OKLAHOMA CITY, OK: The Texas Wesleyan University women's basketball team (15-7, 6-4 SAC) dropped a close 84-77 game with #2 Oklahoma City University (15-1, 10-0 SAC) at the Abe Lemons Arena on Saturday.
 
The second ranked Stars shot out of the gate to start with a few quick buckets to make it a 9-4 game. The Lady Rams fought back though, starting with a Katelynn Threats tip-in to make a 9-6 game. Rateska Brown nailed a three to keep the Stars with a 12-8 advantage. Amy Easley knocked down a jumper on a pretty pass from Onyesonam Nolisa to make to a 12-10 game. Threats put in a pair of free throw shots after an Oklahoma City technical foul, and found the bottom of the net again on a layup to give the Rams their first lead of the game at 14-12.
 
Easley lit it up with a shot from downtown, and Nolisa dominated the boards with a put-back layup for a 19-14 lead before OCU had to regroup with a timeout. The Stars knocked down two consecutive three point shots to regain a 20-19 lead, and Texas Wesleyan talked things over with a timeout.  The Lady Rams continued to move the ball well with Easley hooking up with Threats for a wide open layup to stay within striking distance at 26-23 with 7:35 left in the first half.
 
The Stars led by six before Darley completed a four-point play after getting fouled after making a shot from behind the arc. That made it a 35-33 Oklahoma City lead before Easley posted another triple to complete a 7-0 run to give the Rams a 36-35 lead with 4:36 remaining. TWU took control of the last couple of minutes with a Nolisa layup and an Easley three to take a 45-41 advantage at halftime.
 
Nolisa started the half with a good look, putting in a layup for a 47-41 lead. The Stars defended home court cutting into the lead until finally tying the game on a Brown jumper, then taking 51-49 lead on a pair of Ouleymatou Coulibaly free throws. Wesleyan immediately tied the contest as Stacey Darnley picked up a loose ball at half court and drove through the lane to put in a contested layup.
 
The two teams tried to assert their dominance, but neither team could keep the other off of the charity stripe. The Lady Rams held the advantage on the scoreboard, but the Stars were nipping at their heels until a pair of Oklahoma City free throws tied the game at 57-57 midway through the second half. The Stars regained the lead and held that advantage until Darnley completed a three-point play to tie the game at 61 apiece with just under eight minutes to go.
 
The two teams traded the lead for a spell until the Stars took an 8-1 rally to flaunt a 75-68 lead with 3:49 remaining in regulation. Threats got a pair of jumpers to fall to cut the lead to 77-74. There was no shortage of fouls down the stretch as both teams were called for foul after foul, and Threats converted the back end of two free throw attempts to make it an 80-77 deficit with 1:24 left in the game. A costly turnover hurt the Lady Rams late in the game, and Oklahoma City escaped with an 84-77 win.  
 
The Lady Rams outshot their opponent from the field 42 percent to 38 percent for the game. The Stars held the advantage on the boards, 52-41. TWU edged OCU on points in the paint 38-30, but the Stars got 41 points off the bench, while the holding the Wesleyan bench to only five points. Neither team held more than a seven point lead.
 
Threats led all players with 23 points, converting 10-13 for the field. Easley notched 17 points and seven rebounds. Nolisa tallied 16 points and nine boards in the game. Darnley had 12 points in the loss.
 
The Lady Rams will host Wayland Baptist University (RV) on Thursday, February 5. The contest is set for a 6:00 pm start at the Sid Richardson Center.