Sluggish Second Half Spoils Home Finale

Box Score (html)
 
SHAWNEE – After playing level with Colorado State-Pueblo for the opening 30 minutes, Oklahoma Baptist suffered a slow second half that resulted in a 17-6 loss to close out the 2019 home schedule. The Lady Bison gave up 11 straight goals to open up the second half before their offense broke through.
 
After weathering CSU-Pueblo early in the game by forcing a pair of turnovers thanks to possession clock violations, the Lady Bison struck first when Morgan McCoy received a feed by Lauren McCormack to finish at close range. The Thunderwolves would score the next two goals, but Madison Gordon drew OBU level again with 18:44 to go in the first half. Gordon's goal was the only unassisted by the Lady Bison on the night.
 
Oklahoma Baptist fell behind again, 3-2, before Shay Morgan found the back of the net off Gordon's helper with 15:45 left. Kiersten Steinbrugge, off an assist from Devin Miller, and Gordon, off McCormack's second assist of the game, scored back-to-back goals to give OBU back the lead. However, the Thunderwolves quickly responded to tie the game up 5-5. The Lady Bison had a chance to take a late lead but saw their shot with seven seconds on the board saved.
 
Coming out of halftime, OBU suffered a 25:39 scoring drought. Gordon scored the Lady Bison's lone goal of the half off another helper from McCormack to make it 16-6. Colorado State-Pueblo scored a final goal with three seconds left.
 
"The ball movement, when it was there, was excellent tonight," said OBU head coach Jordan Beech. "Much like a couple of games earlier this season though, we need to figure out how to string a full sixty minutes together. Fortunately, we're a young team who can learn plenty from tonight's letdown."
 
Gordon led all Lady Bison with four points on three goals and one assist, recording her second hat trick in three games. McCormack was second on the team with three points, all coming off assists. McCormack also won a game-high 15 draw controls.
 
Courtney Barnickle took the loss in goal, moving to 3-5 on the season. She recorded 13 saves against 17 goals allowed.
 
Oklahoma Baptist (5-8, 1-7 RMAC) closes out the season with a trip to St. Charles, Missouri, to face No. 9 Lindenwood at 1 p.m. on Saturday.