Oklahoma City University took a 71-68 loss on the road at Southwestern Assemblies of God (Texas) on Saturday at the Sheaffer Center.
OCU, led by Annilia Dawn with 18 points moved to 10-11, 7-9 in Sooner Athletic Conference women’s basketball. SAGU, led by Rylee Lavender’s 23 points, went to 7-16, 4-13 SAC.
The Stars missed all 16 3-pointers they took in the game. OCU never led but overcame a first-quarter deficit of 17 points. SAGU built a 24-11 lead at the end of the first quarter before slowly chipping away in the second and third. The SAGU lead was nine at the end of the second quarter, then seven at the end of the third. Amaya Gordon’s two free throws with one-second remaining cut the lead to one, but Rylee Lavender hit two game-clinching free-throws before Fiona Wilson’s second 3-point attempt of the game was no good.
Dawn, a senior psychology major from Amarillo, Texas, found success in other areas with the shooting game lacking. She finished with 18 points, seven assists, and six rebounds. She also hit 8-8 free throws. The Stars had four total double-figure scorers with Cacie Gorman’s 15, Amaya Gordon with 14 and Elaine Witt with 10. Wilson supplied nine points and nine rebounds. Gorman, a senior psychology major from Watonga, Okla., also had eight rebounds. Gordon, a junior criminal justice major from Ardmore, Okla., was a monster on both ends of the court with 14 rebounds, four assists, and two blocks.
Ultimately, the game came down to hitting shots. While the Stars struggled from the three-point line, hitting none, the Lions knocked down 10 three-pointers. OCU did get to the line 11 more times than the Lions. Rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks were all tied or within two of each other.
“The SAC is a tough conference,” OCU coach Kris Seigenthaler said. “But I have to commend the incredible effort of our squad to fight and scrap on the road for the chance to come back. Now we prepare for three games in six days.”
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