Thomas had nearly singlehandedly willed the Kansas women’s basketball team back from a fourth-quarter double-digit deficit against Oklahoma, yet it wasn’t until 10 seconds remained and the shot clock expired when she finally took a step back from Taylor Robertson.

Even in an unprecedented season, the fifth-seeded Jayhawks’ foray into the Big 12 tournament ended at Municipal Auditorium on Friday as it has in so many others — after one game, an 80-68 loss to the fourth-seeded Sooners.

Thomas, the senior guard who earlier this season set a record for the most games played for Kansas, finished with 13 points. All were scored in the fourth quarter, when the Jayhawks (20-9) pulled within six points but could get no closer.

“The mentality was just to attack, and we needed a spark to start scoring, because we had a hard time trying to get us back into it, get everybody involved,” said Thomas, who finished with seven rebounds. “We just needed a spark, and that was the spark. But I wish it was more.”

Junior guard Zakiyah Franklin scored a team-high 15 points and sophomore forward Ioanna Chatzileonti had 11 for Kansas, which will await the news on Sunday evening of an at-large selection to the NCAA Tournament.

Thomas’ furious finish to the game mirrors the way the Jayhawks started it. They led 13-3 not even three minutes in and showed a willingness to run with the 21st-ranked Sooners (24-7), who entered averaging 83.7 points per game, third in Division I, and want more than 80 possessions.

Oklahoma, though, outscored Kansas 42-19 over the rest of the half, primarily behind its 3-point shooting. It went 8-for-24 from behind the arc in the first two quarters to claim a 45-32 halftime lead, then consistently was ahead by double digits until Thomas and the Jayhawks began to make a run.

Trailing 69-57 with 6:26 remaining, junior center Taiyanna Jackson made one of two free throws. Thomas drove past Oklahoma’s Liz Scott for a layup on the next possession and then knocked down a wide-open 3-pointer from the left corner to pull within 69-63 and inspire the other Big 12 fans into the Jayhawks’ cause.

That 3-pointer, however, was the last field goal Kansas made. It made only five free throws over the final 5:38, during which it forced Oklahoma to win the game from the foul line.

“We had a greater sense of urgency in the second half,” Thomas said. “That’s how we should have played the whole game, but stuff happens.”

The Sooners, who took only nine 3-point attempts in the second half, found resistance in the Jayhawks’ perimeter defense. But by moving their opponent out of the paint, they were then able to consistently attack the rim with cuts and layups.

Oklahoma finished with 25 assists on 30 field goals, outrebounded Kansas 53-41 and had a 36-24 edge in points in the paint despite its 33 3-point attempts. It shot 40 percent to Kansas’ 32.8 percent, even though the Jayhawks had 81 possessions to the Sooners’ 79.

“We were just trying to be super aggressive,” said Robertson, a senior guard from McPherson who scored 19 points. “That was our mindset going into the game, was to be the aggressors, and I think you guys all saw that play out.”

Senior guard Madi Williams also scored 19 points for the Sooners, who had not won a Big 12 tournament game since 2016. Williams finished just shy of a triple-double with 11 points and seven assists, and Scott had 11 points and eight rebounds.

Kansas, which was trying to appear in the Big 12 semifinals for the first time since 1999, split the two games against Oklahoma this season. It lost 82-68 at home on Jan. 8, then won 73-67 on the road on Saturday in the regular-season finale.

That gave the Jayhawks confidence that their tournament run could last, at least for one more day. Instead, for the fourth time in six previous tournaments under coach Brandon Schneider, they’re one and done.

“There’s a lot of things that can be celebrated with this group, whether it be the team or in particular individuals,” Schneider said. “But I know that it stings today, and hopefully, that will be fuel for not wanting to feel this very quickly in the NCAA Tournament.”