#15 Oklahoma (22-4, 12-3 Big 12) defeated Kansas (16-9, 6-8) 86-80 in Lawrence on Sunday.
The win gives the Sooners a half-game lead over #17 Texas for first place in the Big 12.
The Sooners held Kansas scoreless in the final 3:12 of the game to secure the win. Senior forward Madi Williams gave OU breathing room after knocking down a pair of free throws to give Oklahoma an 84-80 lead with 37 seconds left.
Williams led the Sooners with 23 points on 8-of-15 shooting. Williams also grabbed five rebounds and collected five steals.
Senior guard Ana Llanusa had 18 points and made 4 of 5 3-point attempts. Senior forward Liz Scott posted a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Scott scored nine of the Sooners’ 27 first quarter points. After a dominant back-and-forth offensive display, the teams were knotted at 27 heading into the second quarter.
OU struggled to contain Kansas senior guard Zakiyah Franklin, who scored 30 points and dished up six assists. Kansas junior center Tayanna Jackson tallied 19 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks.
Both teams shot 31-of-64 (48%) from the field, with OU’s 10 3-pointers providing a lead over the Jayhawks’ eight. Additionally, the Sooners committed seven turnovers to Kansas’ 12.
Despite leading the NCAA in assists per game (21.5), the Sooners served 19 to Kansas’ 20 in Sunday’s deal. OU grabbed 22 offensive rebounds in its 80-74 win over Kansas on Jan. 14 but was held to 10 on Sunday.
Next, OU will face #17 Texas (20-7, 11-3 Big 12) on Saturday at 1 p.m. in Norman.
This story was edited by Colton Sulley.
