Basketball Teams Split With Northwestern

One game was over by halftime, and the other came down to the final seconds. In the end, the USAO basketball teams split their doubleheader Monday night against Northwestern. The Drover women easily blew past the Lady Rangers, 87-44, while the men lost 62-59 on two free throws in the waning moments.

With their win, the USAO women ended an eight-game losing streak, and improved to 6-8 overall and 1-2 in the Sooner Athletic Conference. The Drover men fell to 4-8 overall and 1-2 in the SAC. On Thursday, USAO travels to Oklahoma City for a 6 p.m. doubleheader against the Stars, and on Saturday hosts Oklahoma Christian.

In the women’s game, USAO overcame recent shooting woes to hit 44 percent in the first half and lead 41-16 at halftime. The Drover defense held Northwestern to 19 percent from the field in the lopsided first frame.

USAO defensive pressure and offensive firepower intensified in the second half, as the Drovers shot a blistering 53 percent from the field and 54 percent from 3-point range to outscore the Lady Rangers 46-28 in the half. Northwestern slightly improved its field-goal percentage, but never got closer than 20 points.

Three USAO players finished in double figures, led by senior transfer Secret Stubblefield with 16 points and five rebounds. Senior Christal Merriweather shook off some recent struggles with 15 points, five rebounds, and two assists. Junior Katie Sterling was the other Drover in double figures with 11 points and a game-high six steals.

As a team, USAO hit 49 percent (29-of-59) from the field, 38 percent (8-of-21) from 3-point range and 70 percent (21-of-30) from the free throw line. The Drovers collected 49 rebounds, 18 assists, 16 seals, five blocks, and committed 15 turnovers.

Junior Erin Goss led Northwestern with 18 points and four rebounds as the Lady Rangers fall to 7-8 overall and 0-3 in the SAC. Senior Jackie Regan and junior Toni Scales finished with six points each, and Regan grabbed a game-high eight rebounds.

Down by as many as nine points in the second half, the USAO men fought back and cut the deficit to one point with 2:22 left. Neither team scored in the closing minutes, and Northwestern’s Henry Morris iced the Rangers’ win on two free throws with two seconds left. The Drovers’ last-second effort came up short.

USAO struggled a bit from the field in the first half, connecting on 33 percent from the field and just 4-of-15 from 3-point range. Northwestern, meanwhile, hit 56 percent from the field and 4-of-6 from 3-point range to lead 37-28 at halftime. Neither team shot better than 30 percent from the field in the second half.

Two Drovers finished in double figures, led by junior Romeil Perkins with 21 points and a game-high eight rebounds. Senior Wayne Gibson scored 20 points and three rebounds as the only player to play all 40 minutes. Senior Tony Jimmerson added seven points and four rebounds, while battling foul trouble.

As a team, USAO hit 30 percent (16-of-54) from the field, 26 percent (8-of-31) from 3-point range, and 73 percent (19-of-26) from the free throw line. The Drovers collected 32 rebounds, 11 assists, 10 steals, two blocks, and committed 10 turnovers.

A more balanced team, Northwestern didn’t have a player in double figures. Juniors LaRon Bradley, Henry Morris, and Raheen Jones finished with nine points each to pace the Rangers. Senior Bryant Hunt grabbed a game-high eight rebounds and four points.