In a dominating performance, the No. 3 seed Oklahoma women’s basketball team defeated 14th-seeded Florida Gulf Coast 81-58 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Raegan Beers led the way with 25 points and 18 rebounds, showcasing her 6-foot-4 height advantage against a smaller opponent. The Sooners outrebounded the Eagles 72-35, with Skylar Vann contributing 24 points and Payton Verhulst adding 13 points, six rebounds, and six assists.
Oklahoma pulled away in the fourth quarter, outscoring Florida Gulf Coast 26-10 to secure the victory and advance to face No. 6 seed Iowa in the next round. Emani Jefferson, the Eagles’ top player who had shined in last year’s matchup against the Sooners, was held to 12 points and eight rebounds while dealing with foul trouble.
Despite Florida Gulf Coast’s 23-game winning streak coming to an end, Dolly Cairns managed to score 15 points for her team. The Eagles struggled offensively, shooting 23.6% from the field and making only 8 of 41 3-point attempts. Oklahoma will now face Iowa, which happens to be head coach Jennie Baranczyk’s alma mater, with a spot in the Sweet 16 on the line. The Sooners look to build on their success from last year’s tournament and continue their impressive run in the postseason.
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