OKLAHOMA CITY (Nov. 7, 2015) –
McKenzie Stanford picked up where she left off,
Sarah Parker showed considerable promise and Oklahoma Christian showcased its depth on Saturday, rolling to a 90-52 win over York (Neb.) in the Eagles' Nest.
This year's homecoming game was an exhibition, because NCAA Division II basketball teams cannot play regular-season games before Nov. 13. But the Lady Eagles appear ready to go for their season-opening trip to Colorado next weekend, when they'll face regional powers Colorado-Colorado Springs (on Friday) and Regis (next Saturday).
Stanford, a second-team all-conference pick as a sophomore last season, poured in 26 points on 10-of-18 shooting, including 3-of-6 from 3-point range, and also grabbed five rebounds in just 21 minutes. Parker, a junior transfer from Butler (Kan.) who figures to be a key inside component for OC, had 13 points after earning the start against York.
Parker and Stanford were far from the only players who posted good statistics. Senior point guard
Sydney Hill had eight assists to go with eight points, while her backcourt mate, senior
Daisha Gonzaque, had seven assists. Another senior,
Aisha Martin, started and scored nine points in just 13 minutes. Freshman
Addy Clift added nine points.
Hannah Holasek and
Hannah Bentsen, two new inside players, each grabbed seven rebounds and blocked two shots – Bentsen in 10 minutes, Holasek in 14. Fourteen of the 15 OC players who saw action scored.
Three-pointers by Stanford and Hill helped stake OC to a 10-0 lead before three minutes had elapsed in the first quarter. The Lady Eagles led 25-12 by the end of the quarter. A 3-pointer by Clift in the final seconds extended OC's lead to 46-19 by halftime.
As they did in the first half, the Lady Eagles opened the second half with an impressive run, scoring the first 15 points of the third quarter to make it 61-19. OC extended its lead to as many as 47 points early in the fourth quarter.
McCorra Ford led York with 13 points, while MacKenzie Eller and Jacqueline Esquivel added 10 points each for the Panthers, who play in the NAIA's Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference.
