COMMERCE, Texas (Dec. 11, 2021) -- Oklahoma Christian was holding its own with No. 3/5-ranked Texas A&M-Commerce on Saturday afternoon, up four points early in the second quarter. 
 
Then TAMUC turned up the defensive heat, forcing the Lady Eagles into a scoreless stretch that lasted more than five minutes. OC never recovered and lost 92-66 to the Lions at The Field House. 
 
Two OC players, Brooklin Bain (22 points, 14 rebounds) and Kendall Blackburn (13 points, 10 rebounds) recorded double-doubles, but the Lady Eagles finished with 30 turnovers, leading to 34 points for TAMUC (8-0). OC (0-7) did match the Lions in rebounds, with each team grabbing 44.  
 
"I thought we played better today in spurts against a better opponent," OC basketball coach Stephanie Findley said. "It's obviously tough to win with the turnovers and fouls, but we rebounded well and played strong half-court defense. We just gave up too many points at the line and in transition off the turnovers. I'm proud of the fight the team is showing and their willingness to keep working to improve and grow as a team." 
 
OC closed the first quarter with six straight points to go ahead 15-14 and a 3-pointer by Kendra Levings with 8:48 left in the second quarter made it 20-16. But during the next five-plus minutes, the Lady Eagles had five turnovers and missed five shots. When Ravae Payne scored for TAMUC at the 3:41 mark of the quarter, the Lions led 35-20, having scored 19 straight points. 
 
TAMUC led 42-28 at halftime and OC never came closer than 12 points the rest of the way. 
 
Asiyha Smith led the Lions with 17 points. Payne scored 15, while Symmone James had 14 and DesiRay Kernal and Dyani Robinson added 12 each. Kate Bradley had 10 points and five assists for OC. 
 
OC will wrap up the nonconference portion of its schedule next Saturday with a game at Texas-Tyler. The Lady Eagles' next home game will be their Lone Star Conference opener against in-state rival Cameron on Dec. 31.