TYLER, Texas (Dec. 18, 2021) – Oklahoma Christian closed a 15-point deficit to only four points in the final minute, but Texas-Tyler made 5 of 6 free throws in the final 28 seconds to hang on for a 72-63 win over the Lady Eagles on Saturday afternoon in the Louise Herrington Patriot Center.
Three players scored in double figures for OC, led by freshman forward
Brooklin Bain, who recorded her fifth double-double of the basketball season with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Her 3-pointer with 33 seconds left pulled OC within 67-63, but those proved to be the Lady Eagles' final points, as they missed their final three shots while Texas-Tyler – ranked ninth in the South Central Region – made its free throws.
Freshman point guard
Kate Bradley added 12 points (on 5-of-8 shooting) and freshman forward
Lexy Borgstadt added 10 points off the bench for OC (0-8). The Lady Eagles shot 36.1 percent (22 of 61) from the field and 55 percent (11 of 20) from the free-throw line. Texas-Tyler (7-1) made 26 of 31 free throws (83.9 percent).
A free throw by Borgstadt with 1:53 left in the first quarter gave OC its first lead at 12-11, but the Patriots went on an 8-1 run and never trailed again. Texas-Tyler led 35-27 at halftime and stretched its lead to 14 points on three occasions in the third quarter, the last at 48-34 with 3:21 left.
OC scored eight straight points, including a 3-pointer by freshman
Kayton Kite (her first collegiate basket) and entered the fourth quarter trailing only 50-42. The Patriots again gradually increased their lead and were up 63-48 with 4:14 left before OC made its final push. Bradley,
Kendra Levings and Bain each hit a 3-pointer during the Lady Eagles' 15-4 run.
Liah Davis and Destini Whitehead each scored 17 points to lead Texas-Tyler, while Kelsey Crouse added 12 points. Whitehead made all nine of her free-throw attempts while Davis went 5 of 5 from the line.
The game against Texas-Tyler was the last nonconference contest of the season for OC. The Lady Eagles will host Texas-Tyler in a Lone Star Conference game on Feb. 3. OC's next game will be its LSC opener at home against in-state rival Cameron on Dec. 31.
