OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (Feb. 24, 2011) – The Oklahoma Christian women's basketball team pulled together in the second half to come out on top over Saint Gregory's University (Okla.) with a 69-63 victory in the Eagles' Nest.
The Lady Eagles struggled to score baskets during the first period as the Lady Cavaliers claimed an early 5-0 lead. Minutes later, OC's Katy Clift sunk consecutive three-point baskets to bring the Lady Eagles to a two-point deficit with 13:44 till the half.
Saint Gregory's responded with seven unanswered points to push to a nine-point lead at 16-7 with 9:50 on the clock. Moments later, after an exchange of baskets the Lady Cavaliers took a 10-point lead for their largest of the half.
In retaliation, the Lady Eagles put together a 12-1 run to take a one-point lead with 4:36 left in the period. Despite such, the SGU women responded with an 11-0 run to jump back to a 10-point advantage heading into halftime.
Early into the second half, the Lady Eagles cut the SGU margin to five points before the Lady Cavaliers took to an 11-point lead with 15:17 showing on the clock.
The OC women went on an 11-0 run directly thereafter to tie things up at 42-42 with 11:24 to play.
SGU dropped in two more baskets to jump back to a four-point lead before the Lady Eagles tied things up once again with 7:45 on the clock. Following a free throw from the Lady Cavaliers, OC took their first lead of the period when Ayanna Jackson sunk a trey to put the Lady Eagles up by two.
Another tie followed before the Lady Eagles went on a 9-0 run to lead 60-51 with 3:29 remaining. A determined SGU squad again responded and took a one-point lead on free throws with 48 seconds to play.
Desperate to hold on, the SGU women made several fouls giving the Lady Eagles multiple free throw opportunities and the game as they claimed the 69-63 victory.
Clift led the Lady Eagles for the evening with 20 points, including six three point baskets to break the OC record for three-point baskets in a season. Clift broke the previous record of 84, set by Kimya Murray in 2003, as she now carries 87 with one regular season game remaining.
Katy O'Steen and Jackson made big contributions as well with 16 and 14 points, respectively. O'Steen and Jackson grabbed nine rebounds apiece in the process.
The win brings the Lady Eagles to a 14-15 season record and a 8-13 record for conference play. OC will play their final regular season double header at Oklahoma Baptist University on Saturday. The women's game is scheduled for 6 p.m. with the men's to follow at 8 p.m.
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