OTTAWA, Kan. – The Ottawa University women's basketball team snapped its three game losing streak with a 68-53 win over Southwestern College on Saturday afternoon in Wilson Field House.

The Braves trailed 6-2 to the Moundbuilders to open the first quarter. A basket by Maria Moore and two free throws by Hailey Henry tied the game. Southwestern retook the lead and the Braves again tied it, this time on a 3-pt field goal by Cierra Brown, 11-11 with 3:09 left in the first quarter.

Southwestern scored the next four points to retake the lead 15-11. The Braves responded by ending the quarter on a 6-1 run, taking a 17-16 lead into the second.

Ottawa held its slight lead over Southwestern for most of the second quarter. With 2:36 on the clock the Braves were able to put some space between themselves and the Moundbuilders by scoring the next six points, baskets by Henry and Cierra Brown, to give OU a 29-22 lead. The Moundbuilders were able to score the final basket of the half and OU took a 29-24 lead into the locker room.

The Moundbuilders cut into the Brave lead in the opening minutes of the second half by scoring the first four points to get within 29-28. Ottawa answered with a 13-0 run and took a 42-28 lead on a Nicole Brown basket with 5:01 left in the third.

SWC cut the Brave lead to nine points, 42-33, but a 3-pt field goal by Cierra Brown and two baskets from Nicole Brown gave the Braves a 49-33 lead. Southwestern ended the third with a 6-2 run and the Braves led 51-39 at the start of the fourth.

Free throws by Nicole Brown and Henry at the beginning of the final quarter of play gave OU a 54-39 lead. Southwestern did not go away and was able to cut the Brave lead to nine points, 55-46 with 4:52 left in regulation.

In the next two minutes, the Braves put the game out of reach. Ottawa went on a 12-4 run, taking a 67-50 lead on a 3-pt field goal by Moore. Ottawa held SWC to three points in the final 2:11, taking the 68-53 victory.

Inside the Box Score

• Ottawa shot 39.4 percent from the floor, 20.7 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 62.5 percent from the free throw line.
• OU led 12-7 in fast break points, 36-10 in points off turnovers, 32-26 in points in the paint, 9-7 in second chance points, and 24-11 in bench scoring.
• Cierra Brown and Nicole Brown led OU with 21 points apiece. Nicole Brown and Maria Moore led OU with seven rebounds apiece.
• Moore had four assists, Alyssa Guzman had five steals, and Nicole Brown finished with three blocks.

Who is Next
Ottawa (11-8, 7-6) is on the road on Monday, Jan. 23 against McPherson College at The Sport Center in McPherson, Kan. Tip off is scheduled for