Norman, Okla. – Oklahoma delivered a dominant performance to secure a spot in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Women’s Tournament, defeating Iowa 96-62 on Monday. Skylar Vann led the charge with 17 points, while Payton Verhulst contributed 16 as the third-seeded Sooners powered past the sixth-seeded Hawkeyes.
Raegan Beers was a force for Oklahoma, tallying 11 points, 13 rebounds, and four blocks in just 18 minutes. Her efforts were instrumental in the Sooners outrebounding Iowa 64-33, showcasing their physicality on both ends of the court.
This victory marked a significant milestone for Oklahoma head coach Jennie Baranczyk, who advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time in her four years at the helm. Baranczyk, an Iowa alumna, was emotional after the game, reflecting on the importance of the win.
“This is a big moment,” Baranczyk said. “There are a lot of emotions in a game like this. I’m really proud of how steady we were.”
Baranczyk, who played for Iowa under current Hawkeyes coach Jan Jensen, credited Jensen as one of the key figures who inspired her coaching career. After the game, the two coaches embraced in a moment of mutual respect.
“I’m proud of her, and I know she’s proud of us,” Baranczyk added.
With the win, Oklahoma (27-7) advances to face either UConn or South Dakota State on Saturday in Spokane, Washington.
Iowa, missing star player Caitlin Clark—who led the Hawkeyes to the past two national championship games and was selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft—struggled without her. The Hawkeyes shot just 36.4% from the field.
Lucy Olsen led Iowa with 20 points, while Kylie Feuerbach added 14, but the Hawkeyes’ offense couldn’t keep pace with Oklahoma’s firepower.
“As I told our team, it wasn’t the outcome we wanted,” said Iowa coach Jan Jensen. “We didn’t play up to the standard we’ve set, but credit to a really good Oklahoma team.”
Iowa started strong, jumping to a 10-4 lead, but Oklahoma responded with a 16-1 run to end the first quarter, taking control. By halftime, the Sooners held a 38-27 advantage, despite Beers sitting out much of the period due to foul trouble.
Baranczyk, visibly frustrated, was determined to see a better performance in the second half.
“Well, sometimes you can’t keep getting beat on the same thing,” she said. “We made better adjustments after halftime. We learned and came out stronger.”
The Sooners exploded in the second half, connecting on three 3-pointers in a span of just 55 seconds to stretch their lead to 49-32. By the end of the third quarter, Oklahoma had increased their lead to 68-43.
Oklahoma’s offensive depth was on full display, with 11 players getting on the scoreboard. Vann highlighted the team’s unselfish play and balanced scoring.
“We’re tough to guard,” Vann said. “When we’re all sharing the ball and playing aggressively on offense and defense, getting rebounds, and creating second-chance opportunities, that’s when we’re at our best.”
Key Takeaways:
Iowa: Despite Beers’ foul trouble, Oklahoma’s dominance on the glass was undeniable. The Sooners grabbed 24 offensive rebounds and scored 22 second-chance points, keeping Iowa from finding any rhythm.
Oklahoma: The Sooners struggled with their shooting in the first half, but once the shots started falling, the game quickly became out of reach.
Key Moment:
A pivotal play came when Iowa’s Hannah Stuelke made a reverse layup but accidentally struck Beers in the face, earning an intentional foul. Verhulst sank both free throws, and Vann followed with a 3-pointer off the ensuing possession, giving Oklahoma a 43-29 lead.
“That was a five-point swing at the worst possible time,” Jensen said.
A Spark from Zya Vann:
Skylar Vann’s younger sister, Zya Vann, provided a game-changing spark off the bench. The freshman contributed 10 points in 23 minutes, finishing with a plus-33 rating.
Key Stat:
Oklahoma’s 3-point shooting drastically improved in the second half, making 9 of 17 attempts after a dismal 2 of 17 performance in the first half.
