PORTALES, N.M. (Feb. 7, 2022) – Despite all the obstacles – foul trouble, shooting struggles and a long road trip – Oklahoma Christian, for a third straight game, found itself in a position to win entering the fourth quarter on Monday night against Eastern New Mexico.
Unfortunately for the Lady Eagles, the shots didn't fall for most of the second half and Eastern New Mexico took advantage in the fourth quarter to pull away for an 86-76 win at Greyhound Arena.
The basketball game had originally been scheduled for Jan. 6 but was postponed due to COVID-19 protocols. As a result of all of its makeup contests in recent weeks, OC now has played eight games in 19 days and will eventually play 10 games in 24 days after traveling later this week to St. Mary's (Texas) and St. Edward's (Texas).
Freshman guard
Ashanti Day's recent surge continued, as she led OC (0-18, 0-9 Lone Star Conference) with 28 points, making 13 of 15 free throws.
Brooklin Bain recorded her 11th double-double of the season with 20 points and 11 rebounds and
Kate Bradley added 12 points. But the Lady Eagles made only 5 of 25 shots after halftime after making 17 of 30 in the first half.
OC also battled foul issues, as one player,
Kendall Blackburn, fouled out and three others – Bain,
Kendra Levings and
Lexy Borgstadt – finished with four each.
Eastern New Mexico (9-9, 5-7) outrebounded OC 49-29 and had its own scoring standout, as Iyanna McCurdy had 28 points and 12 rebounds. The Greyhounds shot 40.9 percent (27 of 66) from the field, including 50 percent (8 of 16) in the fourth quarter.
OC led by as many as nine points in the first half and was up 49-45 at halftime. The Lady Eagles led 66-59 after two free throws by Bain with 1:28 left in the third quarter, but Eastern New Mexico scored the next 10 points. McCurdy's two free throws with 8:23 left put the Greyhounds ahead to stay at 67-66 and they never trailed again.
The Lady Eagles were within striking distance at 80-74 after a 3-pointer by Bain with 1:33 left before Hanna Nussbaumer and McCurdy each hit a pair of free throws for the Greyhounds to seal the win.
Natalie Stice added 15 points for Eastern New Mexico.
