Box Score FORT WORTH, TX: The Texas Wesleyan University women's basketball team (7-14, 5-8 SAC) lost a 71-63 battle to Oklahoma Panhandle State University (12-8, 4-8 SAC) at the Sid Richardson Center on Thursday.
 
TXWES put together a good fourth quarter, but the Aggies held on to the win despite 22 turnovers. Texas Wesleyan shot 44 percent from the floor in the final quarter, but OPSU shot over 60 percent in the first and third quarters to protect a healthy lead.
 
The Lady Rams gained control early, with a 10-6 lead after Evie Whorley sprinted down the court on the way to a fast break layup. The Aggies cut into the lead and tied the things up at 17 apiece by end of the quarter.
 
Panhandle State rolled with a 7-0 rally to a 27-19 advantage early in the second quarter. The Lady Rams could only make up two points before the half, taking a 32-26 deficit into halftime.
 
OPSU could not miss in the third quarter, working the lead up to 14 after a Shambri Kelso three-pointer but a bow on an 8-12 effort from the floor.  
 
The Lady Rams charged back in the fourth, ripping off an 8-0 rally capped on a Tomi Sanchez triple with four minutes to go. That cut the lead to just five points at 56-61, but the home team could not make up any more ground in the remaining minutes.
 
The Lady Rams, who rank sixth in the nation in steals per game (13.20), swiped OPSU 16 times in the loss.
 
Evie Whorley put up a double-double behind 16 points and 11 rebounds. She added five assists and three steals in the effort. Tomi Sanchez poured in 13 points, while Karah Sicurella added 10. Lorian Benjamin posted six steals for the Lady Rams.
 
Texas Wesleyan will end its three-game home stand against Wayland Baptist University on Saturday, February 3rd starting at 1:00 p.m.