No. 13 Oklahoma Falls to No. 6 LSU: Defensive Woes, Turnovers, and Chavez’s Off Night Fuel 91-72 Loss
Oklahoma’s recent stretch of SEC play has been a tough climb - and Saturday’s matchup against No. 6 LSU didn’t offer much relief.
The No. 13 Sooners dropped their third straight game against a ranked conference opponent, falling 91-72 on the road.
It was a game that exposed some recurring issues for OU, particularly on the defensive end and in taking care of the basketball.
Let’s break down what went wrong - and what it means moving forward.
Defensive Breakdown: LSU Finds the Gaps
LSU didn’t just beat Oklahoma - they picked the Sooners apart. The Tigers shot 43% from the field and 44% from beyond the arc, consistently finding open looks and capitalizing.
OU, meanwhile, struggled to generate stops and couldn’t match LSU’s scoring rhythm. The 91 points allowed were the most the Sooners have given up since their December 3rd matchup with NC State - and it showed.
The Tigers also dominated the glass, outrebounding OU 48-39. Senior center Raegan Beers did her part, pulling down a game-high 11 boards, but she didn’t get much help.
No other Sooner had more than six rebounds, while LSU had four players hit that mark or higher. That kind of disparity on the boards made it tough for Oklahoma to control the tempo or create second-chance opportunities.
The foul trouble didn’t help either. OU racked up 23 personal fouls, putting LSU on the line early and often. The Tigers made them pay, knocking down 85% of their free throws - a big reason why they were able to stretch the lead and keep it there.
Turnovers Continue to Haunt the Sooners
Ball security has been a growing concern for Oklahoma, and it reared its head again in Baton Rouge. The Sooners turned the ball over 18 times - matching their total from the previous game - and it cost them dearly. LSU turned those miscues into points, and the lack of fluid ball movement stifled any chance of building offensive momentum.
Freshman guard Aaliyah Chavez and sophomore forward Caya Smith each had four turnovers, while junior forward Sahara Williams and sophomore guard Zya Vann added three apiece. That’s four key rotation players combining for 14 of the team’s 18 giveaways.
To put it in perspective, OU’s season average coming in was 14.9 turnovers per game. That number’s trending in the wrong direction.
Chavez leads the team with 3.1 turnovers per game, and Williams (2.6) and Vann (2.1) aren’t far behind. For a team with postseason aspirations, tightening up the handle has to be a priority.
Aaliyah Chavez Hits a Wall
Chavez has been one of the Sooners’ most electric offensive weapons this season, but LSU found a way to slow her down - and then some. The freshman guard finished with just 11 points on 3-of-13 shooting, her lowest scoring output since facing Eastern Texas A&M earlier in the season. Her 21.4% shooting from the field marked a season low.
It was a tough night all around. Chavez came in averaging 19.2 points per game on 39.9% shooting, and when she’s clicking, the Sooners’ offense tends to follow.
But against LSU, nothing came easy. Whether it was tight perimeter defense, physical play in the lane, or just an off shooting night, Chavez couldn’t find her rhythm.
What’s Next: A Heavyweight Matchup on Deck
Things don’t get any easier from here. Oklahoma returns home to face No.
2 South Carolina, a team that’s been steamrolling through the SEC. The Gamecocks are 19-1 and undefeated in conference play, and they’ll bring their trademark physicality and depth to the Lloyd Noble Center on Thursday night.
Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. on ESPN. For the Sooners, it’s a chance to regroup, reset, and prove they can hang with the best - but they’ll need to clean up the turnovers, find their defensive identity, and get Chavez back on track if they want to pull off the upset.