Box Score OKLAHOMA CITY (Jan. 15, 2015) – When Oklahoma Christian needed energy on Thursday night against Newman (Kan.),
Skyler Newberry and
Kylee Hicks delivered it in a big way for the Lady Eagles.
Newberry scored a season-high 12 points – including a key 3-pointer – and grabbed seven rebounds, while Hicks had eight rebounds in her first career start as OC pulled away late to beat the Jets 60-52 in the Eagles' Nest.
OC (5-10, 2-5 Heartland Conference) overcame poor free-throw shooting (23-of-41, or 56.1 percent) and 20 turnovers by hitting 17 of 42 shots from the field (40.5 percent), limiting Newman to 27.9-percent shooting (17 of 61) and taking advantage of the Jets' 21 turnovers. OC also limited its fouls, committing only 15, and Newman shot just 13 free throws, making nine.
It wasn't pretty, but it was a win. After a difficult stretch to open the Heartland campaign, that's what was most important to OC coach
Stephanie Findley.
"You try to protect your home court any time you can," Findley said. "This conference is so evenly spread, you really have to win those home games.
"This is a good win for us. Newman knocked off (conference power) Lubbock Christian the other day and they've been close to knocking off some of those other teams. They've been kind of like us, on the bad end of some close games, but this hopefully was a good confidence boost.
The game was tight throughout, with 11 lead changes and five ties. Both teams were ice-cold coming out of halftime, combining for one point during the first 4½ minutes of the second half, but OC still led 28-27 despite its scoring drought.
Newman (5-10, 2-5) took a 36-35 lead on a basket by DeKendra Ledoux with 9:52 left, but OC ramped up its defense and held the Jets scoreless for the next 6½ minutes.
Newberry, who'd hit only two 3-pointers all season, confidently swished one with 8:16 left to put the Eagles back ahead at 38-36.
Jordan Gorham followed with a free throw, then Newberry hit a 14-foot jumper and a fast-break layup off a feed from
McKenzie Stanford.
After a Newman timeout, Stanford went 1-of-2 from the line, then scored a layup with 3:40 left to give OC a 46-36 lead – the largest of the game for either team.
A basket by Cierra Tjaden and a 3-pointer by Brianna Caldwell pulled Newman within 46-41 with 2:32 left, but
Sydney Hill's three-point play extended the OC advantage to eight points and the Lady Eagles went 9-of-14 from the line in the final 1:11 to seal the win.
Hill led OC with 16 points while Stanford had 17 points, six rebounds and two blocked shots. Newberry's 12-point outing (one off her career high) came on 5-of-6 shooting, while Hicks, a sophomore from Choctaw, provided not only rebounding but consistent defensive effort, something Findley said was key.
"They both did a wonderful job," Findley said of Newberry and Hicks. "Skyler has really been shooting well in practice. They both are two of our better rebounders in practice and we know they can do that kind of thing. We've had Skyler play a lot of different positions, and maybe just try to find her niche. Maybe she found it tonight.
"They both did a great job. We couldn't have done it without them and those extra possessions they get us. They're both long, they both are athletic and they get deflections, they get steals, they get rebounds and those extra possessions really helped us."
Ledoux led Newman with 14 points, but finished 4-of-20 from the field. Tjaden had 11 points and DaJah Thompson grabbed 11 rebounds (to go with 2 points) for the Jets.
OC now leads the all-time series against Newman 7-1. The Lady Eagles are 4-1 against the Jets since OC joined the Heartland Conference with the 2012-13 season.
The Lady Eagles will be off until next Thursday, when they travel up the Turner Turnpike to Rogers State in Claremore for an intra-state showdown.
