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OUInsider – Early offense propels Sooners past Louisiana, Liberty

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OUInsider  –  Early offense propels Sooners past Louisiana, Liberty


NORMAN — Patty Gasso and the players acknowledged that Friday’s opening day at Love’s Field was an emotional and sometimes challenging one.

But on Saturday — their second day at their new stadium — the Sooners were more settled in. They opened their doubleheader with an 8-0 win over Louisiana before closing it with a 15-3 win over Liberty.

Two games, two run-rule victories.

While they’re still getting adjusted to their new surroundings, Saturday was clearly a step forward.

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“I was kind of mesmerized by just how many people were watching and just being in the best stadium in the country is hard to wrap my brain around while I was playing,” Jayda Coleman said on Saturday. “But today was definitely more settled in.”

Gasso saw a difference in her team, too.

“I think we got comfortable in our new house a little more,” Gasso said. “Definitely felt a difference. They were confident. Just still feeling out a little bit. Like the wind flow is different. I mean there’s some things we’re trying to learn about the stadium. But definitely the jitters were out and they played the way they’re capable of.”

Here’s some takeaways and notes from the second round of games at Love’s Field:

Oklahoma 8, Louisiana 0 (five innings)

— True sophomore Kierston Deal made her first circle appearance at Love’s Field and delivered a solid performance, allowing three hits and no runs with two strikeouts in 4.0 innings. Paytn Monticelli allowed two hits and no runs in relief.

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Deal has played significantly better since the early struggles during opening weekend. In her last 16 innings, Deal has allowed just seven hits and no runs with 18 strikeouts.

“There was a lot of confidence there,” Gasso said. “It’s been really fun to watch her — well it wasn’t fun to watch her first appearance. But to see her response to it has been really incredible. It’s a good testimony to just believing in yourself. She got that back and she didn’t let it lay it all out on that first weekend. So I’ve been really happy with her performance. We need that right now. Our pitching staff got a little roughed up this weekend and we’ve got some work to do.”

— Alyssa Brito was sensational: three hits (all doubles), three runs and two RBIs.

— Gasso did a lot of tinkering with the lineup. The highlights? Riley Ludlam started at first base instead of Cydney Sanders, Rylie Boone batted first while usual leadoff hitter Jayda Coleman was in the nine spot.

“We’re really into analytics,” Gasso said. “And it does make a difference. And they know that. It’s not, ‘Oh, Jayda all of a sudden you’re in the nine.’ It’s strategic. We set them up for success by what pitcher is on the mound and who — maybe I like balls that are up and it’s a down-ball pitcher. Maybe I should be lower in the lineup or maybe I make a switch. I mean it’s all about that. Or sometimes I’m just trying to get some of these guys off their feet a little bit. Boone’s been hot. Boone’s been really hot.

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“The nine-one is really a nice combo whether it’s these two or even Avery in the nine with Jayda. Sometimes Boone is one, Jayda two or Boone two, Jayda one. I mean we can do a lot of things but it does have a lot to do with lefty-righty matches versus who we think we’re gonna face. So I’m really writing out three different lineups.”

— The Sooners’ lone home run came from Ludlam.

Oklahoma 15, Liberty 3 (five innings)

— Sanders returned to her usual place at first base and also got things started with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the second inning. She finished the game with two hits, a run, a walk and a team-high four RBIs.

Sanders has now been walked nine times this season, the most on the team.

“She’s feeling a little bit of press from other people that are working out over at first and again, you can either say, ‘No, I have to, I have to, I’ve got to,’ or you say, ‘This is my spot. Give me the bat, let me show you,’” Gasso said. “That’s kind of what I felt from her today. She’s going to fight for that. We know how capable she is. She has shown it since her freshman year at Arizona State. She’s fighting and that’s good.”

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— Friday’s game Miami (OH) was a bit of a struggle for Nicole May, who surrendered back-to-back home runs in the top of the first. There were no such issues against Liberty, as May surrendered one hit and no runs in three innings.

Karlie Keeney pitched one inning in relief against her former team. Kelly Maxwell closed it out in the fifth inning but did surrender back-to-back home runs.

