ALVA – Oklahoma Baptist put together a strong performance on both ends of the floor, defeating Northwestern Oklahoma 67-51 at Percefull Fieldhouse on Saturday. The win improves Oklahoma Baptist to 16-8 overall and 12-6 in Great American Conference (GAC) play, while Northwestern Oklahoma drops to 12-12 (9-9 GAC).
OBU came out firing in the first, building a commanding 19-8 lead behind aggressive defense and efficient shooting.
Mackenzie Crusoe led the charge, finishing with a game-high 20 points, seven steals, and four rebounds. Crusoe's relentless energy helped Oklahoma Baptist capitalize on Northwestern Oklahoma's turnovers, leading to 28 points off takeaways.
Despite a competitive second quarter that saw Northwestern outscore Oklahoma Baptist 14-13, the visitors maintained control and carried a 32-22 lead into halftime.
Parker Stevenson provided a strong perimeter presence, knocking down three 3-pointers en route to a 13-point outing.
Northwestern showed resilience in the third stanza, cutting the deficit to as little as five points at 40-35, with Payton Jones and Jaida Shipp each contributing 14 points for the hosts. However, Oklahoma Baptist's defense tightened, and a late scoring burst helped them maintain a 44-40 edge heading into the fourth.
The final period saw Oklahoma Baptist put the game away with a dominant 23-11 run. Timely three-pointers from Stevenson,
Katelyn Davis and
Kennedy Large, coupled with Crusoe's clutch baskets, ensured the visitors closed the game in style. The Bison finished with 11 steals and forced 18 turnovers, stifling any hopes of a Northwestern comeback.
Oklahoma Baptist shot 44.4 percent from the field and an efficient 83.3 percent from the free-throw line. Northwestern Oklahoma struggled offensively, shooting just 28.8 percent overall and 26.7 from three-point range.
With the win, Oklahoma Baptist secured a spot in next month's GAC Tournament. The Bison will return to action on Feb. 20 at Henderson State.
