FORT WORTH, TX: The Texas Wesleyan University women’s basketball team (11-1) picked up a close 81-76 win against the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma Lady Drovers (5-5) at the Sid Richardson Center on Thursday afternoon.

The Lady Drovers got out to the early lead, jumping out to a 9-4 lead. The Lady Rams ran back to take the lead on a Brittany White free throw that made it 11-9 with 11:43 left in the first half. Wesleyan held on to a small advantage for only a short time as the Lady Drovers tied the game at 15-15. The two teams battled throughout the rest of the half for the edge, but neither team was able to maintain a long lead as the score was brought to a tie 10 times in the first half of play. Kristi Alexander gave the Lady Rams a 35-34 lead late in the first half with two free throws with 1:26 on the clock, but USAO took a 36-35 edge going into the break.

Both teams shot 40 percent in the half, but Science and Arts went 11-11 from the free throw line and won the turnover battle (8-13). The Lady Rams shot 68 percent from the free throw line and 40 percent behind the arc.

The Lady Drovers took a 38-35 lead to start the second half that fueled the fire to the epic fight that ensued in the second half. Neither team had more than a four point lead the entire half. The Lady Rams trailed USAO closely until Tiffany Adair gave Wesleyan their first lead of the second half at 57-56 with 9:46 to go in the game. The two teams traded the lead until White hit a jumper to give Wesleyan a 72-70 lead with the clock reading 1:35. The Drovers missed a three pointer, and Nicole Terral hit a three at the other end to give the Rams some breathing room at 75-70 with under a minute left. Texas Wesleyan forced a Lady Drover turnover and USAO had to foul to extend the game. Wesleyan stayed solid at the free throw line and took the 81-76 win.

The contest had 16 lead changes and was tied 21 times. Texas Wesleyan shot 46.4 percent from the field in the second half, shot 29 percent from the three point line and 64.3 percent from the charity line. The Lady Rams shot 44 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from the behind the arc and 66 percent from the free throw line for the game.

White led the Lady Rams with 18 points. Shayla Moore notched 15 points in the win. Octavia Mullins led all players with 15 rebounds in the game.

The Lady Rams will play the final game of this home stretch on Thursday, January 6, against conference opponent University of the Southwest. Game time is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. in the Sid Richardson Center.