Trailing significantly at halftime, Oklahoma unleashed a furious second-half offensive and defensive onslaught to stun Florida and snap a two-game losing streak
NORMAN, Okla. - The No. 10 Oklahoma Sooners staged a thrilling second-half comeback to defeat the Florida Gators 81-74 on Thursday night at Lloyd Noble Center. This victory snapped a two-game skid for the Sooners and highlighted their resilience in Southeastern Conference play.
The game began with Oklahoma jumping out to an early 6-0 lead, but Florida quickly responded. The Gators built momentum, taking a 19-15 advantage after the first quarter and extending it further. They held the Sooners scoreless for a stretch in the second quarter and pushed their lead to a game-high 13 points at 32-19 during a 13-0 run.
Florida carried a commanding 37-26 halftime edge into the locker room, thanks in large part to strong play from Liv McGill, who finished with a game-high 29 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists. Me'Arah O'Neal added 14 points, and Jade Weathersby contributed 11 for the Gators (15-12, 3-9 SEC).Oklahoma's first half was forgettable offensively.
The Sooners shot just 27.8% (10-of-36) from the field, including 1-of-9 from three-point range. Key contributors like Aaliyah Chavez and Raegan Beers struggled early, and the team committed 13 turnovers before the break.
Everything changed after halftime. Oklahoma exploded for 28 points in the third quarter, outscoring Florida 28-20 to close the gap to 57-54 entering the fourth. The Sooners' defense tightened, forcing turnovers and capitalizing in transition. Chavez was instrumental, dishing out five assists in the quarter, including feeds that led to layups by Peyton Verhulst and Sahara Williams.
The fourth quarter delivered the decisive moments. With 5:59 remaining, Verhulst converted a three-point play to tie the score at 64-all — Oklahoma's first tie since leading 8-6 early in the game. Chavez then found Williams for a layup to give the Sooners a 66-64 lead. They never looked back, closing the game on a 17-10 run.
Verhulst added a jumper, Zya Vann drained a three-pointer, and Chavez knocked down free throws to push the margin to 73-66. The Sooners sealed the win by maintaining composure and executing down the stretch.
Zya Vann led the Sooners with 18 points on efficient 7-of-10 shooting, including four three-pointers. She added four steals, three assists, and two rebounds in a performance that marked her career high against a conference opponent.
Peyton Verhulst contributed 16 points and nine rebounds, reaching double figures for the seventh time in the last eight games. Her clutch three-point play late in the game was pivotal.Aaliyah Chavez added 16 points, seven assists, five rebounds, and three steals while going a perfect 10-for-10 from the free-throw line. This marked a rare stat line for a freshman in conference play.
Sahara Williams scored eight points and grabbed five rebounds, notably reaching 1,000 career points on a first-quarter layup. She became the 40th Sooner to hit that milestone and joined Verhulst and Beers as active players with 1,000+ points — placing Oklahoma among an elite group in the SEC.Oklahoma shot an impressive 70.4% (19-of-27) in the second half, finishing the game at 46% overall.
They improved to 13-1 this season when shooting 45% or better. The Sooners also forced 23 Florida turnovers while committing just four in the second half, leading to 19 assists.
Under fifth-year head coach Jennie Baranczyk, this marked Oklahoma's 19th double-digit comeback. The 13-point deficit overcome was the largest this season and the biggest in SEC play since erasing a 15-point hole against Texas in February 2024.
The win extended the Sooners' home dominance over unranked opponents to 31 straight victories, including 19 against unranked conference foes. It also secured the program's fifth consecutive season with at least 12 home wins — a program record.
Oklahoma improved to 18-6 overall and 6-5 in the SEC, moving above .500 in conference play. Florida dropped to 3-9 in league action despite a strong effort.
UP NEXT: The Sooners now turn their attention to a road matchup against No. 23 Alabama on Sunday at 3 p.m. CT on SEC Network — their ninth ranked opponent of the season.