Bison Seeking Spot for GAC Tournament

SHAWNEE – Oklahoma Baptist (5-7-2, 4-2-2 GAC) is in good shape for early November's Great American Conference Tournament, but it can solidify a spot in the four-team tourney with a pair of wins this week. On Oct. 18, OBU hosts Southern Nazarene before traveling to East Central on Oct. 20.
 
Currently the Bison are third in the standings with 14 points. With two wins over SNU and ECU, it would push them to 20, well out of reach from the two opponents that have five and eight points, respectively.
 
Last week, the green and gold won 3-1 over Harding before playing Ouachita to a hard-fought 0-0 draw. Katie Fowler led the team with two goals and an assist while keeper Mia Pendleton played 135 minutes, notched six saves and didn't concede a goal.
 
The Bison defense had a solid week as well, limiting HU and Ouachita to an average of 8.5 shots per game. Here's where OBU stacks up in the GAC with two weeks left in the regular season.
 
As a team                                                               Individually

5th in team saves: 80	Katie Fowler: 2nd in goals (8); t3rd in assists (4)
5th in assists: 9	Krissy Fulton: tied for sixth in assists (2)
6th in goals: 16	Kaylee Swaner: 10th in shots on goal (14)
6th in points: 41	Mia Pendleton: Ranks 4th with 2 shutouts

 
Southern Nazarene, which tied OBU 1-1 back on Sept. 27, has lost four straight coming into Tuesday's match. SNU's previous game vs. the Bison halted an 11-match winning streak for the green and gold. Most recently, SNU lost 2-1 to Harding in Bethany.
 
As a team                                                               Individually

1st in points: 76	Kenzie Macklin: 1st in shots (4.3); 3rd in goals (7)
1st in goals: 30	Fallon Weatherford: Ranks 5th in goal (6)
2nd in assists: 16	Josie Pelt: Has 1 game-winning goal
3rd in shots: 13.71	Gianna Bonnett: Leader in saves per game (6.93)

 
Concluding this week's competition will be a 3 p.m. game at East Central. OBU defeated the Tigers 3-2 in Shawnee back on Sept. 29. For the Tigers, they have gone 0-2-1 in their last three matches after a scoreless draw with Northwestern Oklahoma State. Thursday's match will bring a chance for ECU to earn its first win over the Bison in Ada since Nov. 2, 2015 when they won 4-2.
 
As a team                                                               Individually

3rd in assists: 15	Jocelyn Caracheo: GAC leader in assists (45
4th in points: 59	Abbie Morris: tied for sixth in goals (5)
5th in goals: 22	Alexis Perez: tied for sixth in goals (5)
7th in goals allowed: 34	McKenna Leveling: 3rd with 3 shutouts

 
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