Basketball Teams Lose at Oklahoma City

OKLAHOMA CITY – Hampered by a poor first-half shooting performance, the USAO women’s basketball team lost 77-56 to No. 8 Oklahoma City Thursday night at Abe Lemons Arena. Meanwhile, the Drover men lost 80-78 on a last-second 3-pointer to the 19^th-ranked Stars.

With their loss, the Drover women fall to 6-9 overall and 1-3 in the Sooner Athletic Conference. The USAO men drop to 4-9 overall and 1-3 in the SAC standings. On Saturday, USAO hosts a doubleheader against nationally ranked Oklahoma Christian. The women’s game begins at 6 p.m., followed by the men around 8 p.m.

In the men’s game, OCU’s Larry Franklin hit a 3-pointer with eight seconds left to give the Stars an 80-78 win. USAO senior Wayne Gibson hit a free throw with 32 seconds left to push the Drovers up 78-74. Three-pointers by OCU’s Herman Burge and Franklin handed the Stars their final victory margin.

USAO struggled from the field in the first half, connecting on 34 percent from the field and just 3-of-8 from the free throw line. The Drovers improved in the second half to 50 percent from the field and 60 percent from the charity stripe, but had trouble from 3-point range by hitting on 2-of-9.

Two Drovers finished in double figures, led by Gibson with 30 points on 11-of-22 shooting and 5-of-9 from 3-point range. Gibson also tied for a game-high nine rebounds and three assists. Junior Romeil Perkins finished with 15 points on 7-of-13 from the field and five rebounds.

Senior Tony Jimmerson and sophomore Avery Stevenson scored nine points each, while Jimmerson grabbed rebounds and Stevenson dished out two assists. Senior Martin Washington and freshman Je’Van Sayles came off the bench to score five points each, as Washington got three assists and Sayles added five rebounds.

For the game, USAO hit 42 percent (29-of-69) from the field, 32 percent (8-of-25) from 3-point range and 52 percent  (12-of-23) from the free throw line. The Drovers collected 39 rebounds, 16 assists, six steals, five blocks and committed a season-low six turnovers.

Four Stars finished in double figures, led by Ricky Coleman with 22 points. Others in double figures were Trevor Meier with 17 points, Drago Pavlovic with 13 and Ryan Godwin with 10 points. OCU improved to 10-3 overall and 3-1 in the SAC.

In the women’s game, USAO shot 28 percent from the field and watched Oklahoma City put two scoring runs together to trail 44-22 at halftime. The Stars’ defense also forced the Drovers into 17 first-half turnovers.

USAO slightly improved its shooting in the second half, connecting on 44 percent from the field but just 3-of-12 from 3-point range. But, the Drovers held the Stars to 34 percent from the field and 1-of-6 from beyond the arc, but could never mount a serious challenge to the former national champions.

Two Drovers finished in double figures, led by junior Christina Brown’s season-high 17 points on 7-of-11 from the field and 3-of-6 from 3-point range. Senior Christal Merriweather broke out of a recent slump to finish with 14 points, a game-high eight assists and four steals.

Junior Nicole Sherman finished with eight points and six rebounds, while senior transfer Secrett Stubblefield added seven points and eight rebounds. Senior Karole Roberts finished with four points and four rebounds.  

For the game, USAO hit 36 percent (22-of-61) from the field, 27 percent (7-of-26) from 3-point range and 56 percent (5-of-9) from the free throw line. The Drovers collected 45 rebounds, 15 assists, 10 steals, three blocks and committed 30 turnovers.

OCU’s Sadio Sangare led the Stars with 16 points and eight rebounds, as they improved to 13-4 overall and 4-0 in the SAC. Natasha Doh finished with 15 points, three assists and two blocks, while Miriam Sy added 14 points and a game-high 14 rebounds.