SHAWNEE – Oklahoma Baptist (7-7, 3-5 GAC) will look to bounce back after a close defeat at Ouachita with two games against Southern Nazarene and Northwestern Oklahoma State the next few days.
On January 13, the Bison will make a quick trip to Bethany to face the Crimson Storm at 5:30 before hosting the Rangers on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Noble Complex.
Hot and Cold
January 11th's loss at Ouachita was a bit perplexing for the Bison. Just three days prior, the team had shot 51.6 percent against Arkansas Tech in a 90-80 win. Fast forward to the Tigers game in Arkadelphia on Tuesday night. OBU got off to a good start, scoring 22 points in the first quarter while hitting 8-of-20. After that? The Bison made just 11 of 51 attempts and ended up falling 67-63. The green and gold's 26.8 percent mark was its lowest of the season.
The Formidable Ford
Kalifa Ford was rock solid during the Bison's road game at Ouachita. The junior notched team-highs with 15 points, 15 rebounds and six steals. Those half-dozen steals tied for the second-most in OBU single-game history in the D2 era. To date, Ford is 11th in the GAC in scoring (14.9); third in rebounding (8.7) and tenth in field goal percentage (47.3). Only one other player in the conference boasts rankings like Ford's: Harding's Sage Hawley.
Free Points
Points at the free throw line have come abundantly for the Bison this season. The team's 74.9 percent mark from the charity stripe is good for fourth in the conference. In 12 of 14 games, the Bison have hit at least 10 freebies. Plus, in eight occasions, the green and gold have made at least 70 percent as a team. OBU's season bests including making 31 versus Midwestern State on November 23 and attaining a 91.7 percent clip in the GAC contest against Southeastern Oklahoma State on December 11.
Lockhart Long-Range Update
After knocking down four 3-pointers at Ouachita,
Mallory Lockhart ranks second in the conference and tenth in the country with 41 total. Her percentage of 43.6 is also good for fifth in the league and 35th in D2. The junior transfer has made multiple threes in nine of 14 games including a season-high seven against Washburn on November 13.
Leslie's Ascension
6-foot-3 freshman
Jill Leslie is continuing to grow and provide a boost for the Bison. After scoring a season-best 16 points against Arkansas Tech, her averages over the last eight games include 8.1 points, 6.5 rebounds and 55.1 percent shooting. What's also noteworthy is her ability in the offensive halfcourt. She's made 23-of-38 (60.5%) of her two-point shots while also showing the ability to hit from three-point range, totaling a quartet of long balls in 11 attempts.
Last Time Out
Ouachita kept the Oklahoma Baptist (7-7, 3-5 GAC) women's basketball team in check on the offensive end and wound up winning 67-63 on January 11 in Great American Conference play at Vining Arena.
Ford led the green and gold with 15 points, 15 rebounds and a half-dozen steals. Lockhart added 14 points including hitting four 3-pointers while
Jaylin Stapleton added 13 points.
OBU got off on the right foot, scoring 22 points while making eight of its 20 field goal attempts in the first quarter. After that, though, the Bison struggled. Over the next three quarters, the Bison were just 11-of-51 (21.5%).
Scouting Southern Nazarene
The first thing that jumps out about coach Trent May's team is its defense. SNU is the GAC leader and is tied for 38th in the nation in scoring defense (57.1). Three times this year SNU has allowed less than 40 points, including giving up 37 to Northwestern on December 11. The Storm are also master robbers. They rank 18th in the country with an 18.5 steals per game average.
Further along the defensive front, SNU also leads the GAC in field goal percentage defense (37.8). They've only allowed one opponent to hit above 50 percent in a game. That was December 4 against Southeastern. In six other games, the Storm have allowed less than 40-percent shooting.
Junior Cassandra Awatt has led the SNU offense. She has reached double-figures in 10 of 13 games including a season-high 28 against Southwestern on December 14. The guard ranks 21st in the GAC in scoring (12.2). She is also a willing rebounder, having pulled in at least six boards in nine contests.
Pacing the steals department for SNU is Kennedy Gillette. Her 2.8 average is second-best in the GAC and 27th in the country.
Scouting Northwestern Oklahoma State
This is the 16th all-time matchup between the Rangers and Bison with NWOSU leading 8-7. The two schools have split the last four games with OBU winning the last contest on December 2 by a 63-54 tally.
The Rangers have won six games in a row, the most in the last 20 years. And they are doing so with balanced offense and defense. Northwestern is second in scoring defense (62.4) and field goal percentage (44.4) while ranking third in field goal percentage defense (38.0).
In this six-game unbeaten streak, the Rangers have shot at least 44 percent from the field and made at least 42 percent from downtown in four of those affairs.
Bailey Brown is the Rangers' go-to. She is fourth in scoring (18.4), sixth in rebounding (7.3) and fourth in field goal percentage (55.5). Brown has scored in double figures in all but one game and tallied 25 in the loss to the Bison.
