The Oklahoma Christian University women’s basketball team defeated Dallas Christian College by 59 points, 108-49, Nov. 30 to cement a 5-3 record before heading into their December schedule.
With seven new players on the Lady Eagles roster for the 2018-19 season, the Lady Eagles have struggled to settle into a winning rhythm, losing two games by more than 20 points.
Nevertheless, the Lady Eagles sit in a solid position, as they have one more month of non-conference match-ups to establish firm chemistry before beginning conference play in January.
In an interview with Murray Evans, Oklahoma Christian’s sports information director, Coach Stephanie Findley said she liked their performance and ability to stay dominant throughout the entire Christian game.
“I’m really proud of our whole team to turn in 33 assists to only eight turnovers,” Findley said. “As a team, they have also been trying to focus on better shooting and that was the case tonight.”
Oklahoma Christian’s 108 points were the most by a Heartland Conference team this season and the Lady Eagles’ most lopsided win since a 91-21 victory over Hillsdale Baptist College in 2008.
Additionally, four of the Lady Eagles’ five wins came while they were playing on the road, with big wins over Texas Woman’s University (78-69 on Nov. 18) and Cameron University (86-75 on Nov. 10). The other two road wins proved close battles, showing the battling heart of the Lady Eagles.
Earlier on, in the second game of the season, the Lady Eagles narrowly defeated Midwestern State University Nov. 9, 76-75. Senior Addy Clift, the top scorer for the Lady Eagles, scored two baskets in the final 63 seconds of play to secure the victory.
Oklahoma Christian’s second close win came over Northwestern Oklahoma State University Nov. 20, beating the Lady Rangers by four, 65-61. At the end of the game, Findley told Evans she was just happy to have survived with the victory.
“Any win is a good win when you’re on the road and I’m just glad to get out of here by the skin of our teeth,” Findley said. “We did do just enough at the end to hold them off, thank goodness, because we had let them back into it.”
Against the Lady Rangers, sophomore Katie Mayo led the way for the Lady Eagles, recording her third career double-double. Mayo finished the game with 14 points and a career-high 14 rebounds.
Findley said she has also been impressed by freshman Kendall Blackburn’s performance this season, particularly in the game against Northwestern Oklahoma State.
“Kendall has been playing well,” Findley said. “We felt like that was a strength for us against their team. They don’t have much size. It was more difficult than you think to get the ball inside to take advantage of it, but I think our girls did a good job of rebounding and getting second opportunities and putting those back in.”
Clift, an All-American athlete, sits in 10th place on the school’s all-time scorer’s list and scored 17 points in her most recent performance against Dallas Christian, adding a career-high seven assists and four steals. The other top scorer for the Lady Eagles, Mayo, recorded 21 points, seven rebounds and a career-high five blocked shots.
The Lady Eagles return to play Dec. 4 against Mid-America Christian University in the Eagles Nest at 5:30 p.m.
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