Verhulst Leads OU Past Missouri with Career-high Points

With a career-high 38 points and six 3-pointers, Payton Verhulst led No. 13 Oklahoma to an 80-63 victory over Missouri on Thursday.

Verhulst trailed Madi Williams’ school record of 45 against West Virginia on January 3, 2021, and tied Phylesha Whaley for fifth place on Oklahoma’s single-game scoring records.

In the first five minutes of the third quarter, Verhulst scored eighteen points. With a remarkable 9-0 run to start the second half, she scored 24 of Oklahoma’s 48 points, compared to Missouri’s 32. With 5:05 remaining in the game, she also scored seven points in a row, giving the Sooners a 21-point advantage.

Missouri went 6 of 14 from the field for 15 points, while Verhulst scored 20 points from all six of her field goals, including two 3-pointers, and six consecutive free throws in the third quarter.

Oklahoma (15-3, 3-2 Big 12) shot 52%, including 11 of 24 from 3-point range, with Verhulst finishing 13 of 19. After sustaining a shoulder injury during Sunday’s victory over Texas A&M, Raegan Beers, who is averaging a team-high 17.2 points per game, only played 10 minutes and scored five points.

Missouri (11-9, 0-5) was led by 17 points and 9 rebounds from Laniah Randle and 15 points from Grace Slaughter.

On Sunday, Oklahoma will travel to Colonial Life Arena to play No. 2 South Carolina. ESPN’s tip is scheduled for 2:00 PM CT.