BETHANY, OK: The Texas Wesleyan University women's basketball team (14-10, 6-7 SAC) were edged 57-55 by Southwestern Christian University (12-11, 4-9 SAC) at Pickens-Springer Gymnasium on Thursday.
 
The Lady Rams broke out an 8-3 lead in the first four minutes of the ball game on the heels of a Falesha Fuller jumper, who had missed some action due to a broken finger. Wesleyan went on to take control of the rest of the quarter by outscoring the home team 9-4, capped on a Nicole Gleason splash from downtown. The Rams came away with a 17-9 advantage after one quarter complete.
 
The Eagles outscored the Rams 16-4 to start the second stanza after a trio of three-pointers started the run. Miranda Janz capped the drive by putting in another triple to give Southwestern Christian a 25-21 lead with 4:26 to go in the half. Katelynn Threats got big on the defensive end with a few key rebounds that paid off in the form of free throw shots to tie the game with one minute remaining. The two teams could not find the bucket before the buzzer, taking the 25-25 tie into the locker room.
 
The Eagles tallied the first four points of the second half before Bailey Broadnax got a put back to go to make it a 29-27 game. SCU kept this slight edge on the Rams well into the quarter, but TXWES was not without the offense to keep within striking distance. Lorian Benjamin added two to the Ram total, but the Eagles got to the free throw line late in the quarter to preserve the lead. Broadnax brought the deficit down to five at 46-41 before the end of the third on a post-up play in the paint.
 
The Lady Rams wasted no time, starting the final quarter of play with a 5-0 rally capped by a Gleason triple to tie the game at 46-46 about one minute in. The Eagles were able to pace the Rams, grabbing a 6-0 run on a pair of shots behind the arc for a 57-50 advantage with four minutes remaining. Gleason and the Rams started to shorten the lead after another swish from long range made it 57-54 with 3:12 on the clock.
 
The Lady Rams tightened up on defense in the waning minutes, and Benjamin swiped the ball from the Eagles and got to the free throw line on the other end. Benjamin got the back end to go to make it 57-55. Southwestern Christian ran 30 seconds off the clock before missing a three-pointer and the Lady Rams got the rebound and called a timeout with nine seconds left. Threats got off a jumper as time expired, but could not get it to fall as the Eagles escaped with a 57-55 win.    
 
For the game, the Lady Rams shot 36 percent from the floor, while their opponent shot 34 percent. The two teams were near even in the rebound column as well, with SCU edging the Rams 33-32.  
 
Broadnax led all players with 20 points. Threats added to her SAC leading double-double tally with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Gleason had 11 points, nine boards, and four steals in another solid performance.
 
The Lady Rams will host the University of Science & Arts as Texas Wesleyan celebrates homecoming on Saturday, February 11. Game time is set for a 3 pm start.