Box Score WICHITA, Kan. (Jan. 14, 2016) – The long Heartland Conference road finally caught up to Oklahoma Christian on Thursday night at Newman (Kan.).
Playing their fourth road game in eight days, the weary Lady Eagles struggled with their shooting – from the field and free-throw line – and lost 81-61 to Newman at Fugate Gymnasium.
OC (7-10, 4-3 Heartland) shot 32.8 percent from the field (21 of 64), including 22.2 percent from 3-point range (6 of 27), and as a result had difficulty setting up its trademark pressure defense with regularity. Newman (9-6, 3-4) committed only 11 turnovers, well below the 21.6 per-game average for OC opponents entering the game.
Thus ended an OC trip that started in Goodwell, Okla., against Oklahoma Panhandle State last Thursday and continued to Lubbock, Texas, to play national power Lubbock Christian on Saturday and Odessa, Texas, to visit Texas-Permian Basin on Monday. The Lady Eagles arrived home in Oklahoma City in the wee hours on Tuesday, but the conference had them headed north to Wichita on Thursday.
In retrospect, a 2-2 record on such a trip doesn't seem so bad, but the Lady Eagles certainly wanted more, especially considering they entered the game with an 8-1 all-time mark against Newman.
From the opening tip, Newman came out red-hot and the Jets didn't cool down, shooting 55.7 percent from the field. Shaunice Robinson led the way, going 9-of-10 from the field and scoring 21 points, while Mali Wright added 20 points and nine rebounds.
OC's only consistent offensive threat was junior forward
McKenzie Stanford, who went 9-of-14 and scored 21 points. Only one other OC player,
Sarah Parker, reached double figures, scoring 12 points.
Newman sprinted to a 22-6 lead and although OC cut it to 22-12 by the end of the first quarter, the Lady Eagles couldn't cut the gap any more. Newman led 40-25 at halftime and OC again pulled within 10 at 40-30 after opening the half with a 3-pointer by Parker and a 2-pointer by
Sydney Hill, but a 9-0 run by the Jets rebuilt their lead to 51-32.
OC came no closer than 13 points after that. It didn't help that the Lady Eagles, who entered the game leading NCAA Division II in made free throws, had only 19 attempts from the line, making 13 for 68.4 percent, well below their 75.8-percent average coming in.
Jasmine Hinton scored nine points and
Addy Clift had eight for OC.
After a well-deserved week of rest, OC will resume play at home next Thursday against Arkansas-Fort Smith.
