Jennie Baranczyk, Sooners excited for at least one more game together: 'I’m just excited that this team gets to keep playing'

Despite what the score might indicate, the Sooners had a slow start shooting the ball against Iowa.

Then, a key moment happened during a media timeout: head coach Jennie Baranczyk huddled up the team and told them to take the emotions out of the game. 

The Sooners did that and went on an 18-1 run and it was all domination from there... Raegan Beers ends with an 11-point, 13-rebound double-double. Skylar Vann leads with 17 points. Reliable Payton Verhulst adds 16... and the Sooners punch a ticket to Spokane. 

"I'm just excited that this team gets to keep playing. I thought it would feel different. You think, oh, it's going to be amazing once you get past and you're in the Sweet 16, and obviously we're not in Spokane yet," Baranczyk said.

"I love this team. I love coaching this team. I love the lessons that we continue to learn, and they've been hard lessons and it's not always sunshine and rainbows, but that's what makes it so beautiful and amazing, and they test you every day, and we all mess up. We all get up and keep going. I'm so glad that we get another day together," she said.

MORE COVERAGE: Sweet victory: Sooners beat Iowa, advance to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 2013

Player Sahara Williams said, "I thought doing this for my team, doing it for Skylar. She'll never play here again. Giving her something to want to keep playing for. And just really doing it for my teammates. They pour into me."

Williams continued, "I just love them so much and I just want them to do so good and do so great. Whatever that means for me, it may look different every game. I'm willing to do so in order to win and accomplish the goals that we want to."

It is a close-knit and talented team, but the Sooners will have their hands full against 2nd-seeded UCONN this Saturday in Spokane.