OTTAWA, Kan. – The Ottawa University women's basketball team fell 87-72 to Friends University in Wilson Field House on Wednesday night. OU was playing without the services of reigning KCAC Offensive Player of the Week
Kennedy Bankett. She was battling an illness.
A 3-pt field goal in the opening minutes of the first quarter gave OU a 3-2 lead over Friends. The Falcons retook the lead and led 19-11 with less than a minute to go in the quarter.
Ottawa rallied, cutting the deficit to two points on 3-pt field goals by
Nikole Schnell and
Tiyani Rollins and OU was within 19-17 at the start of the second quarter.
The Falcons scored the first points of the second quarter but a 3-pt field goal by
Nayeli Acosta and a basket by Tootie Allen gave the Braves a 22-21 lead with 8:22 left in the half. Friends responded with a 10-0 run and led 31-22. Ottawa again chipped away at the Falcon lead and were within four points, 33-29, after a three by
Desiree Marshall-Penny. Friends, however, was able to score the final basket of the half on a three by Ellie Munds to take a 36-29 lead into the locker room.
It was the third quarter that doomed the Braves as OU struggled to score in the third quarter. Friends outscored Ottawa 35-11 to take a 71-40 lead into the fourth.
In the final quarter of play, Ottawa did not give up and cut the deficit to 15 points, 86-71 on a
Jayla Johnson 3-pt field goal. That is all the closer OU would get to Friends as the Falcons took the 87-72 victory.
Inside the Box Score
- Ottawa shot 28.9 percent from the floor, 29.4 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 62.5 percent from the free throw line.
- Tootie Allen came off the bench to score 28 points. She pulled down eight rebounds, had four assists, and two steals.
- Jayla Johnson was the other Brave in double figures. She scored 13 points, had six rebounds, and six assists.
- Katelyn Alatini finished the game with eight rebounds.
Who is Next
Ottawa (13-10, 8-9) is back on the road on Saturday, Feb. 10 against Kansas Wesleyan University at Mabee Arena. Game time is set for 5:00 p.m.