Lady Bison Thwart Northeastern State Rallies

 
TAHLEQUAH – Oklahoma Baptist got large scoring contributions in key moments from three different players in a 70-60 win at Northeastern State Saturday to wrap up the 2017 portion of the season.
 
Lexi Williams scored 12 first half points to help the Lady Bison to a 27-26 lead, Tasha Edge scored 16 points in the third quarter to hold off an NSU charge and McKenzie Cooper brought it home with 17 points in the fourth quarter.
 
Williams had her dozen first half points, leading the team to a 10-point lead in the second quarter before NSU trimmed the lead back to one by halftime.
 
With the game tied at 35-35 late in the third quarter, Edge drained back-to-back three-pointers to give OBU a 41-35 lead.
 
Monae Smith added a free throw with 1:10 left in the third. Edge added yet another three-pointer with 11 seconds remaining in the quarter for a 45-37 lead, but NSU added a basket to trim the lead to 45-39 heading into the fourth quarter.
 
A 12-3 NSU run gave the RiverHawks a 51-48 lead with 5:41 remaining in the game.
 
Cooper, who scored all 17 of her points in the final frame, dropped in a three-pointer with 4:16 left for a brief 53-52 lead for the first of three lead changes over the next 56 seconds.
 
NSU took a 56-55 lead with 2:27 remaining, but Cooper hit two free throws for a 57-56 lead at the 2:05 mark. Northeastern answered, but Cooper scored again with 1:48 for a 59-58 OBU edge.
 
Autumn Avina blocked a Tree Brooks shot with 1:36 to go and OBU got the ball out of bounds. Cooper added two more free throws for a 61-58 Lady Bison lead with 1:12 to play.
 
NSU got a basket to pull within a point, but Cooper drilled a three-pointer with 28 seconds remaining near the end of the shot clock for a 64-60 edge.
 
OBU forced a turnover out of a NSU timeout. Cooper knocked down both free throws with 21 seconds left and NSU turned the ball over again.
 
Williams made two free throws for a 68-60 lead with 20 ticks left on the clock and added the final two points at the line with 11 seconds to go.
 
Edge led the team with 22 points and corralled the final rebound of the game to earn a double-double with 10 boards.
 
Avina, Cooper, Charissa Price and Shaylan Coleman had four assists apiece and Avina added two steals and two blocks.
 
The 6-4 Lady Bison return to action Thursday with a 5:30 p.m. tilt against Arkansas Tech in the Noble Complex.