OKLAHOMA CITY (Jan. 7, 2021) – Oklahoma Christian took the basketball court in the Eagles' Nest in its home opener with only eight players in uniform, and eventually, that caught up to the Lady Eagles on Thursday against Cameron.

OC led most of the game, but fell behind early in the fourth quarter and never caught up, losing 70-67 to the Aggies. Logan Collyer – the cousin of OC senior Maddison Collyer Ingraham – hit a 3-pointer with 4.6 seconds left for Cameron and the Lady Eagles weren't able to match those heroics on the other end on their final possession.

Cameron (3-1, 3-1 Lone Star Conference) used 11 players and had only one player play more than 32 minutes. OC (1-2, 1-2) – playing its first game in 3½ weeks and with multiple players out with season-ending injuries – had four such players. The difference showed in the final stretch, coach Stephanie Findley said.

"They tripled us up on players, it seemed like," she said. "I think we were at a disadvantage there. We haven't been playing games, and we don't have enough to scrimmage in practice, so our conditioning level is a little lacking. … When you're not in a rhythm of playing games and seeing what people to do you, you've got to get those scouting reports and get used to that stuff.

"You get disappointed that you played them that close, with so few players, and you were right there and had a chance at the end to tie it up. But you appreciate the fact that the girls put themselves in that position. It's just disappointing when you don't convert."

Senior center Kendall Blackburn posted career highs in both scoring (18 points) and rebounding (11) for OC and freshman forward Brooklin Bain – making her first collegiate start – shined with 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting to go with six rebounds. Ingraham added 10 points and six assists.

"I thought (Kendall) played real tough in the beginning, especially, and then as fatigue sets in, shots get a little shorter," Findley said. "But we'll get there, if we can keep playing, we'll get more in game condition. You just can't simulate it, especially when you have only seven or eight players. I thought she fought really well. She's got to take that job on her back a little bit … since Katie Mayo is out."

OC jetted to a quick 12-3 lead and was up 38-30 after Blackburn scored the opening basket of the second half just 12 seconds into the third quarter. But the Aggies held tough thanks to good 3-point shooting. They finished 14 of 35 from behind the arc, with the LSC's second-leading scorer, Maighan Hedge, going 4 of 8 and scoring 12 points and Katie King hitting 4 of 10 and scoring 20 points.

The Lady Eagles, conversely, made just 2 of 10 3-point shots. They shot 21 free throws and made 13, while Cameron went 6 of 9 from the line.

"We gave up too many open threes," Findley said. "They're a good shooting team, but when you run zone, that's going to happen. We have to run zone because we really have only seven healthy people and we're trying to stay out of foul trouble. I thought we gave up too many open looks, where we didn't get a hand up."

OC's final lead came with 9:06 left, when Emma Epperly hit a basket to put the Lady Eagles up 54-53. Collyer and Stephanie Peterson followed with 3-pointers for Cameron and the Aggies took a 63-57 lead with 5:28 left on a basket by King.

OC rallied and tied the game at 67-67 on a 10-foot jumper by Tyra Peck with 19.4 seconds left. Cameron held for a final shot and the ball found its way to Collyer for the go-ahead basket. After a timeout – during which the Lady Eagles advanced the ball to the frontcourt – Ingraham inbounded to Levings, who missed a 24-footer while heavily guarded.

Peterson scored 11 points for the Aggies, who shot 39.1 percent (25 of 64) from the field. OC shot 48.1 percent (26 of 54) and outrebounded Cameron 37-33.

The teams will play again on Saturday at Cameron.