Bison Welcome in Northwestern, Southern Nazarene

SHAWNEE -- The Oklahoma Baptist women's basketball team returns to action Saturday afternoon as the Bison welcome Northwestern Oklahoma State before battling rival Southern Nazarene on Monday night inside the Noble Complex.

OBU's matchup at Southeastern Oklahoma State on Thursday evening was canceled due to inclement weather in Oklahoma.

Due to city-wide water pressure issues resulting from the past week's frigid temperatures, no spectators will be allowed to attend Saturday's game. 

Both contests will be on the Bison Sports Network on the OBU YouTube channel featuring Todd Miller on play-by-play and Scott Wanish on color commentary. The games will also be featured on the Bison Radio Network across the state of Oklahoma and worldwide on the iHeartRadio app. 

The Bison come off a season-best offensive showing in a win over East Central last Thursday before falling to Southwestern Oklahoma State last Saturday in Weatherford.

OBU shot a season-high 25 of 49 (51%) from the field, including 5-of-13 (39%) from deep, and 25-of-29 (86%) from the line while owning a dominant 39-27 advantage in rebounding as they rolled East Central 80-70 last week.

A few days later, one quarter was detrimental to OBU as they could never recover in the loss to SWOSU in Weatherford despite pulling down a season-high 50 rebounds, including 18 offensive boards.

The Bison remain second in the GAC in rebounds with 574 and steals with 131. OBU continues to be stellar at the free throw line as they sit at 13th in the country in free throw percentage at 78.1. OBU is also fourth in the GAC in assists with 190.  

Since Kalifa Ford has returned to the lineup, OBU has won three contests as she averages 13.4 points per game, 5.8 rebounds per game, and just under a steal per contest. Frontcourt mate Andreja Peciuriate comes off a career-high 12 rebounds against SWOSU as her impressive season continues with 11.6 points per game and 7.3 rebounds per game.

Maybe one of the most important pieces to the Bison offense has been Jaylin Stapleton, as she averages 11.0 points per game, 4.3 assists per game, and 3.8 rebounds per game. The more involved Stapleton is, the better the Bison are, as OBU is 3-0 when she scores in double figures and has added at least five rebounds and five assists. 

Charissa Price has come on as of late as well, scoring a season-high 15 points in her last outing against SWOSU. Price comes in with 8.6 points per game and leads the team with 24 3-pointers. The senior from Midwest City has gotten out of her shooting slump from deep as of late, going 11-of-25 (44%) in her last four contests after starting the season 13-of-50 (26%) from deep.

Melissa Southard comes off a nine point performance against SWOSU, while Jenni Beebe has come on strong as of late including six points, four rebounds, and two assists against ECU. Kaylee Hurst, Malou Savanna, and Kayla Highfill all expect to see time for the Bison coming into this week.

Northwestern comes in at 5-10 overall and 3-10 in the GAC and have lost seven of their last eight, including a 62-54 loss to Southern Nazarene on Thursday night. The Lady Rangers took the first pair of games against OBU, 65-56 in Alva and 68-62 in Shawnee, but a 20-point showing from Stapleton, plus 12 from Ford and Peciuriate, gave OBU a 66-56 win in Alva earlier in February.

The Lady Rangers have a solid frontcourt of their own as Mya Johnson leads the way with 12.2 points and 9.4 rebounds per game, while Bailey Brown adds 11.3 points per game and 9.5 boards. Kaylee Jo Neeley adds 10.7 points per game, and Scout Frame adds 10.6 points.

Following a win over NWOSU on Thursday, SNU comes in as one of the hottest teams in the GAC as the winners of five straight. The Crimson Storm take on ECU on Saturday before their Monday tilt in Shawnee as they look to move into second in the GAC Western Division.

Southern Nazarene used a late rally to escape Shawnee with a 71-63 win back in January before dominating the paint in Bethany earlier this month in a 72-60 victory. 

Freshman Payton Jones has been excellent in the second half of the season, averaging 13.3 points per game, while Kennedy Gillette adds 10.6 points per game. Cassandra Awatt pours in 10.4 points per game and 6.8 rebounds, while Alexus Jones adds 9.6 points per game and nearly two steals per contest.

Tip-off for Saturday inside the Noble Complex is scheduled for 2 p.m., while Monday night's contest is set to go at 5:30 p.m.