From 13-point deficit to dominant finish—Wildcats hold OU scoreless in final minutes for huge home win
LEXINGTON, Kent. - In a thrilling Southeastern Conference showdown at Historic Memorial Coliseum, the No. 6 Kentucky Wildcats staged a dramatic comeback to defeat the No. 5 Oklahoma Sooners by a final score of 63-57 on Sunday, January 11, 2026.
This victory marked Kentucky's second win over a top-10 opponent in just two weeks and highlighted the team's resilience, defensive prowess, and clutch performance in the closing moments.
The Wildcats, now 16-2 overall and 3-1 in SEC play, overcame a daunting 13-point deficit in the second quarter.
Oklahoma jumped out to an early lead, building a 24-11 advantage with 7:17 left in the first half.
The Sooners appeared poised to control the game, capitalizing on strong interior play and efficient scoring early on.
However, Kentucky refused to fold. Senior guard Tonie Morgan emerged as the catalyst for the rally. The SEC Player of the Week delivered a standout performance with 21 points (some sources note 22 points with 8-of-19 shooting), eight rebounds, and four assists, while playing all 40 minutes.
Morgan's highlight moment came in the second quarter when she banked in a three-pointer and was fouled, completing a spectacular four-point play that shifted momentum and energized the home crowd.
Supporting Morgan was junior forward Clara Strack, who contributed 18 points and 12 rebounds for her ninth double-double of the season. Strack also anchored the defense with three of Kentucky's eight blocks, helping disrupt Oklahoma's rhythm inside.
Guard Jordan Obi added 11 points, providing timely scoring as the Wildcats chipped away at the lead. By halftime, the game was knotted at 34-34 after Kentucky forced turnovers and tightened their defense.
Kentucky's defensive effort was crucial throughout.
Coming off a 64-51 loss at Alabama, the Wildcats forced 18 turnovers from Oklahoma and held them scoreless over the final four minutes.
The Cats sealed the win with a decisive 6-0 run late, including free throws from Morgan and Asia Boone in the closing seconds.
This defensive clampdown limited Oklahoma to a season-low 57 points on just 35.7% shooting, snapping the Sooners' 23-game winning streak when outshooting their opponent.
For Oklahoma (14-3, 2-2 in SEC), the loss marked their second straight defeat—the sixth time under fifth-year head coach Jennie Baranczyk that the team has dropped back-to-back games.
Despite holding Kentucky to 34% shooting, the Sooners struggled from deep, connecting on only 2-of-19 three-pointers.
Guard Aaliyah Chavez led the way with 18 points, extending her program-record streak of games with a made three to 17. She also added four rebounds, three assists, and just one turnover in a full 40 minutes.
Center Raegan Beers scored 14 points but saw her six-game double-double streak end with nine rebounds, hampered by foul trouble that limited her to 23 minutes.
Guard Payton Verhulst contributed 13 points, nine rebounds, and three assists in 40 minutes, marking her 10th double-digit scoring game.
This matchup was a rematch of last season's split series, where Kentucky won in Norman and Oklahoma prevailed in the SEC Tournament.
The Wildcats now lead the all-time series 4-2 and delivered their highest-ranked home win since 2017.
Without senior Teonni Key (their third-leading scorer at 11 points per game, sidelined by an elbow injury from the January 4 win over Missouri), Kentucky showed depth and determination.
The win boosts Kentucky's confidence as they aim for a strong SEC push, with three top-25 victories already this season (including road wins at Louisville and LSU).
UP NEXT: Oklahoma, meanwhile, returns home to host No. 12 LSU on January 18 at Lloyd Noble Center, looking to snap their skid and regain momentum in conference play.