WICHITA FALLS, Texas -- Oklahoma Baptist dominated the second half, defeating Midwestern State 78-48 at D.L. Ligon Coliseum on Thursday. Balanced scoring, stifling defense, and that strong second half powered the Bison to their third win of the season, improving to 3-1, while the Mustangs dropped to 1-4.
The Bison struggled to find rhythm early, shooting just 22% in the first quarter, but capitalized on turnovers and fast-break opportunities to hold a narrow 11-7 lead.
MSU's Zarria Carter was a bright spot, scoring 19 points and pulling down 18 rebounds, keeping the Mustangs competitive through the first half. Despite Carter's effort, Oklahoma Baptist pulled ahead 28-23 by halftime.
The turning point came in the third quarter when Oklahoma Baptist caught fire, shooting an impressive 61.5% from the field and connecting on five of seven 3-pointers.
Mackenzie Crusoe led the charge with 21 points, including three triples, while
Katelyn Davis provided a spark off the bench with a season-high 16 points and seven rebounds.
Defensively, Oklahoma Baptist held Midwestern State to just 13.6% shooting from beyond the arc and forced 20 turnovers. The Bison's defense converted these into 25 points, overshadowing the Mustangs' 10 points off turnovers. OBU also showcased depth, with their bench contributing 35 points compared to the Mustangs' 10.
In the fourth, the Bison sealed the victory, outscoring the Mustangs 24-14. OBU's versatility shone, as they hit 14 three-pointers and maintained a 90.9 percent mark from the free-throw line.
Next, Oklahoma Baptist will head to San Antonio, Texas to face Texas A&M University-Kingsville on Nov. 29 at 4 p.m.
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