FORT WORTH — Texas Wesleyan University (1-0) defeated Oklahoma Wesleyan University (2-1) 58-55 on Friday. Texas Wesleyan went 24-for-38 at the free-throw line and finished with a 41-34 rebounding advantage.
Texas Wesleyan stayed within one through the first quarter, closing the quarter at 15-14 after
Nala Richardson made two free throws with two seconds left. Earlier,
Kameryn Phillips answered Oklahoma Wesleyan's opening basket with a layup and free throw at 8:37, and
Aniyah Sanford followed with a 3-pointer off Za'Naiha Hensley's assist to put Texas Wesleyan ahead 6-5 at 7:37. Texas Wesleyan continued to create extra chances with six offensive rebounds in the quarter, and
Kyla Speights' steal preceded her assist on
Anjewl Murrillo's layup for a 9-7 edge at 4:05. Oklahoma Wesleyan tied it at 9-9 and later converted two Texas Wesleyan turnovers into fastbreak layups, but Phillips' transition layup and Richardson's late free throws kept Texas Wesleyan within 15-14 at the end of the quarter.
Defense helped Texas Wesleyan control the second quarter, forcing 10 Oklahoma Wesleyan turnovers and holding the visitors to 3-of-14 shooting while outscoring them 18-9. Earlier,
Kyla Speights' two free throws at 8:59 put Texas Wesleyan in front 16-15, and Phillips followed with two paint baskets as Texas Wesleyan built a 20-18 edge. Texas Wesleyan kept creating stops and extra possessions, with
Rita Shuman,
Jenae Moore and
Kennedy Holmes each recording steals during the quarter, and Holmes added a 3-pointer and a free throw to push the margin to 29-22. After Oklahoma Wesleyan got a jumper from Sophia Regalado with 18 seconds left, Phillips closed the second quarter with a steal and layup at :02 to send Texas Wesleyan into halftime ahead 32-24.
Texas Wesleyan used defense and the foul line to outscore Oklahoma Wesleyan 12-7 in the third quarter and took a 44-31 lead into the fourth. Earlier, Phillips and Holmes turned Oklahoma Wesleyan turnovers into steals, and Texas Wesleyan generated extra chances with offensive rebounds from Holmes,
Ma'Ryeah McCoy, Sanford and Phillips during the opening minutes. Phillips scored inside with 6:25 left, and Richardson followed two defensive rebounds with a 3-pointer off an assist from
Anjewl Murrillo at the 5:11 mark to put Texas Wesleyan ahead 39-26. Oklahoma Wesleyan answered with five points, but Texas Wesleyan kept getting stops, including steals by Shuman and McCoy, before Za'Naiha Hensley and Phillips combined to make the final four Texas Wesleyan free throws of the quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Texas Wesleyan withstood Oklahoma Wesleyan's 24 points and closed out a 58-55 win after Phillips made two free throws with seven seconds left. Earlier,
Alaina Hill scored inside and added a free throw at 7:27, and Phillips followed later with a layup off a
Kyla Speights assist before
Nala Richardson's jumper pushed Texas Wesleyan to a 51-41 lead. Speights added a 3-pointer off an assist from Phillips with 2:57 remaining to make it 54-43, but Oklahoma Wesleyan forced turnovers and used late free throws and a Gabriella Ross 3-pointer to pull within 55-51 with 25 seconds left. Holmes made a free throw at 14 seconds, Danika Pendley answered with two at eight seconds, and Phillips' final two free throws gave Texas Wesleyan enough cushion before Pendley's layup at the horn set the final margin.
Phillips scored 21 points on seven field goals and seven free throws, and added nine rebounds and three steals. Richardson finished with nine points and three rebounds. Speights posted seven points, five rebounds and two assists. Holmes recorded five rebounds and two steals while adding five points.
The Rams continue play in the TXWES Classic on Saturday against Keiser University in the Sid Richardson Center at 2 p.m.
