LAWTON, Okla. – Sofia Lopez scored 29 points and Taylor Jackson added 28 as Oklahoma Christian opened the season with an 88-86 win over Southeastern Oklahoma State on Friday night. The game was played at a neutral site at Cameron University.
The 88 points matched OC's total from its 2014-15 opener, an 88-56 win over York (Neb.) on Nov. 15, 2014. That was the last time the Eagles opened a season with a win while scoring at least 88 points.
Lopez and Jackson became the first Oklahoma Christian teammates to each score 20 or more points in the same game since Dec. 14, 2024. That night, Jackson scored 22 and Kate Bradley scored 21 against Angelo State.
Neither team pulled away all night. There were 13 ties and 11 lead changes. Southeastern led 26-24 after the first quarter, but OC held the Savage Storm to 12 points in the second quarter and took a 47-38 lead into halftime.
Southeastern scored 27 points in the third quarter and went ahead 77-72 with 5:03 left. OC answered right away. Lopez hit two free throws, then Jackson tied it at 77-77 with a three-pointer after a Lopez steal. Lova Engren Wiorek's layup off an Allyah Leusogi-Ape assist put the Eagles back in front.
The Savage Storm tied it at 82-82 with 1:28 left. Jackson answered with an old-fashioned three-point play to make it 85-82. Southeastern scored the next four points and led 86-85 with 43 seconds left. Kenzie Willis then made both free throws with 29 seconds left to put OC back on top, and Lopez added one more at the line with 14 seconds to go for the final margin. Engren Wiorek blocked a Southeastern layup attempt in the closing seconds, and the Savage Storm's last shot fell short.
Lopez made 9 of 19 shots and 11 of 12 free throws, and she added three steals and two assists. Jackson made 11 of 23 shots and had six rebounds and six steals. Willis finished with 13 points on three three-pointers and grabbed six rebounds. Leusogi-Ape added seven points and five rebounds.
OC's defense made the difference. The Eagles had 15 steals, forced 25 turnovers and outscored Southeastern 30-16 in points off turnovers. OC also made 24 of 33 free throws (72.7 percent).
Tori Kilburn led Southeastern (0-2) with 26 points. Akiera Hawk had 23 points and 10 rebounds, and Kenzli Warden added 20 points and 12 rebounds.
Up Next: Oklahoma Christian continues play Saturday against East Central at 5 p.m. in Lawton.
