SHAWNEE - The Oklahoma Baptist women's basketball team held a 63-61 lead late in the fourth quarter and seemed like they were closing in on a huge victory over rival Southern Nazarene, but back-to-back 3-pointers completely stunned the Bison and gave the Crimson Storm a 71-63 victory on Monday evening inside the Noble Complex.
OBU shot a season-high 45 percent from the field, going 23 of 51, including five 3-pointers. However, the Bison, typically a great free throw shooting team, struggled at the line, going 12 of 21 (57%). OBU also finished with 24 turnovers on the night to SNU's 17.
The Crimson Storm shot 26 of 71 (37%) from the field and 8 of 25 (32%) from behind the arc. SNU was 11 of 15 (73%) from the free throw line and held a 34-11 advantage on points off turnovers.
The Bison got off to a hot start in the first quarter as buckets from
Malou Savanna, Andreja Paciuraite, and
Charissa Price gave OBU a quick 6-0 lead. SNU answered with a pair of 3-pointers and the two teams exchanged lay ups to even it at eight.
OBU got a 3-pointer from
Kaylee Hurst and free throws from
Jaylin Stapleton to move ahead 13-8 before a quick 6-0 run gave SNU their first lead at 14-13.
Jenni Beebe got into the scoring column late in the quarter before a lay up from the Crimson Storm gave SNU a 16-15 lead at the end of one.
The scoring continued into the second quarter as OBU got great looks inside the paint. After falling behind 20-17 early in the quarter, OBU went on an 11-0 run behind aggressive play from Stapleton, who scored six during the run, and five points from Price.
OBU maintained that lead for most of the quarter before a mini SNU run closed the gap to four points. The Crimson Storm got it down to three with a minute to play, but a 3-pointer before the buzzer from
Melissa Southard gave OBU a 40-34 lead at the break, their highest scoring in a half this season.
SNU came out red hot in the second half, going on an 11-2 run to open up a 45-42 lead.
River Romine responded with a 3-pointer for teh Bison, followed by lay up from Southard to move back ahead by one. The two teams exchanged the lead back-and-forth throughout the third before OBU closed on a 6-0 run thanks to four points from
Jacie Engler to take a 56-52 lead.
OBU got the lead out to six early in the fourth before SNU closed it back to one in a blink. It was a defensive battle in the fourth as neither team could really take control with OBU clinging to the lead.Â
It was long scoring droughts as OBU took a 63-61 lead with 1:26 to play on a lay in from Peciuraite. However, SNU closed the game on a 10-0 run, including back-breaking 3-pointers from Emily Monaghan and Payton Jones to escape Shawnee with the 71-63 victory.
Price finished with 16 points and a pair of steals, while Stapleton added 14 points, four assists, three rebounds, and two steals. Peciuraite had 13 points, nine boards, and two blocks, while Southard added five points and eight rebounds.
Jones led SNU with 15 points off the bench, while Kennedy Gillette had 14 points. Abby Niehues had 11 points and two blocks, and Alexus Jones had eight points, six rebounds, six assists, and five steals for the Storm.
OBU will be back in action on Thursday as they welcome in Southwestern Oklahoma State to the Noble Complex. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on the Bison Sports Network.
