SILVER CITY, N.M. (Feb. 8, 2020) – Megan Shelton had to miss Oklahoma Christian's game on Thursday due to an important meeting back in the Sooner State, but she returned to the Lady Eagles in time for their game Saturday afternoon – which provided a much-needed boost to her team.

Shelton hit her first five 3-point attempts, staking OC to an early lead, and finished with 19 points as the Lady Eagles won 73-67 at Western New Mexico's Drag's Court.

Katie Mayo also scored 19 points for OC (7-13, 7-9 Lone Star Conference), which moved into sole possession of 11th place in the league standings. The top 12 teams at the end of the regular season qualify for the LSC's postseason tournament. OC has a one-game lead over 12th-place Midwestern State (Texas) and is 1½ games ahead of Texas-Permian Basin, in 13th place.

The loss put a serious dent in the postseason hopes of Western New Mexico (7-14, 4-13). OC outrebounded the Mustangs 35-25, led by point guard Maddison Collyer, who had eight boards to go with 10 points and four assists. Shelton grabbed seven rebounds, while Mayo and Carolyne Lawley had six each. OC also had only 12 turnovers, matching its second-lowest total of the basketball season.

"It was great to have Megan back, as she picked up where she left off last Saturday and was on fire in the first half," OC coach Stephanie Findley said. "She and Maddi led the way as we outrebounded them. We came out more focused than we have been and it showed on the boards, in our reduced turnovers and in execution on both ends.

"Mayo had a good game inside and at the free-throw line. We thought we might have an advantage in there with her and Carolyne. We hope to keep the momentum going into next week now."

OC led by as many as 13 points in the first quarter and was up 23-13 at the quarter's end. A basket by Kendra Levings put the Lady Eagles ahead 34-19 with 6:21 left in the second quarter but the Mustangs closed the half on a 12-3 run to pull within 37-31.

Western New Mexico twice pulled within three points in the third quarter but OC went on a 15-4 run and led 54-40 after a 3-pointer by Levings midway through the quarter.

The Mustangs made one final push and tied the game three times in the fourth quarter, the last time at 64-64 with 3:50 left on a basket by Kyanne Kowatch. OC responded by scoring the next six points – a basket by Shelton at the 3:22 mark, another by Collyer at the 1:13 mark and two free throws by Tyra Peck with 41 seconds left.

Paulina Rodriguez led Western New Mexico with 16 points, while Kayla Clark had 15 and Kowatch had 11.

After the season's longest road trip, OC will return home to face a pair of league powers next week – Angelo State (Texas) on Thursday and last season's NCAA Division II champion, Lubbock Christian (Texas).