGCU’s 22-game winning streak and stopped its yearly NCAA Tournament first round rally.
Oklahoma will face four seed Indiana (25-5) in the second round at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana, on Monday.
