No. 21 Oklahoma Defeats No. 12 North Carolina 91-79 in Paris Opener
The Sooners pulled away in the second half behind stellar performances from Leelee Bell and Sahara Williams.
The 2026-27 women's college basketball season opened overseas on Monday at the Adidas Arena in Paris, France, where No. 21 Oklahoma defeated No. 12 North Carolina 91-79 in the Oui Play showcase. A tight contest at halftime swung dramatically in the third quarter when the Sooners mounted a dominant 31-13 scoring advantage to secure the victory.
Oklahoma capitalized on a decisive 20-6 run in the third period, stretching their lead to as many as 20 points in the final frame. The victory leveled the all-time series between the two programs at 3-3, snapping a two-game skid against the Tar Heels. Sooners head coach Jennie Baranczyk praised the resilience of her squad, though she noted that her team still needs to learn how to manage large leads effectively in the closing minutes.
Freshmen played a prominent role for both teams on the international stage. Oklahoma freshman Leelee Bell paced all scorers with 25 points, adding eight rebounds, four assists, and four three-pointers. Teammate Sahara Williams contributed 22 points, while star player Aaliyah Chavez added 14 points despite battling foul trouble through much of the first half.
For North Carolina, freshman Kate Harpring put together an impressive debut performance, leading the Tar Heels with 21 points, six rebounds, five assists, and two steals. Four other Tar Heels joined her in double figures, including Nyla Brooks with 13 points, Achol Akot and Reniya Kelly with 11 points each, and Gabby White with 10 points.
Despite the offensive contributions, North Carolina struggled with efficiency, shooting just 33.7 percent from the floor and 11-for-40 from beyond the arc. The Tar Heels also lost the rebounding battle 53-48. UNC head coach Courtney Banghart pointed to defensive lapses and a lack of physical urgency as key factors in the second-half breakdown.
"They showed some areas of weakness that we have to continue to address," Banghart said after the game. "But fortunately, they get to learn on a big stage." Kelly echoed her coach's assessment, noting that the team lacked connectivity and physical intensity during crucial stretches of the matchup.
The game served as an early test for both teams, which are both coming off consecutive Sweet 16 appearances. Oklahoma will look to build on the momentum, while North Carolina prepares to return to domestic play against top-ranked South Carolina in Charlotte.