Skylar Vann, Payton Verhulst help No. 16 Oklahoma women hold off Auburn 73-71
Vann had five points and four assists in the first quarter to help the Sooners (18-6, 6-5 Southeastern Conference) jump in front 12-2 before settling for a 21-17 lead. Oklahoma took a 44-35 lead into halftime and led 58-48 after three quarters.
DeYona Gaston had a three-point play and scored the first nine points of the final quarter to get the Tigers (12-12 3-8) within 58-57 with 8:28 remaining. Vann answered with a three-point play for the Sooners, but Gaston hit a jumper and Mar'shaun Bostic followed with a layup to give the Tigers their first lead at 66-65 with 3:30 left.
Verhulst made 1 of 2 at the line to put Oklahoma ahead by a point and Gaston made the second of two free throws to tie it at 71 with 24 seconds remaining. Verhulst was fouled with four seconds to go and made two for the victory after Gaston missed the game's final shot.
Gaston finished with 24 points and Bostic added 16 points, six rebounds and five assists.
Auburn had never played a game in the state of Oklahoma and was looking for its first road win over a ranked SEC team since beating Georgia in 2011. The two schools met just once prior when Auburn beat the visiting Sooners 95-79 in 2018 in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge.
Auburn plays at No. 15 Tennessee on Thursday. Oklahoma plays at Missouri on Sunday.
___
Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP women's college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball
The Associated Press
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
3 hours ago
- USA Today
WATCH: Rookie linebacker Danny Stutsman picks off Saints QB Spencer Rattler
Stutsman picks off Rattler Here's another throw at New Orleans Saints training camp that Spencer Rattler would like back. Both of the Saints' rookie fourth-round draft picks have now intercepted him in practice, with linebacker Danny Stutsman picking off Rattler in the end zone just days after cornerback Quincy Riley snatched an errant pass away in a similar situation. Stutsman and Rattler were college teammates at Oklahoma back in 2021. Now, we shouldn't blow this out of proportion. Training camp is when you want guys taking risks and testing the limits of what they can get away with against NFL defenders. But this was a poor decision no matter what time of year it is. See it for yourself right here. Rattler was leading the first-string offense in 7-on-9 drills against the first-team defense; Stutsman was bumped up the depth chart with Demario Davis absent from practice. The second-year QB tried a throw to wide receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr. running a crossing route through the middle of the end zone, but he was covered. Stutsman read the play as it developed and dropped back to leap the route. Even if the rookie hadn't been there, free safety Justin Reid was closing on Wilson fast, and it would've been a contested-catch situation at best. Again, this was one play. Jake Haener was intercepted at this same practice session, too, when he gambled on a deep shot to wide receiver Chris Tyree (this time, safety Julian Blackmon picked him off). But one of the big concerns with Rattler's rookie-year game tape was his decision making. He threw five interceptions and, according to Pro Football Focus charting, had 14 turnover-worthy plays on his grading sheet. He needs to show better judgment if he's going to fend off Haener and Tyler Shough in this summer's training camp competition. Hopefully this ends up being a learning moment for him.
