SHAWNEE – Oklahoma Baptist (6-8, 3-5 GAC) nearly upset 13th-ranked (WBCA) Harding on Saturday, falling 65-61 in overtime at the Noble Complex.
It was the first overtime contest between the two schools in 15 all-time games dating back to Dec. 5, 2015.
Key Leaders
- Parker Stevenson scored a game-high 19 points. She also added four rebounds.
- Jaedyn Getman added 13 points and seven rebounds.
- In the frontcourt, Jill Leslie registered nine points, nine rebounds and three blocks.
- Newcomer Payten Conde had her best performance of the year with 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting and came up with five rebounds and two assists.
What Went Right
- The Bison went wire to wire with HU. Disappointment may be in the minds of OBU, but its effort against the No. 13 team should be a building block for the rest of the season. It was the first time in six years that OBU stayed within 10 points of the perennial GAC power.
- Getman's last-second jumper. The Bison needed a shot to force overtime and they got it from their sophomore standout. With 15 ticks left in the fourth, Getman scored from the paint and tied the game at 56.
- Conde's performance. Her first double-digit showing of her young career was key. She made her first pair of three-pointers which helped OBU in the first half.
- Defending Sage Hawley. Harding's All-American was held to eight points, her third-lowest mark of the year. Helping that cause was Leslie whose length caused issues for HU's 6-foot-4 player.
- OBU did a fine job in the paint. It outscored HU 26-22.
- In the second quarter, Conde and Stevenson, two freshmen, paired up for a steal and fast-break layup which Stevenson scored to push the Bison up six, 27-21, with 3:25 left.
What Went Wrong
- Three-point shooting. The Bison had plenty of open looks but finished the game making five of 19 attempts, a 26.3-percent mark.
- Closing the first half. After Stevenson's layup, the Bison did not score in the final three minutes. That allowed Harding to regain a halftime advantage of 30-27.
- Overtime. OBU did not give itself a chance in the extra session after it missed its first six shots and turned the ball over a couple times. With that, HU went up seven, 63-56, after an Aubrey Isbell three-ball.
On The Horizon
- The Bison will hit the road to face Arkansas-Monticello on Jan. 18 at 5:30 p.m.
