Basketball Teams Come Up Short at OC

OKLAHOMA CITY – Despite improved shooting performances, the USAO basketball teams weren’t able to avenge recent losses to Oklahoma Christian. The Drover women were outgunned at the free throw line to suffer an 86-73 loss to the Lady Eagles, while the USAO men lost another heartbreaker 89-84 against the Eagles.

With the loss, the USAO women fall to 6-15 overall and 1-9 in the Sooner Athletic Conference. Meanwhile, the Drover men drop to 5-14 overall and 2-8 in the SAC. On Saturday, USAO hosts the nationally-ranked Oklahoma City Stars in a 6 p.m. doubleheader to complete the season series.

After several poor shooting performances, the USAO women found their touch in the second half, connecting on 58 percent from the field and an impressive 6-of-9 from 3-point range. The Drovers were also a perfect 10-of-10 from the free throw line. USAO outscored No. 12 Oklahoma Christian 52-40 in the second half, but wasn’t able to overcome a 25-point halftime deficit.

In that first half, the Lady Eagles 55 percent from the field, 3-of-4 from 3-point range and 11-of-14 from the free throw line. The Drovers managed just 33 percent from the field and 2-of-9 from beyond the arc. OC maintained 46 percent from the field in the final half, but lived at the free throw line by connecting on 16-of-21.

Three Drovers finished in double figures, led by junior Katie Sterling with a season-high 26 points on 11-of-14 shooting. Senior Christal Merriweather finished with 18 points, including 7-of-7 from the free throw line, and a team-high five assists. Senior Karole Roberts added 10 points and a team-high seven rebounds.

Junior Christina Brown connected on 2-of-3 from 3-point range for six points and three rebounds. Senior Secrett Stubblefield also had six points off the bench, but fouled out after playing 16 minutes. Others in the scoring column for USAO were junior Elaine Solis with three points and three steals, along with junior Nicole Sherman and sophomore Nikki Yager with two points each.

For the game, USAO hit 47 percent (27-of-58) from the field, 44 percent (8-of-18) from 3-point range and 92 percent (11-of-12) from the free throw line. The Drovers collected 23 rebounds, 13 assists, seven steals, four blocks and committed 19 turnovers.

Oklahoma Christian (18-5, 8-2) had four players in double figures, led by Lauren Decker with 25 points and a game-high six assists. Other Lady Eagles in double digits were Tasha Turney with 20 points, Katie Fariss with 18 points and six rebounds, and Carlissa Plowden with 12 points. 

In the men’s game, USAO had a difficult time from 3-point range but slightly outscored No. 6 Oklahoma Christian from the free throw line in an 89-84 loss. The Drovers shot 50 percent from the field in the first half, but managed just 1-of-4 from 3-point range. The Eagles, however, hit 44 percent from the field and 5-of-11 from beyond the arc, as both teams ended the half tied at 39-all.

Oklahoma Christian saw a 17-point improvement in its second-half shooting, and USAO saw slight improvement to 52 percent. The difference in the game was at the three throw line the second half, where the Drovers connected on 14-of-22, or 64 percent, and the Eagles nailed 13-of-15. USAO also cooled off from 3-point range, hitting just 1-of-7, but OC was 3-of-6.

Senior Keith Miller had a career-high 28 points on 10-of-13 shooting to lead three Drovers in double figures. Miller also had five rebounds and three assists. Senior Wayne Gibson finished with 21 points, six rebounds and three assists. Sophomore Avery Stevenson added 12 points and six rebounds.

Other Drovers in the scoring column included senior Tony Jimmerson, junior Wayne Walls and freshman Kevin Thames with six points each, and junior Romeil Perkins with five points. Jimmerson also grabbed five rebounds, while Perkins dished out a team-high four assists and Thames had a game-high four steals.

For the game, USAO hit 51 percent (30-of-59) from the field, 18 percent (2-of-11) from 3-point range, 69 percent (22-of-32) from the free throw line. The Drovers collected 31 rebounds, 12 assists, nine steals, and committed 10 turnovers.

Oklahoma Christian (20-2, 8-2) had three players in double figures, led by Jarred Merrill with a career-high 40 points and 14 rebounds. Charles Baldwin scored 21 points and six rebounds. Brady Page added 15 points and a game-high 11 assists.