OKLAHOMA CITY — Texas Wesleyan University (14-16) fell to College of the Ozarks (21-9) with a final score of 54-71 in a postseason matchup on Friday. The Rams led at halftime but were outscored 42-15 in the second half.

Texas Wesleyan began the first quarter with a strong defensive presence, recording five steals and capitalizing on turnovers for points. Aniyah Sanford contributed with key assists, setting up Kameryn Phillips and Kennedy Holmes for successful shots in the paint. Jenae Moore added to the momentum by hitting back-to-back 3-pointers, extending the lead midway through the quarter. The Bobcats responded with points in the paint and free throws to close the gap. Despite their efforts, the Rams maintained control with consistent defensive stops and timely scoring. The quarter ended with Texas Wesleyan leading 17-15.

The Rams opened the second quarter with a strong performance, highlighted by Phillips' scoring efforts and defensive plays. Phillips contributed significantly with early baskets, helping Texas Wesleyan extend its lead. Nala Richardson bolstered the team's performance with defensive rebounds and a steal that led to a score. Midway through the quarter, the Rams maintained control, resulting in a 13-point lead at one point. Effective ball movement and successful shooting from beyond the arc, including a 3-pointer by Moore, widened the gap. Despite College of the Ozarks' attempts to narrow the deficit, Texas Wesleyan closed the quarter ahead, 39-29.

Texas Wesleyan opened the third quarter with a strong defensive play, as Phillips recorded a crucial steal and converted it into a basket in the paint at 7:29, extending their lead to 41-31. Sophia Hurtado then hit a timely 3-pointer, set up by an assist from Richardson, to maintain momentum at 6:54. However, despite these efforts, turnovers began to impact Texas Wesleyan's rhythm. As the quarter progressed, College of the Ozarks capitalized on defensive rebounds and free throws to close the gap. A critical sequence saw the home team tie the game at 47 with successful free throws by Keara Mattingley at 2:48. Hurtado responded with another 3-pointer at 1:37, giving Texas Wesleyan a brief lead, but the Bobcats finished the quarter strong with a 6-0 run, taking a 53-50 advantage into the final quarter.

The fourth quarter began with Texas Wesleyan struggling to find its rhythm offensively, missing their first nine field goal attempts. Despite efforts on the boards with three offensive rebounds from Phillips and Hurtado, the team was unable to capitalize on second-chance opportunities. College of the Ozarks took advantage of the situation, mounting a 9-point advantage off turnovers and sinking two 3-pointers to extend its lead. Phillips contributed four free throws for the Rams, but the team couldn't overcome the deficit. The quarter closed with Texas Wesleyan trailing, ending the game with a 71–54 loss.

Richardson scored 8 points and collected five rebounds. Sanford recorded two steals and added five points with four assists. Moore tallied nine points, all from 3-point range, and grabbed four rebounds. Phillips finished with 11 points and seven rebounds.