Box Score SAN ANGELO, Texas (Nov. 24, 2017) –
Addy Clift got hot and
Maddison Collyer played exquisitely at point guard, two things that figure to bode well for Oklahoma Christian in most basketball games. They certainly did Friday afternoon against Texas A&M-Kingsville.
Clift knocked down five 3-pointers and scored 21 points and Collyer recorded her first career double-double in just her fifth career game with 10 points, 13 assists and six rebounds, lifting the Lady Eagles to an 86-66 win in the Angelo State Thanksgiving Classic at Stephens Arena.
OC (1-4) poured it on against Lone Star Conference foe TAMUK (3-3) in the second half, turning a one-point halftime deficit into a runaway at the end. In addition to Collyer, two other OC freshmen scored in double figures –
Tyra Peck, who had 11 points while going 4 of 5 from the field (including 3 of 4 from 3-point range) and
Katie Mayo, who had 10 points and two blocked shots.
The Lady Eagles outrebounded the Javelinas 48-46 and shot a respectable 44.4 percent from the field, compared to 31.9 percent for TAMUK.
In the first meeting ever between the programs, the Javelinas jumped to a 12-4 lead before OC answered with 14 straight points to take an 18-14 lead after the first quarter. OC led 29-20 after a free throw by
Hope Dawkins with 6:09 left in the second quarter, but the Javelinas closed the half on a 12-4 run to take a 43-42 halftime lead.
Clift tied the game at 45-45 a minute into the third quarter with the first of what would be her three 3-pointers in the period, and OC never trailed again. Collyer's jumper a minute later put OC ahead for good at 47-45. Soon after, the Lady Eagles went on a 13-2 run to take a 62-50 lead after two free throws by Clift with 2:49 left in the quarter.
OC took a 64-53 advantage into the fourth quarter and steadily built on it, leading by as many as 22 points. Collyer's assist total wasn't far off OC's single-game school record of 17, set by Tara Satterfield vs. Lubbock Christian (Texas) on Feb. 17, 2001. Collyer did record the team's first points-assists double-double since Sydney Hill had 22 points and 10 assists vs. Texas-Permian Basin on Feb. 27, 2016.
Sadie Russell led TAMUK with 11 points, while Angelica Wilson had 10 points and eight rebounds. Before losing to OC, the Javelinas had been a perfect 3-0 against Heartland Conference foes this season, winning at traditional league power St. Mary's (Texas) 48-46 and sweeping a home-and-home series from Texas A&M International, 65-62 and 46-43.
OC will face South Central Region No. 8-ranked Angelo State on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
