Box Score

FORT WORTH, TX: The Texas Wesleyan University women's basketball team (9-10, 5-6 SAC) barely missed an upset of fifth ranked Oklahoma Baptist University (18-2, 10-0 SAC) in a 58-56 nail biter at the Sid Richardson Center on Thursday night.
 
The Lady Rams held their own in the early goings, playing good defense and not giving up the easy basket. The largest lead the Lady Bison enjoyed was a five point, 23-18 lead after a Raquel Dedzevich layup with 8:29 remaining in the half. The Lady Rams closed quickly on the lead with a three pointer from Liz Handy on an Amy Moody assist to make it 23-21. Krissy Parker gave Wesleyan a 26-25 lead on a turnaround lay in with five minutes to go in the half.
 
The two teams went silent for about three and a half minutes as neither team hit from the field. Oklahoma Baptist finally broke the dry spell on a Charity Fowler bucket from downtown to take the lead, 28-26. Another good jumper put the Lady Bison up four, before Handy landed a jump shot to make it 30-28 at the break. The two teams shot identically from the field in the first half, each going 11-31 for 35.5 percent. Each team also put up 14 points in the paint and eight points off the bench.
 
The Lady Rams immediately took the lead 31-30 with a Moody splash from behind the arc to start the second half. The Lady Bison reclaimed and held the lead for the better part of the half, but the Lady Rams never let OBU build any momentum. Cameerah Graves gave the Bison their largest lead of the night at 48-41on a jumper from the three point line with 8:50 remaining in the game. Texas Wesleyan surged on a 10-2 rally capped by a ToiEasha Cooper jumper for a 51-50 lead, but a Fowler three bailed the Bison out again. Oklahoma Baptist earned a five point lead before another Handy swish from downtown cut the lead to 58-56. The two teams played outstanding defense from there and the Lady Rams had two opportunities to tie or take the win, but Fowler and the Lady Bison narrowly escaped Sid Richardson Center with a win.
 
Texas Wesleyan outshot Oklahoma Baptist 36 percent to 35 percent, both teams making 22 shots, as defenses thrived in this contest. The Rams also won the rebound battle 52-42, but lost the turnover battle 19-13 resulting in a 10-3 clip in favor of the Lady Bison in points off turnovers.
 
Moody led Wesleyan with 15 points, while adding seven boards in the game. Onyesonam Nolisa added 12 points and nine rebounds. Cooper notched a double-double on a noticeably hurt wrist, showing great toughness on her way to 10 points and 11 rebounds.
 
The Lady Rams will head to Oklahoma City, OK for a meeting with Mid-America Christian University on Saturday, February 1 starting at 3:00 p.m.