SHAWNEE – Oklahoma Baptist put together an impressive showing collecting an important 76-64 conference victory over visiting Ouachita Baptist University in women's basketball action. The win evened the Lady Bison's overall record at 6-6 and 2-4 in the Great American Conference and moved them into a four-way tie for eighth place. Ouachita dipped to 4-8 overall and 2-4 in league play.
Autumn Avina scored 18 points and
Victoria Blankenship added 16 for the Lady Bison as they collected their first conference win since beating Northwestern Oklahoma State in November. OBU put four other players in double figures including
Kaydee Banks with 14,
Katy Custer and Mikaya Shulanberger each added 11 points.
The Lady Bison turned the game's momentum thanks to picking up the defensive intensity. They forced the Tigers into 18 turnovers and limited them to just 32.3 percent shooting on 22-of-68 attempts from the field. Meanwhile, OBU made 41 percent of their attempts from the field, including nine three pointers. Banks led the way from long distance making a season-high four three pointers.
The Lady Bison began to assert themselves in the third quarter outscoring the visitors 24-16. The quarter ended on a buzzer-beating, three-pointer by Avina that banked off the glass as the horn sounded. OBU led 57-47 after three quarters.
At the end of the first quarter the Lady Bison reversed seven-point deficit to a five-point lead thanks to a 15-2 run. Blankenship's layup off a feed from Shulanberger gave OBU a 30-24 lead with 3:12 remaining in the second. Banks added a late three pointer was the Lady Bison took a 33-31 lead into the break.
The Lady Bison continue conference play travelling to face Harding University on Thursday, Jan. 10 and concluding its road swing with a matchup at Arkansas Tech on Saturday, Jan. 12.
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