Bison Can't Contain Boards in Loss to Northwestern

SHAWNEE - The Oklahoma Baptist women's basketball team cleaned up the issues they have had with turnovers, hitting a season-low eight on the night against Northwestern Oklahoma State, but a 58-27 advantage in rebounding for the Lady Rangers proved to be the difference as they escaped the Noble Complex with a 68-62 victory on Thursday evening.

OBU shot 23 of 63 (37%) from the field and 5 of 19 (26%) from behind the arc. They got to the free throw line 14 times and connected 11 times. On the other end, Northwestern was 24 of 64 (38%) from the field, but connected on 10 3-pointers while getting to the line 15 times.The Lady Rangers had a 12-4 advantage in second chance points and held a 29-18 advantage in bench points.

It was a slow first quarter for both sides and neither team seemed to get much of anything going on the offensive end. Jaylin Stapleton scored the team's first three points before a 3-pointer from Jacie Engler late in the first made it a 7-6 game. Charissa Price added a jumper to make it a 9-8 game in favor of Northwestern at the end of one.

The scoring picked up in the second quarter as Malou Savanna buried a 3-pointer followed by points from Stapleton, Andreja Peciuraite and Kayla Highfill to take a 17-16 lead midway through the second. OBU pushed that lead out to three, but a quick run by Northwestern put them back ahead 22-21. 

Free throws throughout the quarter from the aggressive Peciuraite evened the game at 25, but the Lady Rangers added a 3-pointer before the break to take a 28-25 lead at half.

The duo of Stapleton and Peciuraite got OBU off to a quick start in the third quarter, taking a 33-30 lead in the first two minutes of action, but Northwestern used a 7-0 run to push back ahead 37-33. Jenni Beebe folowed with a lay up and a Price three moved OBU back ahead by one, but Northwestern began to heat up from behind the arc to retake the lead.

The two teams battled back-and-forth before the Lady Rangers went on another 7-0 run to extend their lead to 10 and take a 53-45 lead at the end of three.

Early in the fourth, Northwestern raced out to a 15 point lead and seemed to have the game in hand. The Bison fought back into the contest thanks to the freshman Highfill as well as strong defense. A Peciuraite lay in late in the fourth moved got the game within four with under a minute to play, but it would not be enough as they Bison eventually fell by the score of 68-62.

Peciuraite hit a new career-high with 14 points to go with eight rebounds, three steals, and two blocks while Stapleton added 13 points and six assists. Highfill had 10 off the bench including three steals while Price added nine points, five assists, and five rebounds. 

Mya Johnson led NWOSU with 13 points and 20 rebounds while Josena Frame added 11 points. Bailey Brown had nine points, 11 rebound, eight assists, and two steals.

The Bison will return to action on Saturday afternoon as they head to Durant to battle Southeastern Oklahoma State. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. on the Bison Radio Network.