SHAWNEE – Two games are on tap this week for the Oklahoma Baptist women's basketball team. On Tuesday, Dec. 7, the green and gold travel to Oklahoma City to face former longtime NAIA rival Oklahoma Christian for a 5:30 p.m. contest. OBU will follow that last non-conference game with a return to GAC competition on Dec. 11 at 1 p.m. versus Southeastern Oklahoma State.
Three-point threats
This Bison squad, through seven games, has given opponents reason to worry. With a three-point field goal percentage of 38.1, the green and gold own a mark that ranks 13th in the country. OBU has hit at least 33.3 percent from downtown in six of those contests. During the team's 77-67 win at Cameron on Nov. 27, it was 8-of-14 from three, a 57.1-percent total. The Bison also hit eight in the overtime loss to Washburn on Nov. 13.
Keep 'em off the line
Through seven games, opponents have put the Bison to the foul line 142 times, the third-most in the GAC. In turn, OBU has made the competition pay. As a team, the green and gold are hitting 73.2 percent from the charity stripe. That ranks fourth in the GAC. Eight 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 13-for-14 for 92.9 percent.
Providing support
One of the biggest bright spots this winter has been the Bison's ability to get contributions from the bench. In fact, in six of seven games, the team has outscored its opponents in bench points by a 165 to 106 margin. That averages out to a plus 8.5-points advantage. For example, in OBU's 77-67 road win at Cameron,
Kendall Parker and
Madison Chambers combined to score 18.
Ford Focus
Kalifa Ford has gotten into an early-season groove. Over the past six games, the Bono, Arkansas native has scored in double figures including a season-high 19 in the win against Midwestern State on Nov. 23. Her current six-game double-digit scoring effort are also her third-best streak of her career. Ford scored at least 10 in nine straight games as a freshman two years ago. Her 14.7 points-per-game average ranks in the top-15 in the GAC while her 8.0 rebounding average ranks in the top eight. In addition to that rebounding total, Ford is snagging 3.3 offensive rebounds, a mark that puts her in fourth in the GAC.
Lockhart's long-range prowess
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. Through eight games, she ranks ninth in the country in three-point makes per game (3.28) and is 24th in Division II in percentage (47.9). The Keller, Texas native has hit multiple three-point shots in all but one game this winter including a season-high seven against Washburn on Nov. 13.
The Lithuanian difference
During the first two games of the season, forward
Andreja Peciuraite was out due to injury. OBU lost both of those contests to Pittsburg State and Washburn and averaged 51.5 points per game. Since that time? The Bison have averaged 73.8 points per game and won four of five. For Peciuraite, she has contributed 9.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and shot 52.5 percent from the field in the last five contests.
Last time out
Southwestern Oklahoma State outscored Oklahoma Baptist 43-28 in the second half to win 85-64 on December 4 at Pioneer Cellular Event Center. The Lady Bulldogs halted OBU's four-game winning streak and moved to 8-2 and 2-0 in the Great American Conference. For the Bison, they dropped to 4-3 and 1-1 in league play.
Turnovers were a major factor as SWOSU committed just seven, while the Bison notched 27, a season-high. The Lady Bulldogs converted those miscues into 38 points.
Kalifa Ford scored a team-high 18 points while
Mallory Lockhart chipped in with nine. Additionally,
Jaylin Stapleton contributed eight and
Melissa Southard came off the bench to score a half-dozen points.
Scouting the teams
Oklahoma Christian
Oklahoma Christian, members of the Lone Star Conference, have gotten off to an 0-5 start this season. Most recently, the Lady Eagles fell to Texas Woman's 69-50 on Dec. 4 at home.
OCU's defense has been the main issue early. It has allowed 76.2 points per game and 45 percent shooting to opponents. Those rank OC 16th out of 17th in the LSC. Additionally, the Lady Eagles are last in the conference in opponent three-point field goal percentage (38.1).
In addition to the defensive struggles, OCU may be relying too much on three-point shooting. Through five games, nearly 40 percent of the shots taken by the Lady Eagles have been from downtown. They are hitting just 28.5 percent.
Two players, Kate Bradley and Brooklyn Bain, lead Oklahoma Christian's offense. Each are averaging at least 15 points per game while Bain is snagging 11 rebounds per contest. The latter mark currently slots Bain second in the LSC in rebounds and tied for 24th nationally.
Southeastern Oklahoma State
Southeastern Oklahoma State was picked to finish fourth in the GAC preseason poll for the 2021-22 season. The Savage Storm are 3-5 to start the year after a 58-45 win against Southern Nazarene on Dec. 4. Prior to that, SE gave then 22nd-ranked SWOSU a handful, falling 72-66 in Weatherford.
The Savage Storm's defense has been pretty good so far. Through eight games, they are allowing 38-percent shooting to opponents and a 24.8-percent mark from the three-point line. That is currently the second-best total in the Great American Conference. Additionally, the team is third in the conference in blocks (3.3).
Offensively, though, SE has had troubles. Its 65.5 points-per-game average is next to last in the GAC. The Storm's lone bright spot has been their ability at the free throw line. They lead the GAC with an 80.9 percentage.
Leading the charge for SE are Kamryn Cantwell and Briley Moon. They are each ranked in the top-14 of the GAC in scoring as both average at least 15 points per game. No other Storm player averages more than 5.1. Additionally, Moon is seventh in assists (3.5) and ninth in rebounding (6.7).