USA Today
6 hours ago
- USA Today
Four-star forward Davion Adkins lists Auburn in top six, schedules official visit
The Tigers are battling several blue bloods to land Davion Adkins, a four-star forward from Texas. Ask any Auburn basketball fan, and they will tell you that the Tigers are a "blue blood" program. Sure, Auburn's history on the hardwood is not as deep as the likes of UCLA, Kentucky, or Duke. However, the Tigers have proven in recent years that they can compete with the sports' most successful programs on the court, as well as the recruiting trail. Another example of the Tigers' rise is in the recruitment of Davion Adkins, a four-star forward from Dallas, Texas. According to Joe Tipton of Rivals, Adkins has placed Auburn in his top six schools. The Tigers are competing with blue blood programs Indiana, Kansas, and UCLA, as well as national runner-up Houston and Rutgers. The race for Adkins is a tight one according to Rivals, as neither program in his top six has a chance greater than 24% to land his signature. Kansas is the leader, followed by Rutgers, Houston, Auburn, and Indiana. September and October will be key months for Adkins' recruitment, as he will take official visits to all six schools over those two months. His tour will begin Sept. 13 at Indiana, and will conclude Oct. 25 at UCLA. He plans to visit Auburn during the weekend of Oct. 18, the same weekend that Auburn football hosts Missouri at Jordan-Hare Stadium. In an interview with Tipton and Rivals, Adkins shares that he is impressed with the Tigers' recent success, and that Bruce Pearl and his staff could develop him. 'They've had great success in the tournament and overall with the players they bring in. I feel like they would be able to help me a lot.' Adkins is a 6-8 forward from Prolific Prep, by way of Dallas, Texas. He is the No. 5 power forward from the 2026 class, and the No. 36 overall player. Pearl and the Tigers are looking for their first 2026 commitment. Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__
USA Today
8 hours ago
- USA Today
Auburn baseball's 'rock solid foundation' creates positive outlook from Baseball America
Auburn baseball loses a ton from its Super Regional team in 2025, but a reloaded roster will put the Tigers in position to compete for Omaha next season. Auburn baseball turned in one of the nation's best turnarounds in 2025, and are poised for bigger dreams next season. One year after winning just 27 games, and posting an 8-22 record against SEC foes, the Auburn Tigers bounced back to improve their win total by 14 games and hosted its first-ever Super Regional. College baseball experts at Baseball America feel that the Tigers have plenty left in the tank, and will compete for a slot at the College World Series in 2026. In its "way-too-early" top 25 for the 2026 season, Baseball America placed Auburn at No. 5 after finishing the 2025 season at No. 10. Jacob Rudner and Peter Flaherty point out that true freshmen such as Chris Rembert, Christian Chatterton, and Eric Guevara, as well as transfers Todd Clay and Drew Whalen, will keep Auburn at the top of the SEC, as well as the nation, next season. Auburn rapidly climbed from the SEC cellar back into the league's elite in 2025, more than doubling its eight conference wins from the year prior. That success was fueled in part by key contributors no longer with the program—namely ace Samuel Dutton and outfielder Ike Irish—whose production will be tough to replicate. But returning talents Chris Rembert, Chase Fralick, Eric Guevara, Bub Terrell, Christian Chatterton and Andreas Alvarez provide a rock-solid foundation the Tigers have built upon through recruiting. Auburn bolstered its pitching staff with the additions of Drew Whalen (Western Kentucky), Ethan Harden (Belmont) and Jake Marciano (Virginia Tech). Offensively, Ryan Farber (Texas State), Todd Clay (Alabama-Birmingham) and Logan Greggorio (Northern Illinois) are promising additions. Pitching and infield will be the areas Auburn head coach Butch Thompson will aim to rebuild for next season after graduation and the MLB draft ravaged the Tigers' roster. Infielders Cooper McMurray, Eric Snow, and Deric Fabian, as well as pitchers Samuel Dutton, Parker Carlson, Cade Fisher, Carson Myers, Cam Tilly, Dylan Watts, and Hayden Murphy were all drafted by Major League Baseball organizations. The greatest loss will be Ike Irish, who was selected No. 19 overall by the Baltimore Orioles. Irish's versatility in the field, as well as his power at the plate, will be missed greatly next season. However, Thompson's ability to prepare will aid Auburn this season. Auburn will return several key players including catcher Chase Fralick, outfielders Lucas Steele and Bub Terrell, and infielder Eric Guevara and Chris Rembert, all return to the Auburn lineup next season. Christian Chatterton, Jackson Sanders, Andreas Alvarez, Alex Petrovic, and Saxon Roberts return to the Tigers' pitching staff while others such as Mason Koch, Connor Gatwood, and Trevor Booton look to log more innings in 2026. Baseball America's top-five is SEC heavy. Defending College World Series champion LSU checks in at No. 2, followed by Texas at No. 3 and Mississippi State at No. 4. UCLA is the top team to watch this season according to Baseball America as they are set to return many lineup pieces, as well as their entire weekend rotation. The Bruins finished 44-18 with a College World Series appearance, and will aim for the same target next season. Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__