— Ludlam snagged another start, this time as the designated player. Freshman Ella Parker, who has made 12 starts as the designated player, didn’t start either game but saw two at-bats.

— Tiare Jennings hit her sixth home run of the season in the second inning. That briefly tied Brito for the team lead in home runs, before Brito hit a two-run bomb in the fourth inning to reclaim the top spot.

— The Sooners recorded 17 hits, their most in a game this season. Of their 12 runs, eight of them came with two outs on the board.

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— The Sooners are now 18-0 on the season and nine run-rule victories. They’ve won 71 games in a row dating back to last season.

— Up next: The Sooners conclude the OU Tournament against Louisiana at 12:30 p.m. Sunday (ESPN+).



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Three takeaways from LSU women’s basketball’s win over Louisiana Tech

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Three takeaways from LSU women’s basketball’s win over Louisiana Tech


LSU women’s basketball started slow but recovered Saturday against Louisiana Tech, head coach Kim Mulkey’s alma mater. Inside New Orleans’ Smoothie King Center, the No. 5 Tigers won 87-61 to improve to 11-0.

Mikaylah Williams led the team with 19 points while Flau’Jae Johnson notched her first double-double of the season with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Kate Koval and MiLaysia Fulwiley finished with 19 and 10 points, respectively. Jada Richard dished out a game-high eight assists.

Grace Knox, in the first start of her college career, scored four points as part of a 6-0 opening run for LSU, but three three-pointers put Louisiana Tech up with 7:19 on the clock. Back-and-forth play ensued, but the Lady Techsters led by two at the end of the first quarter. They hung around on the glass as well, limiting the Tigers to one and done most times.

LSU woke up in the second quarter and began imposing its physicality. Louisiana Tech didn’t score until the 5:34 mark and racked up fouls, including two on sharp-shooter Paris Bradley. The Tigers were in the bonus for over half of the second quarter but experienced a near-three-minute scoring drought, letting the Lady Techsters hang around. LSU led by nine points heading into the locker room. Both teams shot under 40% in the opening 20 minutes.

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Louisiana Tech kept the game within reach for much of the third quarter but it eventually got away. LSU ended the frame on a 9-0 run and built a 20-point lead for good a minute into the fourth. Turnovers and mental mistakes piled up for the Lady Techsters, which gave the Tigers more chances to push the pace of play. The Tigers went on a 14-2 run over four minutes when substitutes started rolling in. They shot 58.6% in the second half.

LSU lacked success in transition

LSU relies on getting into track meets with opponents quickly to build a comfortable cushion. That didn’t happen Saturday as Louisiana Tech hit its shots to open the game. Even when the Lady Techsters missed, they were comfortable going one-and-done most times as they prioritized getting numbers back to defend. That’s how they kept the score close in the early goings.

In the first half, LSU scored just six points in transition and 11 points off turnovers. The Tigers stepped up on the defensive end in the second half. Even though they didn’t produce the fast break opportunities they’re used to, they were more patient on the offensive end and knocked down their open shots.

Koval, Joyner didn’t get enough touches

As in most of its nonconference games, LSU possesses a substantial size advantage inside. That was the case Saturday but the purple and gold struggled to get the ball inside to Koval and Joyner. When the pair had touches, they often either finished, kicked out for an open shot, or drew a foul. They combined for 21 points on 21 shots from the field and 10 free-throw attempts. LSU scored just 36 points in the paint over the entire game.

Likely driven by Mulkey’s comments at the break. LSU made a concerted effort to pounce on the ball inside. Koval scored over half of her points in the final two quarters. She easily worked with passes over the top of Louisiana Tech’s Averi Aaron and in the high-low when the Lady Techsters went to a zone. The Tigers need to learn from their lack of post play and use their advantage inside, especially as they prepare to play in the SEC.

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Williams led LSU throughout the game

LSU struggled to find rhythm on both ends of the court in the early goings but Williams put the team on her back in the middle two frames. She scored 13 points, including two triples, on four of seven shots from the field. She added five rebounds and three assists over the same span.

