Coogs come close but not enough in 71-65 home loss to Oklahoma

POSTED: January 20, 2024 -- 11:10 p.m. CT

HOUSTON, TX (Fertitta Center) -- The Houston Cougars women's basketball team lost a competitive Big 12 match-up to the Oklahoma Sooners, 71-65, Saturday evening.

"We hear so much about the men's (Big 12 men's basketball) side; but, the women's side is really, really good" Jennie Baranczyk, Oklahoma head coach said after the game.

Houston (11-7 overall, 2-5 in Big 12) point guard N'Yah Boyd, scored a team-high 20 points to lead the Coogs.

The Sooners scored the first 7 points of the game before Houston's Bria Patterson made a three-pointer.

Oklahoma's offense was feast-or-famine in the first quarter. OU (11-6, 5-1) made 8 field goals out of 13 attempts for 61.5 fg%; however, they committed 7 turnovers which Houston converted into 8 points.

Laila Blair scored a layup to end the 1st period. Houston trailed Oklahoma, 18-14, at the end of the quarter.

Houston got its first lead of the game (21-20) with a 7-2 burst 3:30 into the second quarter. Oklahoma's Skylar Vann scored six points during an 8-2 Sooners' run. Houston trailed OU 28-23 with 4:01 remaining in the first half.

The Coogs' responded with a 9-2 run to lead 32-30 with 32 seconds remaining in the half. The lead lasted less than 10 seconds because OU's Lexy Keys swished a 3-point shot for a 33-32 OU lead at the half.

OU point guard Nevaeh Tot made a 3-pointer to start the scoring in the third quarter; but, Boyd and teammate Kamryn Jones each scored a basket to tie the game at 36. Payton Verhulst made a 3 to break the tie and put OU on top 39-36.

Houston trailed by as much as 7 (49-42) in the third quarter before clawing within 1 (51-50) with 83 seconds to go in the third period. OU led Houston 53-50 at the end of third quarter.

Houston's offense went cold in the 4th; and, OU increased its lead to 10 (65-55) with 4:34 remaining in the game. N'Yah Boyd made a layup and a three-pointer to begin a 7-0 Houston run. After a bad pass by Skylar Vann, Houston had a chance to tie the game; but, Maliyah Johnson missed a game-tying three-point attempt.

Then, after an offensive rebound, Houston had a chance to cut its deficit to 1; but, Peyton McFarland missed a layup. OU capitalized on Houston's 2 misses and Payton Verhulst hit a clutch jumper to increase the Sooners' lead to 5 (67-62) with 1:29 to go in the game.

Houston did not get closer than 3 points to close out the game.

"Disappointing loss," Ron Hughey, Houston Head Coach, said after the game. "Crucial times of the game, you have to finish plays."

Oklahoma out-rebounded Houston 42-33 and outscored Houston 40-22 in the paint.

"The thing we didn't take care of is rebounding," Coach Hughey added. "And, that's just toughness."

NEXT:

Houston's next game is Wednesday, January 24, on the road, against Texas Tech. Tip is set for 6 p.m. on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.

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