Oklahoma regains No. 1 spot on ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Poll

Photo credit: Morgan Givens/University of Oklahoma

By Chris Price
Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (March 12, 2024) In the latest Week 5 ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Poll, the Oklahoma Sooners have climbed back to the No. 1 spot after a fantastic week. They dominated with a big win mid-week and then swept Iowa State in their Big 12 conference opener. The Sooners were on fire, outscoring their opponents 29-3 in the series.

The LSU Tigers are also making waves, staying undefeated with a 22-0 record and moving up one spot in the rankings. Meanwhile, Texas slips down three spots after a mixed performance against Houston, managing to win the series but suffering a tough loss in the process.

Duke holds strong in the No. 4 spot after securing wins against Elon and South Dakota State, while Georgia rounds out the Top 5 after a successful weekend at the Bulldog Classic, including wins against Miami-OH.

Here's how the Top 10 looks:

1. Oklahoma

2. LSU

3. Texas

4. Duke

5. Georgia

6. Stanford

7. Oklahoma State

8. Washington

9. Tennessee

10. Florida

The rankings show that the competition is heating up as teams battle it out on the field. With each week, we're seeing some exciting matchups and impressive performances from these top college softball teams. Stay tuned for more action-packed games ahead!

Tennessee downs Oklahoma 8-0 at Minute Maid Park

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2022 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (March 6, 2022) Number six ranked Tennessee completed their three-game series at the Shirners Children's College Classic  inside Minute Maid Park in Houston with an 8-0 win over Oklahoma. The Voluneers (10-1) went 2-1 in the tournament, dropping their first game of the season by the score of 7-2 to the No. 1 Texas Longhorns on Friday evening (March 4). On Saturday, they downed the Baylor Bears by the score of 10-5.

Tennessee was paced by designated hitter Christian Moore, who was 3-for-4 at the plate, with two runs and three RBI. He was assisted by left fielder Seth Stephenson, who went 2-for-2 with one RBI. For the Sooners, center fielder Tanner Tredaway tallied two hits from four at bats. 

The Volunteers used five pitchers in the victory, with starter Drew Beam getting the win. He completed five innings while giving up only two hits in facing 17 batters. The win pushed his season record to 2-0.

Starting pitcher Chazz Martinez receive the loss for the Sooners, with 3.2 innings of work. He gave up five runs, all of them earned, on five hits while facing 20 batters.

Next on tap for the Volunteers with be a Tuesday, March 8 matchup against James Madison. Oklahoma, who went 0-3 at Minute Maid Park, will face Dallas Baptist on Tuesday.

The box score from the game can be accessed by clicking here.

HBU Huskies fall to Oklahoma Sooners, 57-40

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved

NORMAN, OKLAHOMA (November 24, 2021) The HBU Huskies jumped out to a 27-22 lead over the Oklahoma Sooners at halftime but were unable to retain the lead in the second half and as a result, dropped a 57-40 decision at the Lloyd Noble Center.

The Huskies shot 57% in the first half but could manage only 5-of-27 (18%) in the second. That, in addition to the Sooners shooing 44% in the last 20 minutes, sealed the loss for HBU.

Starting forward Zion Tordoff tallied 11 points for the Huskies, followed by starting guard Jade Tse with nine points. Darius Lee pulled down eight rebounds with Za-Ontay Boothman recorded two assists. HBU largest lead was at the 2:49 point of the first half, where they recorded a nine point lead (27-18).

Turnovers played a major role in the loss, with the Huskies turning over the ball 21 times to the Sooners. The loss pushed HBU to a 1-4 record, with their only win coming on November 11 at home against Barclay, 122-44.

HBU will play their next four games in the friendly confines of Sharp Gymnasium in Houston, where they will face Southwestern Adventist on November 29, followed by Oral Roberts on December 4. They will take on Champion Christian (December 7), followed by a meeting with crosstown foe Rice on December 11.

Oklahoma, with the win, climbed to 5-1 on the season. They were led by senior Elijah Harkness with 13 points and nine rebounds. He was followed by senior Jordan Goldwire with 11 points.

