After three straight ranked losses, Jennie Baranczyk's Oklahoma Sooners rallies behind Chavez's 26 points and 8 assists to end the South Carolina Gamecocks' 12-game win streak
NORMAN, Okla. - In a thrilling upset at Lloyd Noble Center, the No. 16 Sooners women's basketball team delivered a statement performance by defeating the No. 2 South Carolina Gamecocks 94-82 in overtime on Thursday night.
This victory not only snapped Oklahoma's three-game losing streak—all against ranked opponents—but also marked one of the most impressive wins in recent program history, equaling their highest-ranked opponent ever beaten and standing as their third all-time triumph over a top-two team.
The game belonged to freshman sensation Aaliyah Chavez, who erupted for a game-high 26 points, including an astonishing 15 in overtime alone. Chavez struggled somewhat in regulation, converting just 4 of 14 field goals, but she flipped the script dramatically in the extra period.
She went a perfect 5-for-5 from the field, draining four 3-pointers and showcasing poise beyond her years. Her overtime explosion included scoring or assisting on 17 of Oklahoma's 19 points in the frame, helping the Sooners pull away decisively.
Chavez also dished out a career-high eight assists, becoming the first freshman since Caitlin Clark in 2021 to record at least 26 points and eight assists against a top-25 opponent. Her 15 overtime points set a new school record, underscoring her emergence as a clutch performer on the national stage.
Supporting Chavez's heroics were strong contributions across the roster. Payton Verhulst added 19 points on 8-of-15 shooting, along with four rebounds, four assists, and two blocks in 34 minutes of action. She has been on a hot streak, averaging 20.0 points over her last two games after dropping 21 against No. 6 LSU earlier in the week.
Raegan Beers delivered a dominant double-double—her 60th career and leading all active players—with 18 points on an efficient 8-of-9 shooting and 14 rebounds. Beers' putback with just 18.4 seconds left in regulation tied the score at 75-75, forcing overtime after South Carolina had briefly taken a 75-73 lead on Joyce Edwards' free throws with 42 seconds remaining.
Sahara Williams rounded out the key performers with her own double-double of 12 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and two steals; Oklahoma is undefeated (5-0) this season when she achieves that feat.
The Sooners showed resilience throughout. They trailed by eight late in the first half and entered halftime down 43-36 after Ta'Niya Latson converted three free throws with 0.4 seconds left following a foul by Kaya Smith. Oklahoma responded forcefully in the third quarter, outscoring South Carolina 25-16 to seize a 61-59 lead heading into the fourth.
They built a six-point advantage late before the Gamecocks rallied with a 6-0 run to tie it up. Oklahoma's defensive stop in the final seconds preserved the tie and sent the game to overtime, where the Sooners were flawless, shooting 7-for-7 and outscoring South Carolina 19-7.
South Carolina, the reigning SEC champions, saw its 12-game win streak come to an end. They finished at 19-2 overall and 5-1 in conference play.
Tessa Johnson led the Gamecocks with 19 points, while Raven Johnson added 16. Joyce Edwards, who had been averaging 20.6 points entering the contest, was held to 12 on 3-for-12 shooting.
The Gamecocks struggled offensively, shooting just 37% from the field, while Oklahoma converted at a 48.1% clip—the highest by any South Carolina opponent since UConn in the 2025 national championship game.
The Sooners dominated the glass 54-39, a 15-rebound margin that South Carolina hadn't suffered in SEC play since March 2024.
This win holds significant historical weight for Oklahoma under head coach Jennie Baranczyk. It marked their first victory over a top-two opponent since beating No. 2 Kansas State 66-63 on January 31, 2024.
The Sooners improved to 14-0 when leading after three quarters this season and became the first team to score 94 or more points against South Carolina since UConn in February 2019.
Oklahoma has now reached 90+ points 11 times this year, second-most in the nation behind LSU. Baranczyk's program has tallied 18 wins over ranked opponents, including three against top-five teams—all at home.
The Sooners' defensive effort and rebounding prowess were crucial, as they improved to 14-2 when winning the rebounding battle and 100-5 over the last five seasons when shooting a higher percentage than their opponent.
The victory also ended a potential slide, as Oklahoma has never lost four straight games under Baranczyk and hadn't dropped three in a row at home since before her arrival.
UP NEXT: With momentum firmly on their side, the Sooners (now 15-4, 3-3 in the SEC) look ahead to a road matchup against Auburn on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT on SEC Network.
This upset over one of the nation's elite teams signals that Oklahoma is very much "back" and ready to contend in a loaded Southeastern Conference race.