Stormin in Norman
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Oklahoma basketball season not over yet with OU in NCAA Women’s Tournament

By Chip Rouse

Oklahoma Sooners forward Madi Williams (25) celebrates after making a 3-pointer during a women's Bedlam college basketball game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Oklahoma State Cowgirls (OSU) at Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023. Oklahoma won 97-93.cover main
Oklahoma Sooners forward Madi Williams (25) celebrates after making a 3-pointer during a women's Bedlam college basketball game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Oklahoma State Cowgirls (OSU) at Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023. Oklahoma won 97-93.cover main /
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Rumors that Oklahoma basketball season is dead and done are greatly exaggerated.

March Madness is in full swing, and while the Sooner men are on the outside looking in this year, the women are gearing up for what they hope will be a deep run in the NCAA Women’s Tournament.

The Sooners (25-6) are the No. 5 seed in the Greenville Region and will play No. 12-seeded Portland on Saturday at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles. It will be the 21st appearance in the NCAA Tournament since the 1999-2000 season and second in a row after missing the tournament the three seasons before that.

The 23 all-time NCAA Tournament appearances by the Lady Sooners are the second most of any Big 12 team. Oklahoma is 34-22 all-time in the NCAA Tournament and 18-4 in first-round games.

OU and Portland have met just one other time, at Portland in 1987, with the Sooners prevailing 83-70.

The Pilots (23-8) finished second to Gonzaga this season in the West Coast Conference but won the conference tournament and earned the NCAA automatic bid. They are making their sixth NCAA Tournament appearance.

Five things to know about the Sooners’ 1st round of the NCAA Women’s Tournament

  • Oklahoma ranks second in the nation in scoring offense, averaging 84.5 points per game. Portland averages 69.5 points per game and has held opponents to 62.0 points per contest.
  • Portland has four players averaging at least 10 points a game, led by Alex Fowler at 17.8. The Sooners also have four players averaging at least 11 points a game: Madi Williams (15.5), Ana Llanusa (11.7), Taylor Robertson and Skylar Vann (both 11.0).
  • Portland has one win against Quad I opponents (home win over teams ranked 1-30; neutral court win 1-50 or away win 1-75) and 4 against Quad 2 opponents (home win over teams ranked 31-75; neutral win 51-100 or away win 76-35). OU has eight Quad 1 wins and seven Quad 2 wins this season.
  • If the Sooners win their opening round game with Portland, they will be matched up with No. 4 UCLA and No. 13 Sacramento State on Monday and on UCLA’s home court.
  • The Oklahoma-Portland game will be televised on ESPNU beginning at 8 p.m. CT on Saturday.
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