Erika Ankney led four Oklahoma Baptist players in double-figure scoring with 23 as the Bison secured a 74-71 win at East Central on Saturday at the Kerr Activities Center.
OBU ran its win streak to seven games and moved its record to 8-2 and 4-0 in the Great American Conference. The team’s 8-2 record through 10 games is its best start in that amount of competition since moving to NCAA Division II.
After an opening-possession three-ball by Ankney, ECU responded with eight straight capped off with a three from leading scorer Mackenzie Crusoe. That shot at the 5:36 mark pushed ECU’s advantage to 8-3.
Following that spurt, the green and gold got a run of their own. They scored seven of the next nine and tied the game at 10 after a layup from Sierra Copeland. Then in the final 2:21 of the period, the teams traded baskets before the Tigers took a 15-13 lead into the second.
Second-quarter action favored OBU as it outscored ECU 20-16. Highlighting the team’s efforts was Kennedy Large who wound up with 10 first-half points. Large hit a couple of threes which spurred the Bison to an 11-3 run. With 4:10 left, the Bison led 28-20 as that run was led by Large, Ankney and Jill Leslie.
Freshman Sydney Duncan got into the mix too hitting a couple of shots. By half, it was 33-31 OBU.
After the break, the Bison got off to a hot start and found themselves up double digits. Leading 35-33, the visitors broke off an 8-0 stretch with Ankney providing six of those points. With about seven minutes until the fourth, OBU led 43-33.
That 10-point lead was short-lived, though, as East Central hit four 3-pointers on its next few possessions to tie the game. Despite that, the green and gold would end the third leading 55-48.
In the fourth, both teams gave fans plenty to cheer about. There were multiple lead changes, defensive stops from both teams, but at the end, OBU would prevail.
Melissa Southard had a crucial three, Jaedyn Getman and Ankney hit several free throws and a defensive stop leading 72-71 iced the game. The Bison did trail 71-70 after a long ball by Ashly Evans-Thompson, but on the ensuing possession, an offensive rebound by Leslie eventually led to two Getman free throws.
Next on the schedule is a Jan. 5 home game against Henderson State at 5:30 p.m.
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