Women's Top 25 roundup: No. 16 Oklahoma holds off Auburn

Field Level Media|published: Mon 10th February, 23:12 2025

Jan 19, 2025; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Oklahoma Sooners head coach Jennie Baranczyk disputes a call against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the first half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images

Payton Verhulst sank a pair of free throws with four seconds remaining to lift No. 16 Oklahoma to a 73-71 victory over Auburn on Monday night in Norman, Okla.

The Tigers (12-12, 3-8 Southeastern Conference) had tied the game just 20 seconds earlier when DeYona Gaston went 1-for-2 at the free-throw line. Mar'shaun Bostic then fouled Verhulst, who put the Sooners in front before Gaston's jumper was off the mark with two seconds to go.

Skylar Vann put up 20 points and Verhulst paired 15 with six rebounds as Oklahoma (18-6, 6-5) won for the third time in five games.

Gaston led all scorers with 24 points for Auburn, which also got 16 points, six boards and three steals from Bostic. The Tigers trailed by 10 heading into the final quarter but opened the frame on a 9-0 run to get right back into the game.

Ole Miss 66, No. 8 Kentucky 57

Madison Scott poured in 22 points and the Rebels topped the Wildcats in Oxford, Miss.

Despite being ranked, Kentucky (19-3, 8-2 SEC) entered the contest as the underdog and looked like one down the stretch, going the final 3:12 without a field goal. Teonni Key collected 18 points and 10 rebounds to record a double-double for the Wildcats.

Ole Miss (16-7, 7-4) blew the game open with eight unanswered points late in the fourth quarter. The Rebels managed to win despite being outshot 44.6 percent to 32.5 percent from the field.

--Field Level Media