Houston Knocks Off Oklahoma in Season Opener

Photo courtesy of Oklahoma Athletics

Onyeje paces the Cougars with 23 points

HOUSTON, TEXAS (November 25. 2020) The University of Houston Women’s Basketball team opened its season with an 97-85 win over Big 12 foe Oklahoma on Wednesday afternoon at the Lloyd Noble Center.

 

Four Cougars turned in double-figure scoring efforts led by redshirt sophomore, Britney Onyeje with a team-high 23 points in her collegiate debut. Julia Blackshell-Fair nearly had a double-double with 16 points and nine rebounds, as Dymond Gladney (shown right) led UH in assists with seven.

 

Houston shot 43.6 percent from the field, including 31.1 percent from three-point range.

 

Oklahoma’s Madi Williams led all scorers with 25 points, as Mandy Simpson posted a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds.

 

Houston set the the tone early via a 7-2 scoring run in the first two minutes of the game. Julia Blackshell-Fair scored the first Cougar basket of the 2020-21 season, driving through the lane after gaining control of the jump ball. Sharpshooting and tough defense helped Oklahoma even things up at the halfway point of the frame, 11-11. Both teams went back-and-forth for the remainder of the first quarter before a timely three-point basket from junior Ca’Leyah Burrell gave Houston a one-point advantage at the quarter break.

 

Leading 26-25, Houston turned things up defensively in the second quarter and ultimately outscored Oklahoma 20-19. Blackshell-Fair remained poised, but aggressive earning three trips to the free throw line where she knocked down 5-of-6 free throw attempts. UH forced four OU turnovers, outscoring the Sooners 7-3 off turnovers to close out the frame. As time dwindled down, Houston redshirt senior Eryka Sidney dribbled to the top of the key where she sank a jump shot with only second left on the clock to give UH a 46-44 lead at the half.

 

The third quarter would be the turning point for the Cougars as Houston outscored Oklahoma 27-17. UH got going from behind the three-point line, knocking down four of its seven attempts. Onyeje paced the Cougars, scoring 13 of her 23 points during the third quarter, including three made three-pointers. Houston held Oklahoma to 16.7 percent shooting from three-point range, outscoring OU 6-0 in transition.

 

The Houston defense kept things tight as time winded down, forcing six fourth quarter turnovers. Fouls plagued the Cougars as Oklahoma managed to chip away at UH’s lead with help from trips to the free throw line. Freshman, Laila Blair had the hot hand in the fourth quarter, scoring seven of Houston’s 24 fourth quarter points. The Cougars held on, late ultimately picking up its second straight win over the Sooners.

     

Houston will head to Tuscaloose to face Alabama on Nov. 29. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m.

Alabama QB Jalen Hurts spotted on OU campus

Photo courtesy of
Ted Gangi, CollegePressBox, collegepressbox.com
Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved

By Chris Price
Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved

NORMAN, OKLAHOMA (January 13, 2019) It is being reported by soonerscoop.com on Twitter that Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts visited the University of Oklahoma campus on Saturday, January 13. Hurts, who played his high school ball for Channelview (Texas) High School near Houston, is expected to transfer from Alabama after three seasons in Tuscaloosa. Hurts graduated from Alabama this past December 

Hurts has been linked to possibly transferring, in addition to Oklahoma, to Maryland, Auburn, Houston, Tennessee, and Miami.

Baker Mayfield wins 2017 Heisman Trophy

Photo by Karl Anderson
University of Oklahoma Athletic Communications
Used with Permission

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2017 All Rights Reserved

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK (December 9 , 2017) Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield was awarded the Heisman Trophy for 2017 during ceremonies at the New York Marriott Marquis. Mayfield began his college football career as a walk-on player for the Texas Tech Red Raiders. He is notable for being the first walk-on true  freshman quarterback to start a season opener at a BCS school. The senior, who played his high school ball for Lake Travis High School in Austin, Texas, has previously won the Maxwell Award, Davey O'Brien Award, and Walter Camp Award in 2017. He was also named the 2017 Associated Press Player of the Year.

