Box Score WICHITA, Kan. (Feb. 12, 2015) – Oklahoma Christian coach Stephanie Findley is enjoying watching the late-season metamorphosis of her team.

Once an afterthought in the Heartland Conference race, the Lady Eagles now are making major noise. On Thursday night at Fugate Gymnasium, OC won for the sixth time in its last eight games, rolling past Newman (Kan.) 60-40.

Sophomore forward McKenzie Stanford recorded her second career double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds for OC (10-12, 7-7 Heartland), which moved into a tie for fourth place in the conference race, just a half-game behind third-place St. Edward's (Texas).  

With the number of games left on the schedule dwindling, the Lady Eagles are playing their best basketball of the season. Three of those six wins during the recent stretch have come on the road.

"I talked to them before the game about the fact that this team, when I watch film from the first time through the conference, we look like a totally different team, because we're playing with confidence and energy," Findley said. "It's been great. I hope we can continue and get some consistency."

The Lady Eagles put on a clinic against Newman (7-15, 4-10), recording more assists (12) than turnovers (11), shooting 45.6 percent from the field – their best performance in league play this season – and trailing only for about 3½ minutes early in the game.

"Eleven turnovers is really good for us and I was really pleased to see that," Findley said. "At halftime we only had three. That was the difference in the first half, I think, of us getting that lead. They outrebounded us pretty bad by halftime but those turnovers gave us some extra possessions."

Senior center Makenzie Brown came off the bench to score all 11 of her points in the first half, swishing a career-high three 3-pointers. Her first 3-pointer put OC ahead for good at 15-12 at the 11:06 mark of the first half.

"That's a couple of games in a row now that Makenzie Brown has kind of been our offensive spark off the bench," Findley said. "It's great to see for her. She's a senior and she's really a good shooter. People don't realize that, I think, because we play her inside a lot. They don't realize she can trail in there and knock that three down. She made them pay tonight for not guarding her."

By halftime, OC led 35-21 and Newman – which shot 31.5 percent from the field (17 of 54) and 5.3 percent from 3-point range (1 of 19) never made a serious run. The Jets had only one player score in double figures – Mali Wright, who had 12 points. Brianna Caldwell did grab 10 rebounds for the Jets, who outrebounded OC 39-34.

Stanford scored eight of her points in the first seven minutes of the second half to help extend the Lady Eagles' lead past 20 points. Hinton finished the game off for OC in strong fashion, scoring seven points in an 83-second span, capped by a 3-pointer with 3:21 left that made it 58-36. She finished with 11 points.

"Jaz just really looked determined in the second half," Findley said. "She made a couple of shots. She knew that she could take those girls and she was going to do it. I really appreciated that effort from her."

The Lady Eagles are 8-1 all-time against Newman, including a 5-1 mark since OC joined the Heartland Conference with the 2012-13 season.

The Lady Eagles will play their final two home games of the season next week – on Thursday against Rogers State and on Saturday against Arkansas-Fort Smith.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K82i3MoTn6E&feature=youtu.be