Lady Bison Take on First Division II Opponent

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Montevallo (1-2) at Oklahoma Baptist (1-0) Saturday, February 20, 6:00 p.m. Shawnee, Oklahoma (OBU Lacrosse Complex) Game Notes

SHAWNEE, Okla. – Looking to close out opening weekend with a 2-0 record, the Lady Bison will take on the University of Montevallo in the first-ever lacrosse game in Oklahoma between two NCAA opponents, regardless of division or level. First draw is set for Saturday night at 6 p.m.
 
The Lady Bison (1-0) posted a complete performance against the University of Saint Mary on Friday night to open the 2016 season, dropping the Spires 15-2. Alexis Martin set a school record for goals in a freshman debut with seven. Paige Morrison recorded a hat trick and four total points, while Hannah Dowell had three points off two goals and an assist, Allison Ingrim scored two and Emily Joslin scored one. The Lady Bison combined a potent offense with a stout defense, allowing just two goals over 60 minutes of action, and no shots on goal through the final 23 minutes of the game.
 
Montevallo (1-2) won their season opener, giving head coach Frank Rogers his 100th career win in the process, but have since dropped their last two games by a combined score of 35-19 against the University of Alabama-Huntsville and Reinhardt. The first-year program is led by Jami Hudak and Maddie Ellis who each have 10 goals, while not other Falcon player has more than four to their name. Irfana Ahmed, the Falcons' goalie, holds a 14.92 goals-against average to go along with a 49.3 save percentage.
 
GAME NOTES
 
Lacrosse in Oklahoma
- Oklahoma Baptist became the first varsity lacrosse program in Oklahoma in 2012
- The first varsity lacrosse contest in Oklahoma, regardless of gender or division, was between OBU and the University of Dallas on March 1, 2013. The Lady Bison fell 13-12 to the Crusaders
- The Lady Bison became the only Division II women's lacrosse team in Oklahoma, as well as the closest program to either Texas or Arkansas, when Oklahoma Baptist transitioned into Year 2 of the NCAA process earlier this year
 
Scouting the Falcons
Current Record: 1-2
- Montevallo earned a 12-8 victory over Point University in the program's first game in program history, but have dropped their last two games coming into Saturday
- The Falcons are averaging 11.3 goals per game, including a season-high 15 in a losing effort against Reinhardt. A two-pronged attack of Jami Hudak and Maddie Ellis account for 10 goals each and nearly half of the squad's 55 points (34 goals, 21 assists)
- On ground ball situations, Montevallo has come out on top 51 percent of the time. Lara Schuetz and Jessica Culver lead the team with 14 GBs apiece
- Opponents are averaging 32.3 shots per game, including 28.0 shots on goal per contest. Opposing offenses are converting on 44.3 percent of shots, good for 14.3 goals per game
- Irfana Ahmed has been the primary goalie in the cage for the Falcons, starting all three contests. She carries a 14.02 goals-against average into Saturday
 
The Coaches
Oklahoma Baptist: Jordan Beech
- Jordan Beech took over as the fourth coach in program history in December 2015
- Beech played collegiately for Oklahoma State and the University of Oklahoma in the Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association
- Developing the sport from the grassroots levels, helped form the first boys' high school program in Oklahoma in 2006
- Prior to taking over at OBU, Beech made coaching stops at Deer Creek Lacrosse Club and Edmond Lacrosse Club and holds a Level 2 certificate through US Lacrosse
 
Montevallo: Frank Rogers
- Frank Rogers was unveiled as the inaugural coach for Montevallo's women's lacrosse program in January 2015
- No stranger to starting new programs, Rogers has started programs at both Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and most recently at Brevard College in Brevard, North Carolina, before transitioning to Montevallo
- As a result of his team's 12-8 win over Point to open the season, Rogers now has 100 career wins to his credit
- Along with coaching, Rogers has served as the chairman of the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference women's lacrosse committee and has sat on the National Women's Lacrosse League coaches' committee
 
Lady Bison Cruise to Season-Opening Win
- Oklahoma Baptist raced out the gates, scoring six goals in the first 11 minutes of the game, and dropped the University of Saint Mary 15-2 on Friday night to kick off the 2016 season
- Alexis Martin led the way with 7 goals, while Paige Morrison, Hannah Dowell, Allison Ingrim and Emily Joslin also found the back of the net
- Three Lady Bison earned assists: Morrison, Dowell and Emily Gilbert
- The defense, including Jamie Jefferson, Suzie Wisham, Savannah Tompkins, Emily Bontekoe, Haley Ballard, Briana Gray and Jordan Kruse allowed just eight shots
- Sabrina Attaway picked up her first win of the season by posting three saves and just two goals against
- OBU bested the Spires 32-19 in ground balls, led by Dowell with seven. Martin had five, while Tompkins and Gilbert each picked up four
- The second half of the game was played with a running clock due to the score differential
 
Lady Bison Facts
- OBU's 15 goals ties for the sixth-most goals in a single game. The last time the Lady Bison scored at least 15 goals was when they scored 17 against Lindenwood-Belleville on April 10, 2015
- Martin's goal total against the Spires was the most in a Lady Bison debut, and tied for the second-most in a single game. Her seven points also ties for the fourth-most in a single contest by a Lady Bison
- Twelve of the Lady Bison's goals were unassisted on Friday night
- With three draw controls each against USM, Dowell and Joslin each tied for the ninth-most in a single game
- Oklahoma Baptist posted 18 points (15G, 3A), tying the seventh-most points in a single game by the team
- The Lady Bison are currently posting a .733 shots-on-goal percentage following Friday night's game
- The 15-2 scoreline represents the largest win total in a coaching debut in program history
- OBU is now 2-2 all-time in season openers
 
Looking Ahead
- OBU closes out their three-game home stand when Ottawa makes the trip to Shawnee for a 3 p.m. game at the OBU Lacrosse Complex on Saturday, February 27th
- The Braves opened up their first season of competition with a 13-8 loss on the road against the University of Dallas, and will take on Rockhurst on February 22 before facing the Lady Bison