SHAWNEE – Oklahoma Baptist will close 2021 with a road contest at Henderson State on December 30. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. inside the Duke Wells Center. The Bison and Reddies will square off for the 11
th time with HSU having won the last six contests.
Near The Top
As has been mentioned in recent weeks, OBU's offense has been a key part of the team's 6-4 start to the season. Despite a tough shooting performance in the last game against East Central, the Bison rank first in the conference in three-point shooting percentage (39.2) and are second in field goal percentage (43.3). In six of 10 contests this winter, the green and gold have hit at least 47 percent from the field including a season-high 56.1 percent in the 85-58 win at Oklahoma Christian on December 7.
Bombs Away
Not only does OBU have the best three-point shooting team in the GAC, it boasts the eight-best percentage in the country. The Bison have hit at least 33.3 percent in eight of 10 games including a 57.1 percent mark in the November 27 win at Cameron. The team's average of 39.2 is also the best in Central Region which features four of the top-25 teams ranked in the country.
Defensive Turnaround
Maybe the biggest reason the Bison have been in every game this season has been their serious improvement on the defensive end. During the spring, OBU gave up 71 points per game. That total has been improved by eight points this winter. The green and gold rank fourth in the conference in scoring defense (63.0). As a part of that total, coach
Bo Overton's team has defended the three-point line well. OBU ranks second in the league in three-point field goal percentage (28.9).
Lockhart Long-Range Update
Through a third of the season,
Mallory Lockhart is a strong contender for team MVP. And it's due to her strong ability from downtown. In eight of 10 games, she has hit multiple threes, including hitting seven in games against Washburn and Oklahoma Christian. Those totals of seven were one off from tying the school's D2 single-game record of three-point makes set by McKenzie Cooper (8) against Arkansas-Monticello on Jan. 27, 2018. Additionally, the junior leads the GAC and is seventh in the nation in made three-pointers per game (3.4). She is also 16th in the country in three-point field goal percentage (47.22).
The Formidable Ford
Junior
Kalifa Ford has been a major factor for OBU's success this season. She ranks 13th in the GAC in scoring (14.8), fifth in rebounding (8.6) and 15th in field goal percentage (47.2). As of the last five games, she's been on a tear. Ford has averaged 15.6 points, 9.0 rebounds and shot 60 percent from the field. Additionally, Ford has notched 10 assists and eight steals. The Bono, Arkansas native has also proven the ability to hit from the outside. She has made three of five three-point attempts in that same span.
Last Time Out
A tough night on the offensive end resulted in a 61-56 loss by Oklahoma Baptist on December 18 against the visiting East Central Tigers. It was OBU's first home loss of the season at Noble Complex (3-1).
The Bison were held to their second-lowest three-point shooting percentage of the season (23.8) and they missed eight free throws (13-of-21) in the five-point defeat.
OBU also turned it over 25 times, the second-most this winter. East Central converted those miscues into 20 points.
Three players scored in double figures for OBU:
Kalifa Ford notched 15 points and snagged a game-high 10 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season. Newcomer
Jill Leslie was 4-of-5 from the field and scored a season-best 10 points while
Andreja Peciuraite contributed 10 points.
Scouting Henderson State
The Reddies possess one of the best offenses not only in the Great American Conference but in the nation. Their 84.2 per-game average is the sixth-best mark in Division II. In six of the 10 games played, HSU has scored at least 80, including a season-high 112 against Bacone on December 15.
In addition to HSU's scoring offense, coach Jill Thomas' squad is knocking down shots all over the half court. The Reddies are connecting on 48.6 percent of their two-point shots and 36.5 percent from downtown. The mark from three-point range is third in the GAC while the team's 45.2 overall clip is tops in the league.
Pacing the way for Henderson is Ashley Farrar. She is ninth in the GAC in scoring (16.9) having reached double figures every game. Farrar has scored at least 20 points four times including a season-best 23 at Arkansas-Fort Smith on November 24.
HSU has other options, too, on the offensive end. In fact, they have three more players that are averaging double figures. Those are: Lani Snowden (13.2); Gracie Raby (12.8) and Karrington Whaley (11.8). Whaley is also the GAC leader in field goal percentage (65.0). Through about a third of the season, Henderson has more players (4) ranked in the top-23 in scoring average than any other school in the Great American Conference.
While the Reddies haven't posted ideal defensive numbers - they rank seventh in the GAC in scoring defense (67.9) - they have made life around the rim uncomfortable for opponents. HSU is second in the GAC averaging 3.5 blocked shots per game. In six of 10 contests, the Reddies have notched at least two. Whaley leads that category averaging 2.2 blocks, a mark that is second in the conference.
Maybe the biggest red flag for this Reddies team is their free-throw shooting. Their 69.8 percent mark at the charity stripe ranks 11th out of 12th in the GAC.
For complete information on Bison women's basketball, follow the team's official Twitter account (
OBU_WBBall) and download the new OBU mobile app on your
iOS or
Android device.
