FORT WORTH, TX – Texas Wesleyan University (18-8, 14-8 SAC) pulled away in the fourth quarter to secure a 54-42 victory over Oklahoma City University (10-17, 10-13 SAC) Monday at Sid Richardson Center.
Texas Wesleyan's Kameryn Phillips led all scorers with 21 points and dominated the boards with 15 rebounds. Sophia Hurtado added 10 points, while the Rams capitalized on second-chance opportunities, scoring 17 points off offensive rebounds.
The first quarter saw a back-and-forth battle, with Oklahoma City's Raegan Travis and Amaya Gordon leading the early charge. Texas Wesleyan's aggressive defense forced multiple turnovers, keeping the game tight. A late layup by Za'Naiha Hensley put the Rams ahead 13-12 heading into the second quarter.
Both teams struggled with shooting efficiency in the second period. Texas Wesleyan maintained a slim lead behind Phillips' free throws and rebounding efforts. Oklahoma City's Cacie Gorman and Jerzie Bryant provided key contributions, but the Stars trailed 22-20 at halftime.
In the third quarter, Oklahoma City kept the game within reach behind strong inside play from Travis, who finished with a team-high 17 points.
However, Texas Wesleyan's defensive pressure and inside scoring from Phillips and Hurtado allowed the Rams to extend their lead. Imani Mitchell's jumper in the final seconds gave Texas Wesleyan a 38-34 advantage entering the final period.
Texas Wesleyan took control in the fourth quarter, outscoring Oklahoma City 16-8. The Rams found their rhythm from beyond the arc, with Hurtado and Aniyah Sanford knocking down key three-pointers. The defense tightened, forcing the Stars into costly turnovers and holding them scoreless from beyond the arc (0-for-6). Phillips sealed the victory with a late layup, as Texas Wesleyan secured its 18th win of the season.
Oklahoma City struggled offensively, shooting just 30.8% from the field and missing all six of its three-point attempts. Gordon contributed 12 points, but turnovers (17) and missed free throws (10-for-16) proved costly.
The Rams will play Langston University on the road Thursday, with tip-off scheduled for 6 p.m.
