Box Score OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 10, 2018) – Oklahoma Christian trailed for all of two minutes on Saturday afternoon against St. Mary's (Texas) – but unfortunately for the Lady Eagles, they came at the end of the basketball game.

St. Mary's picked up 28 points and eight rebounds from Arysia Porter and went 7 of 8 from the free-throw line in the final 1:15 to leave the Eagles' Nest as a 59-55 winner over OC.

It is the first time since OC joined the Heartland Conference that OC (8-15, 4-7 Heartland) and St. Mary's (12-12, 6-5) that the teams didn't split their regular-season series, as the Rattlers beat OC earlier this season in San Antonio. Despite the loss, OC remained in fifth place in the league standings, as sixth-place St. Edward's (Texas) also lost Saturday.

A sizzling start staked OC to 10-point lead in the game's first four minutes, but the Lady Eagles struggled offensively after the first quarter, managing only 11 baskets over the final 30 minutes. St. Mary's wasn't much better, but the Rattlers outrebounded OC 42-31, keeping the Lady Eagles from many second-chance opportunities on offense.

Addy Clift scored 20 points for OC, but no other player reached double figures for the Lady Eagles.

"I was proud of the girls for competing hard and leading the game most of the way, but we've got to find a way to finish these close games. We've got to have other guys besides Addy step up and score consistently. We lost the rebounding battle big-time today and that was the difference."

Clift and Katie Mayo each hit a 3-pointer as OC sprinted to a 12-2 lead, and two more 3-pointers – by Delyssa Miller and Tyra Peck – pushed the advantage to 20-9 with 1:49 left in the first quarter. OC still led by 10 late in the second quarter before settling for a 31-24 halftime lead after Porter hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer.

OC was up 38-28 after a basket by Clift with 5:46 left in the third quarter, but an 11-2 run by the Rattlers closed the gap and the game was on. St. Mary's took its first lead at 45-44 with 6:51 left, but Mayo gave it right back to OC with a layup moments later.

The Lady Eagles didn't trail again until Kealani Marquez made two free throws with 1:15 left to put the Rattlers up 54-53. In the final two minutes, OC missed three shots and had a turnover, allowing the Rattlers to pull away at the free-throw line. Tia Mason hit a pair with 28.8 seconds left to make it 56-53 and Porter hit two more with 21.7 seconds left before Mya Culiver went 1 of 2 with :08 left.

Maddison Collyer hit two free throws with :05 left, but the Lady Eagles never got the ball back.

Soteria Banks added 17 points for St. Mary's.

OC will host No. 2-ranked Lubbock Christian (Texas) next Saturday, with Audrey Hayes and Hope Dawkins set to be honored in a Senior Day ceremony.