Williams played a team-high 32 minutes on Saturday and she played all but two minutes in the first half. The junior displayed much-needed poise to an LSU team that couldn’t settle into the way it wanted to play initially. She also locked in on the defensive end, switching onto Bradley and locking her down for the back half of the contest. Her play in all facets gave the Tigers the confidence that they needed to pull ahead in the second half.



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Photos: LSU women defeats Louisiana Tech in the Smoothie King Center, 87-61

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Photos: LSU women defeats Louisiana Tech in the Smoothie King Center, 87-61


Kramer Robertson, son of Kim Mulkey, New Orleans Pelicans and Saints owner Gayle Benson and Mayor-Elect Helena Moreno sit on the sidelines during the first half of a Compete 4 Cause Classic basketball game between the Louisiana State Tigers and the Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)



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Kim Mulkey set to lead LSU women into rare matchup with her alma mater Louisiana Tech

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Kim Mulkey set to lead LSU women into rare matchup with her alma mater Louisiana Tech


The opportunity to play a road game against Louisiana Tech has presented itself to coach Kim Mulkey before, but she has always turned it down.

Mulkey is willing to put the Lady Techsters on one of her nonconference schedules. She has already done so during her time at Baylor, and she did again ahead of this Tigers season. However, the LSU women’s basketball coach will never stage a game in Ruston — the small town in North Louisiana where she played her college hoops and launched her Hall-of-Fame coaching career.

“There’s too many emotions there,” Mulkey said. “There’s too many. I couldn’t walk in that gym and be a good coach.”

So, a neutral site will have to suffice instead. At 5 p.m. Saturday (ESPNU), the Smoothie King Center will host only the second matchup between one of Mulkey’s teams and her alma mater, Louisiana Tech. The No. 5 Tigers (10-0) and the Lady Techsters are set to meet in the Compete 4 Cause Classic — a doubleheader that also features a 7:30 p.m. men’s game between LSU and SMU.

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Mulkey is a Louisiana Tech legend. She played point guard for the Lady Techsters from 1980-84, then worked as an assistant coach for the next 16 seasons. Tech reached the Final Four 11 times in the 19 total seasons Mulkey spent there and took home three national titles (in 1981, 1982 and 1988).

In December 2009, Mulkey’s Baylor team defeated the Lady Techsters 77-67 in Waco, Texas.

Mulkey hasn’t faced her alma mater since, not even after she left the Bears in 2021, so she could revive LSU’s women’s basketball program. The Tigers faced almost every other Louisiana school — from Grambling and UL-Monroe to McNeese and Tulane — in her first four seasons, but not the storied program that plays its home games about 200 miles north of Baton Rouge.

“The history of women’s basketball in this state doesn’t belong to LSU,” Mulkey said. “It belongs to Louisiana Tech. (The) Seimone Augustus era was outstanding. Our little five-year era here is outstanding, but when you take the cumulative history of women’s basketball in this state, go look at what Louisiana Tech was able to accomplish.”

The Lady Techsters were a national power under legendary coaches Sonja Hogg and Leon Barmore. Hogg guided them to a pair of national championships and more than 300 wins across nine seasons, then turned the program over to Barmore, who led them to another national title and 11 30-win campaigns. Hogg and Barmore were co-head coaches from 1982-85.

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Mulkey almost took over for Barmore in 2000. She had turned down head coaching offers before to stay in Ruston, but when it came time to choose between her alma mater and Baylor, she decided on coaching the Bears. Louisiana Tech, at the time, wouldn’t offer her the five-year deal — and the extra job security — she wanted.

Their paths then diverged. Mulkey won three national titles at Baylor and one at LSU, while Louisiana Tech hasn’t made it back to the Final Four. The Lady Techsters haven’t even advanced past the first round of the NCAA Tournament since 2004, and they’ve cracked that field of teams only twice in the last 20 seasons.

Mulkey, on the other hand, has spent those two decades chasing championships. The fifth of her head coaching career could come as soon as this season — a year that includes a rare matchup with the program that shaped her.

“I’ve been here five years now,” Mulkey said, “but your memories last forever, and the memories I have of my 19 years at Louisiana Tech will never dissolve.”



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