FORT WORTH, Texas (Dec. 11, 2010) – The Oklahoma Christian women's basketball team faltered against a strong Texas Wesleyan University squad on Saturday night as they fell 69-52 on the road.
The Lady Eagles led the majority of the first half despite the Lady Rams taking the first lead with back-to-back scores for a three-point advantage. The OC women responded with a Carli Covalt layup and a free throw from Tarynn Branscum to tie things up at 3-3 with 16:40 still to play.
Following the tie, the Lady Eagles quickly increased to a five-point lead and later increased it to nine off a three-point basket from Krista Stevens with 10:34 showing on the clock.
In spite of the lead, the Lady Rams put up a subsequent 12-3 run to tie the game once again at 21-21 with 6:14 left on the clock. OC recaptured the lead two more times with another tie up at 25-25 before the Lady Rams took the lead with 2:18 left in the period.
Despite two ties by the Lady Eagles, the Texas Wesleyan women went into the half with a one-point advantage at 33-32.
The Lady Rams never surrendered the lead in the second period and began the half with eight unanswered points lead the OC women by nine with 15:19 remaining in the game.
Shortly thereafter, OC's Andee Wayne closed the gap to six with a three-point play after drawing the foul. The Lady Rams responded quickly and gained their largest lead yet with 12:00 still to play and the Lady Eagles trailing at a 13-point deficit.
Despite efforts by the Lady Eagles to respond, OC was only able to come back within nine points of the TWU women before they extended their lead to 19 with less than a minute to play. Two good free throw shots by Katy O'Steen left the final deficit at 17 with the Lady Eagles falling 69-52.
Covalt downed the majority of the Lady Eagles' points with a total of 17 in addition to grabbing seven rebounds. Posts O'Steen and Wayne recorded eight and seven points, respectively, while O'Steen pulled down five rebounds.
Guards Katy Clift, Ayanna Jackson, and Mica Havens each registered five points with Jackson grabbing seven rebounds and Havens five.
The loss leaves the Lady Eagles to a 5-5 season record as they head into the break. The OC women will return to the Nest on Dec. 28th with a game against Madonna University (Mich.) at 4 p.m.
-OC-
