Oklahoma needed every last second to put away North Carolina State on Wednesday night, and when the game got tight, a freshman stepped up in a big way. Aaliyah Chavez had herself a night, dropping her best scoring performance yet as No. 9 Oklahoma squeaked past NC State 103-98 in an overtime thriller that could’ve swung either way right up until the final buzzer.
Chavez came out hot, picking up right where she left off against Florida State. She attacked early and helped Oklahoma jump ahead after one quarter. Her shot cooled off in the second, but she kept NC State honest. The Wolfpack didn’t panic; they’d seen this movie before. Three players were rolling by halftime, and they owned the glass to take a 45-38 lead into the break. It was the kind of back-and-forth battle that had everyone locked in. With Chavez doing her thing and the game still up for grabs, you couldn’t help but want to see how it played out.
Sports betting analyst Lewis Humphries points out that the growing interest in legal betting in South Carolina shows just how many fans are looking for new ways to stay invested in games like these. When you’ve got regulated platforms, everything’s more straightforward, you know what the odds mean, and you’re not second-guessing whether the site’s legit. For fans already hooked on college basketball, it’s just another reason those wild finishes hit differently.
Khamil Pierre was doing real damage in the paint, grinding out buckets and snatching rebounds like it was second nature, while Zamareya Jones and Zoe Brooks kept things rolling from the perimeter. NC State pushed the lead to ten midway through the third, looking every bit like they belonged on the floor with a top-ten opponent. But that’s when the momentum shifted. After scoring a season-high 33 points, Chavez stopped settling for jumpers and started attacking the basket with purpose, and suddenly, Oklahoma had a pulse. By the time the quarter ended, the Sooners had clawed it back to just a five-point game.
Chávez had plenty of help. Sahara Williams and Raegan Beers were on fire, combining for 42 points. The Sooners clawed back bit by bit, eventually grabbing the lead late on a couple of clutch free throws. But NC State wasn’t done; they hit a late free throw to force overtime.
In those extra five minutes, Oklahoma just had more left. They cracked triple digits for the fourth straight game and pulled away. NC State battled hard, Pierre dominated the boards with 20 rebounds, and Brooks gave the Sooners fits all night. But when the game was on the line, the Sooners just executed better.
The win pushes Oklahoma’s streak to seven after that early loss to UCLA. For NC State, it’s a tough one; they went toe-to-toe with a ranked team and came up just short. This performance proves what we’ve been seeing all season: this team can hang with anyone. And for Oklahoma? Wednesday night showed their young star is maturing fast. When the game gets tight, her composure might be exactly what this team needs.