SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Ottawa University women's basketball team was defeated 83-74 by Evangel University at AGFinancial Arena on Wednesday night.
The Braves fell behind early in the first quarter, trailing the Valor 11-5. Ottawa responded with a 12-0 run and after a basket by
Abbie Sextro, led 17-11 with 4:08 left in the first.
Ottawa then cooled off and for the next two minutes the Braves were unable to score. Evangel took advantage, taking a 19-17 lead over OU.
Tiyani Rollins broke OU's scoreless streak with two free throws to tie the game at 19 all with 1:47 remaining in the first quarter. The teams exchanged threes in the final minute of the quarter and the game was tied 22-22 at the start of the second.
The Valor put together a 15-5 run and increased their lead to double figures, 37-27, with 3:21 left in the half. A 3-pt field goal by
Dominique Schutte and two free throws by
Sydney Scott cut the deficit to five points, 37-32 with 2:09 on the clock. Evangel answered by ending the half outscoring the Braves 9-4 to take a 46-36 lead into the locker room.
Evangel increased its lead to 17 points, 59-42, in the opening minutes of the second half. Ottawa was not able to get the deficit under 10 and the Valor led 65-52 at the beginning of the final quarter of play.
Ottawa tried to rally in the fourth, cutting the Evangel lead to six points on a basket by
Katelyn Alatini, 74-68 with 1:27 left in the game. The Valor pushed its lead back to double digits, 78-68, but the Braves again cut into the EU lead.
A 3-pt field goal by
Janiyah Hendricks cut the deficit to six points, 80-74, with 21 seconds on the clock. The Braves were forced to foul to try to extend the game, sending Evangel to the free throw line. The Valor were 3-for-4 from the charity stripe in the final seconds of the game, taking the 83-74 victory.
Inside the Box Score
- Ottawa shot 42.2 percent from the floor, 38.5 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 62.5 percent from the free throw line.
- The Braves had three players in double figures, led by Abbie Sextro's 20 points. She was one rebound away from a double-double, finishing with nine rebounds.
- Dominique Schutte scored 15 points and Nora Ford had 12 points.
- Ford led OU with five assists. Anna Eldridge tallied seven points and four assists off the bench.
Who is next
Ottawa (5-6, 2-4) returns to the court on Saturday, Dec. 14 against Sterling College in Sterling, Kan. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m.
