OTTAWA, Kan. – The Ottawa University women's basketball team defeated Baker University 78-69 on Friday night in Wilson Field House. It was OU's second straight win over the Wildcats.
The Braves opened the first quarter on an 8-1 run. Baker answered by scoring seven straight points to tie the game with 4:13 left in the quarter. A basket by
Anna Eldridge gave OU a 10-8 lead. Baker quickly tied the game on its next offensive possession, 10-10. The Wildcats took their first lead of the game with 2:17 remaining in the first on a Harley Baker free throw, 11-10. The Braves answered with a three by
Abbie Sextro to retake the lead, 13-11. Baker responded by ending the quarter on a 7-2 run, taking an 18-15 lead into the second.
After giving up 18 points to the Wildcats in the first quarter, the OU defense only allowed nine points in the second. Ottawa retook the lead in the opening minutes in the second quarter and after a 3-pt field goal by
Nayeli Acosta, Ottawa led 28-21 with 4:38 left in the half. Baker rallied, chipping away at the OU lead in the second quarter's final minutes, and the Braves took a 29-27 lead into the locker room.
Ottawa pushed its lead to double-digits, taking a 42-32 lead on a
Nora Ford jumper at the start of the third quarter. A three by Acosta increased the OU lead to 53-38 with 1:19 left in the third. Baker scored the final four points of the quarter and the Braves had led 53-42 at the start of the fourth.
The Braves scored the first nine points of the final quarter of play, increasing their lead to 62-43 after a basket by Ford. Baker did not go away and answered with a 16-7 run to cut the OU lead to 69-59 with 1:51 left in the contest. Free throws by Janyiah Hendricks and Ford gave OU a 72-59 lead.
Baker scored the next four points and cut OU's lead to nine points, 72-63, with 57 seconds on the clock. The Wildcats kept chipping away at the Brave lead and were within 75-69 with 13 seconds left in the contest. Baker was forced to foul and sent
Kennedy Bankett to the free-throw line. She made one of two to give OU a 76-69 lead. OU then came up with the defensive stop and Baker fouled Ottawa once more.
Abbie Sextro stepped to the line and made both free throws, with five seconds on the clock, giving OU the lead and the game 78-69.
Inside the Box Score
- Ottawa shot 43.5 percent from the floor, 42.9 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 60 percent from the free throw line.
- OU had three players in double figures led by Kennedy Bankett's 22 points on 8-for-16 shooting from the floor.
- Nora Ford scored 13 points and Abbie Sextro finished the game with 10 points.
- Sextro with nine rebounds. She had three assists, two blocks, and a steal.
- Tiyani Rollins had three steals.
Who is Next
Ottawa (2-2) returns to the court on Monday, Nov. 11 against Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kan. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m.
