SHAWNEE – Oklahoma Baptist brings a three-game winning streak into its Great American Conference schedule which starts this week. Beginning on Dec. 2, the Bison travel to Northwestern Oklahoma State and follow that up with a Saturday trip to Southwestern Oklahoma State.
Game Notes
Getting in rhythm
OBU's season-opening games versus Pittsburg State and Washburn brought 30.1 percent shooting from the field and a 33-percent clip from downtown. What has happened since, during the team's three-game winning streak? A highly-efficient unit. In the last trio of contests, the Bison attack has averaged 48.3 from the field, an outstanding 44.7 from long range and a 79.2-percent mark at the foul line. Those totals have helped the green and gold average a little over 80 a game as well.
Contending on the glass
It was evident during the exhibition matchup at Texas on Nov. 4 that this Bison team would compete for rebounds. During that game, a much bigger Longhorn squad only out-gained OBU by four, 44-40, on the glass. Since that time, the Bison have stacked up well in the Great American Conference. The team's 37.4 per-game average is good for third. Additionally, the team's defensive rebound percentage of 73.4 also slots the squad in third in the GAC.
Keep 'em off the line
Through five games, opponents have put the Bison to the foul line 110 times, the second-most in the GAC. In turn, OBU has made the competition pay. As a team, the green and gold are hitting 74.5 percent from the charity stripe. That ranks fourth in the GAC. Nine different players are hitting at least 71 percent for OBU and the team is led by Payton Taylor. The graduate transfer from Oklahoma City University is 12-for-12 and is tied with two others atop the GAC leaderboard. Furthermore, senior Jaylin Stapleton is 19-of-20 at the line. If the season ended today, her 95-percent mark would be a single-season record.
Free throw fun continued
During OBU's 91-70 demolition of Midwestern State on Nov. 23, the team hit 31-of-37 at the charity stripe. Since the program's NCAA Division II transitional year that started in 2015-16, it is only the third time that the team hit at least 31 free throws. On Feb. 1, 2020, OBU hit 31-of-36 against Henderson State and on Nov. 22, 2016, the green and gold sank 32-of-44 against Dallas Christian.
Improvement abound
The altered spring season of 2021 was undoubtedly tough as the Bison went 4-17. However, a renewed mindset and plenty of new faces, seven to be exact, has OBU trending up. Statistically, things are positive, too. During the spring, the Bison averaged 60.8 points a game. That's up to 69.0 so far this winter. Defensively, the green and gold are giving up the fifth-best mark in the GAC at 64.2 points per game as opposed to 71.0 in the spring. Additionally, the squad is getting contributions from many as the Bison bench has outscored their opponents, 124-78. In fact, OBU averages a plus 9.2 margin in bench scoring this season.
Look out for Lockhart
One of the key pieces for Head Coach
Bo Overton as he entered his second season patrolling the Bison bench was
Mallory Lockhart. Another transfer from Oklahoma City University, she set a single-season record 117 three-pointers during the 2019-20 season. So far this year for OBU, Lockhart has had the hot hand from deep. The 5-foot-7 guard from Keller, Texas has hit 16 of the team's 27 long shots this season. Her 50-percent clip in that category ranks her fifth in the GAC and her total of 16 has slotted her in third.
Ford Focus
Kalifa Ford might have 'guard' listed in her bio, but she is making her presence known all around the court. Through five games, her 14.8 points-per-game average ranks 15th in the GAC. Her 8.2 rebounding average slots her in fifth. In addition to that rebounding total, Ford is snagging 3.4 offensive rebounds per game, a mark that puts her in fourth in the league. The Bono, Arkansas native is also handing out 2.2 assists per contest and has scored in double figures four times in a row which included a 19-point effort in the 91-70 win over Midwestern State on Nov. 23.
Parker progressing
Freshman Kendall Parker has had to quickly adapt as one of the main ball-handlers for coach Overton's team. Over the past two games, she has done just that. In addition to gaining confidence and much-needed experience, Parker has scored 18 points, hit eight of her 10 free throws, added six assists and earned 36 minutes of playing time, the most among all the freshmen.
Scouting the teams
Picked to finish ninth in the GAC Preseason Poll, Northwestern brings a high-octane offense into Thursday night's game versus Oklahoma Baptist. Through five games, the Rangers have averaged 85.8 points per game. That mark ranks second in the conference. Remarkably, Northwestern scored 134 points against NCCAA school Manhattan Christian on Nov. 20. In that contest, NWOSU hit 53-of-94 shots (56.4).
Senior forward Bailey Brown has been lights out so far this winter. She is seventh in the GAC in scoring (18.0), second in field goal percentage (64.6) and tied for eighth in free throw percentage (86.7). Included in that field-goal mark is Brown's ability inside the three-point line. Her two-point attempts have her hitting nearly 71 percent.
First-year point guard Carly Craig has directed Northwestern's offense to the tune of 5.4 assists per game. That is first in the GAC. She has posted at least five assists in four of five contests including a season-high nine vs. Manhattan Christian.
Southwestern Oklahoma State was picked to finish first in the GAC preseason poll for the 2021-22 season. SWOSU has won six of its first eight games including an 86-80 decision over then 6th-ranked Central Missouri on Oct. 30. They are currently on a five-game winning streak which includes victories over Washburn and Pittsburg State.
The Lady Bulldogs have relied heavily on the three-point line so far this season. SWOSU has taken 224 three-point shots. The next highest mark is Southern Arkansas at 159. Southwestern has connected on 89 of those attempts, which slots it in second in the GAC in percentage (39.7).
Sophomore forward Makyra Tramble has been a force in seven games played. She is the GAC leader in scoring average (22.4) and she has scored at least 21 points in five of those games. Tramble ranks second in assists (4.1) and is eighth in rebounding (6.9).
Lauren Ramey, Morgan Smith and Macy Gore will have to be contended with as well. Each have knocked down at least 11 three-pointers and average between 39.3 and 44.4 percent from the three-point line.
