SHAWNEE, OK: The Texas Wesleyan University women's basketball team (18-10, 9-7 SAC) could not hold off a late charge, falling 59-51 to No. 7 Oklahoma Baptist University (21-4, 13-3 SAC) on Saturday.
 
The Bison were looking to avenge their 77-59 road loss to the Lady Rams in their last meeting, but both teams came out firing to start the contest. The lead was volleyed in the early goings as Elisabeth Daniel got a three-pointer to go for OBU for an 11-8 lead, but Amy Easley responded with a bucket from downtown to tie the game.
 
The two teams fought to hang on to a lead for the entire first half, as neither team enjoyed more than a six point advantage. The Lady Rams took an 18-14 lead due to a Liz Handy triple midway through the half, but the Bison matched that with a Marida Lewis three-pointer that sparked a 12-2 run to grab a 26-20 lead with 3:49 remaining.
 
An Onyesonam Nolisa layup stopped the run, and Katelynn Threats got to charity stripe for two points to chop the lead back down to 26-24. Oklahoma Baptist held advantage though, and took a 30-28 edge to end the exciting first half action.
 
Threats opened the second half scoring with a lay-in off the glass from slick Easley assist to tie the game at 30 apiece. Carneisha Sims gave the Lady Rams the lead with baseline layup, and the lead started its flip-flop action once again.
 
Easley hit another shot from behind the arc to make it a 37-33 game, but the Ram lead did not hold for long. The Lady Bison took a 7-0 rally capped by a Lewis layup to regain the lead with 13:27 left in the second half.  Texas Wesleyan responded with a small 6-0 run capped by B'ria Wagner slashing through the lane to drop in two points for a three-point lead.
 
Oklahoma Baptist protected home court as Charity Fowler hit from downtown to even the score at 43-43. The Lady Bison tightened up on defense and rode a 6-0 run to a 51-44 advantage with six minutes left in the game. Wesleyan had a tough time keeping OBU off of the free throw line, leading to a Fowler free throw to give the Bison their biggest lead of the day at 54-46. The Lady Bison held off the Rams to take the game, 59-51.   
 
TWU out-shot their opponent from the field 43 percent to 37 percent, while edging the Bison 31 percent to 23 percent from the three-point line. OBU out-rebounded the Rams 41-30. Oklahoma Baptist minimalized the Lady Rams in the paint while outscoring their opponent in the category, 28-18.  The score changed hands 11 times and was tied 10 times.
 
Threats led the Lady Rams with 18 points and seven rebounds. Easley tallied 10 points and four assists in the game. Handy notched seven points for Wesleyan.
 
The Lady Rams are firmly planted in the fourth spot in conference play with three games to go before the SAC tournament in Oklahoma City.
 
Texas Wesleyan will take on Mid-America Christian University on Thursday, February 26 starting at 6:00 pm at the Sid Richardson Center.