Chavez erupts for 27 points, guiding Oklahoma past Georgia in a nail-biting road win, as her clutch performance secured a massive victory for the Sooners
ATHENS, Ga. - In a thrilling Southeastern Conference clash on Thursday night, the No. 11 Oklahoma Sooners women's basketball team edged out the No. 24 Georgia Lady Bulldogs with a hard-fought 71-67 victory. The game, played at Stegeman Coliseum, showcased intense competition, dramatic runs, and standout individual performances that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the final seconds.
Leading the charge for Oklahoma (20-6 overall, 8-5 in the SEC) was true freshman sensation Aaliyah Chavez. The dynamic guard delivered a game-high 27 points, complemented by five assists and four rebounds. Chavez shot an efficient 9-for-17 from the field and went a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line, extending her impressive streak of consecutive made free throws to 37—a mark that ties for the third-longest in program history.
This marked her sixth 25-point game of the season, surpassing the total of all other SEC freshmen combined.
Remarkably, Oklahoma improves to 14-0 this year when Chavez leads the team in assists, underscoring her pivotal role in the offense. Chavez has now scored in double figures in 20 consecutive games, the 14th-longest streak in Sooners history and the second-longest ever by an OU freshman (behind only the legendary Courtney Paris's 36-game run).
Supporting Chavez was Sahara Williams, who contributed 11 points, six rebounds, two assists, and a team-high three steals. Despite a 4-for-15 shooting night, Williams delivered a crucial late three-pointer that helped stem Georgia's momentum and proved decisive in preserving the lead.
The Sooners asserted dominance early, exploding out to a 9-0 run and building a double-digit advantage within the first five minutes. They carried a comfortable 37-27 halftime lead into the locker room, with Chavez already accounting for 13 points in the opening half.
Oklahoma has been unbeatable when leading at the break this season, improving to 17-0 in such scenarios.Georgia (20-7 overall, 6-7 in the SEC) refused to go quietly, mounting a fierce second-half comeback. The Bulldogs trimmed the deficit to as few as two points on multiple occasions in the fourth quarter, fueled by a balanced attack.
Mia Woolfolk led Georgia with an outstanding 29 points and nine rebounds, showcasing her scoring prowess and tenacity on the boards. Dani Carnegie chipped in 14 points and six rebounds, while Trinity Turner added 10 points and another six boards. The Lady Bulldogs' resilience kept the outcome in doubt deep into the contest.
However, Oklahoma responded to every Georgia push with composure. A key three-pointer from Williams late in the game created breathing room, and forward Raegan Beers sealed the victory with two clutch free throws with just 23 seconds remaining, putting the game out of reach.
Defensively, the Sooners held firm despite shooting a season-low 37.3% (25-for-67) in a win. They limited Georgia to 67 points, improving to 14-1 this year when holding opponents under 70. Oklahoma also excelled in ball security and sharing, dishing out 16 assists on 25 made field goals while committing only 13 turnovers—a formula that has led to a 29-5 record under fifth-year head coach Jennie Baranczyk when turnovers stay at 13 or fewer.
This road win marked Oklahoma's fourth victory over a ranked opponent this season and clinched the program's fifth straight 20-win campaign under Baranczyk—the second-longest such streak in school history (behind an eight-year run from 2005-13).
The Sooners have now won five games by single digits this year, including their last three outings, highlighting their ability to close out tight contests.
UP NEXT: No. 11 Oklahoma returns home to the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman for its annual Pink Game on Sunday, hosting No. 21 Tennessee at 1 p.m. CT on ESPN. The matchup promises another exciting SEC battle as the Sooners look to build momentum in the conference race.
This victory not only bolsters Oklahoma's resume but also highlights the emergence of Chavez as one of the conference's brightest young stars, setting the stage for what could be a memorable finish to the regular season and beyond.