OTTAWA, Kan. – The Ottawa University women's basketball team equaled its win total from last season with a 53-38 victory over Avila University in Wilson Field House on Saturday afternoon.
Avila had an early 6-2 lead over the Braves in the first quarter. Baskets by
Jordan Bianco and
Nicole Brown gave the Braves a 7-6 lead with 4:21 left in the first. The teams exchanged baskets the remainder of the quarter and the Braves took a 14-12 lead into the second.
The Braves pushed their lead to eight points, 25-17, on a basket by
Cierra Brown with 3:29 to go in the half. Avila cut the OU lead to five points, 25-20 but the Braves scored the final basket of the half to take a 27-20 lead into the locker room.
A 3-pt field goal by
Janiyah Hendricks to start the second half gave OU a 10 point lead, 30-20. The Eagles chipped away at the Brave lead and were within two points, 34-32, with 3:16 left in the third. A 3-pt field goal by Katleyn Alatini and a
Kennedy Bankett free throw gave OU a 38-32 lead. The Eagles cut the Brave lead to four points, 38-34, with 2:15 on the clock. The Braves received four straight points from
Nicole Brown to end the quarter and Ottawa had a 42-34 lead at the start of the fourth.
Maria Moore opened the final quarter of play with a 3-pt field goal to give OU a 45-34 lead. The Brave defense held Avila to two field goals in the fourth and OU outscored the Eagles 11-4. Ottawa held Avila scoreless in the final 5:59 of the game, taking the 53-38 victory.
Inside the Box Score
- Ottawa shot 36.4 percent from the floor, 26.1 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 77.8 percent from the free throw line.
- OU had a 14-6 lead in points off turnovers, led 10-6 in second chance points, and finished with a 24-11 advantage in bench scoring. Avila had a 6-5 edge in fast break points and led 18-16 in points in the paint.
- Nicole Brown recorded her fifth double-double of the season, finishing the game with 14 points and 12 rebounds. She also had three blocks and two steals.
- Cierra Brown scored 12 points off the bench .
- Janiyah Hendricks led OU with three assists.
- Hailey Henry finished with four blocks and Jordan Bianco had three steals.
Who is Next
Ottawa (8-5, 5-3) returns to the road on Tuesday, Dec. 13 in Bartlesville, Okla. against Oklahoma Wesleyan University. Game time is set for 5:00 p.m.