Wednesday’s game opens a four-game home swing that features games against Northwestern State (11/30), Ole Miss (12/4), Robert Morris (12/11) and Southern (12/18). The Sooners will celebrate Native American Heritage before and during the game.
THE STARTING FIVE
- The Sooners are off to another hot start under second-year head coach Jennie Baranczyk as the team is 5-1 for the second consecutive season after not doing so since 2017. The high-powered OU offense has four players averaging double-digit points led by Madi Williams (17.3 PPG) and Taylor Robertson (11.5). The Sooners’ 90.2 points per game rank fourth nationally and are powered by 21.5 assists per game (3rd NCAA).
- Under the leadership of Baranczyk and with a roster that has played over 750 combined college games, Oklahoma was picked third in the preseason Big 12 poll and returns over 90% of its scoring, rebounding and assists from last year’s 25-win NCAA Tournament team. The Sooners received the most votes among teams not inside the latest AP Top 25 in the Nov. 28 poll and is ranked No. 23 in the Coaches Poll.
- One of the nation’s most prolific offenses, Oklahoma averages a Big 12-best 90.2 points per game, good for fourth nationally. The Sooners’ 90 PPG are nearly eight total points more than Iowa State’s 82.8, who ranks second in the conference. OU joins Baylor as the only Big 12 school to have four double-digit scorers who all shoot above 43% from the floor. OU has scored 85+ in four of its six games this year. Since Baranczyk became head coach in 2021-22, the Sooners have hit 85 points in 18 of their 40 games (45%), the third most in the nation in that time.
- OU’s starting five has amassed 392 starts for the Crimson and Cream, highlighted by Taylor Robertson’s 123 and Madi Williams’ 114. Robertson and Williams are on track to finish first and fourth, respectively, on Oklahoma’s all-time starts list. Robertson needs just 18 more starts to break Danielle Robinson’s record of 140.
- Oklahoma is undefeated (12-0) under Baranczyk when holding opponents under 70 points. On the flip side, the Sooners are 22-2 under her when scoring 80 points or more. Oklahoma’s 18-1 record when winning the turnover battle is another key to victory.
SERIES HISTORY
Wednesday marks the third all-time meeting between OU and Northwestern State. The Sooners are 2-0 vs. the Lady Demons with an average margin of victory of 49 points. The Sooners’ 96-35 domination of NWST in 2012 marked the eighth largest margin of victory (61) in program history and is the team’s largest win in the last decade.
LAST TIME OUT
A strong second half powered No. 22 Oklahoma to a 95-70 wire-to-wire win over Arkansas State in Jonesboro, Ark., on Tuesday night. The win wrapped up Oklahoma’s (5-1) four-game road swing with a victory as the Sooners have now started 5-1 for the second consecutive year under head coach Jennie Baranczyk. Ana Llanusa and Madi Williams each finished with 14 points, with freshman Beatrice Culliton scoring a career-high 11 points in the win. All 11 Sooners who played scored in the win, as OU shot 52% from the floor with 26 assists and just 16 turnovers. With Baranczyk as head coach, Oklahoma is now 25-1 when shooting a better percentage from the floor that its opponent, as the Sooners held Arkansas State (2-3) to just 38% shooting.
UP NEXT
In a battle of 2022 NCAA Tournament teams, the Sooners match up with Ole Miss at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4 at Lloyd Noble Center. ESPN+ will carry the game and Brian Brinkley will call the action on the Sooner Radio Network.