Mayfield is the fifth Oklahoma Sooner to receive the award. He received 2,398 votes, in addition to 78.8% of first-place votes. Previous Sooner players to receive the award include Billy Vesssels (1952), Steve Owens (1969), Billy Sims (1978), Jason White (2003), and Sam Bradford (2008).

Mayfield and his Oklahoma teammates will face Georgia in a CFP semi-final game in the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2018.

Oklahoma Sooners HC Bob Stoops: Post game press conference after Advocare Texas Kickoff

Houston Cougars Men’s Basketball Back in Action after Break

Cougars set to meet Oklahoma at 7 p.m., Saturday, at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City

HOUSTON, TEXAS (December 16, 2011) After more than 10 days off from competition, the University of Houston men’s basketball team returns to action at 7 p.m., Saturday, when it meets Oklahoma inside Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Between the Cougars’ final examinations and a request from UTSA administrators to postpone a game earlier this month, Houston has not seen action since a tough 81-78 loss at Texas State on Dec. 6. It was the Cougars’ fourth loss this season by a combined seven points.

Against the Bobcats, junior guard junior guard Jonathon Simmons posted a career-high points total and freshman forward TaShawn Thomas finished with a double-double – each for the second straight game – to lead the Cougars.

The Cougars trailed by as many as 23 points in the second half before chipping away at the deficit. Houston moved to within two points with just more than a remaining but was unable to tie the score.

Sophomore forward Alandise Harris and freshman point guard J.J. Thompson each posted 11 points for the Cougars.

This season, Harris leads the Cougars and ranks fourth in Conference USA with 16.0 points per game. Simmons is averaging 24.0 points in Houston’s last two games and moved into second among the Cougars with 13.6 points per contest. Junior forward Kirk Van Slyke stands third with 11.6 points per, game, while Thomas ranks fourth with 10.4 points per game and a team-high 8.8 rebounds per contest.

Houston is no stranger to the RAMADA All-College Classic. The Cougars are 9-6 all-time at this event, and the 2011 appearance will be the sixth time that the Cougars have competed here.

However, this is the first time since Dec. 27-29, 1973, that the Cougars will take part in this tournament. It also will be the first time that the Cougars have faced Oklahoma at this event.

The Cougars went 1-2 in their first appearance at the RAMADA All-College Classic and followed that with 2-1 showings in 1960, 1961, 1963 and 1974.

Saturday’s game will be the third meeting in the all-time series against the Sooners with the previous games being played during regular-season tournament play.

Despite its brief history, the series has been a tight one with no game being decided by more than seven points.

This will be the second time in the last three years that the Cougars will face Oklahoma on the hardwood. In the last meeting, the Cougars took a 100-93 win during the Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout on Nov. 26, 2009, in Anchorage, Alaska.

In the only other meeting, Oklahoma snared a 55-51 win on Dec. 15, 1960, during the Cougars’ own Lion’s Club Tournament at Sam Houston Coliseum in Houston.

Oklahoma brings a 7-1 overall record into this weekend’s game. The Sooners have won their last three games.. The Sooners have won handily in 2011-12, winning by an average of 15.1 points per game.

In their most recent win, Oklahoma took a 78-63 win against Arkansas on Dec. 10 in Norman, Okla. Against the Razorbacks, the Sooners raced out to a 12-point halftime lead. Steven Pledger led OU with 22 points, while forward Andrew Fitzgerald added 17 points and a team-high eight rebounds. Tyler Neal came off the bench to post 18 points and five boards, and Romero Osby totaled 10 points and seven rebounds in the win.

This season, Pledger leads the Sooners with 17.9 points per game, while Calvin Newell ranks second with 13.0 points per contest. Andrew Fitzgerald stands third at 11.0 ppg, and Osby ranks fourth with 10.6 points per game but averages a team-high 7.5 rebounds per contest.

Head coach Lon Kruger is in his first year at Oklahoma and has posted a 7-1 record. He is in his 26th year overall as a head coach and has posted a 486-305 record during that time.

Kruger previously served as head coach at UT Pan American (1982-86), Kansas State (1986-90), Florida (1990-96), Illinois (1996-00), with the Atlanta Hawks (2000-03) and UNLV (2004-11). He is 2-0 against the Cougars during his career with both wins coming during his tenure at UNLV.