Box Score OTTAWA, Kan. — Despite shooting better than 53 percent from the field and battling through 10 ties and 13 lead changes, Ottawa University came up short Wednesday night, falling to Oklahoma Wesleyan, 75-71, inside Wilson Field House.

First Quarter – Ottawa 16, OKWU 11
Ottawa set the tone early, jumping out to an 8-2 lead after baskets from McKinley Kruger, Ashlynn Arnsman, and Clare Williams. The Braves forced six first-quarter turnovers and closed the period on a 5-2 spurt, capped by Kruger's three-pointer at the buzzer to take a five-point advantage into the second.

Second Quarter – OKWU 36, Ottawa 31
Oklahoma Wesleyan responded with a big offensive quarter, shooting nearly 60 percent in the first half. Kamryn Phoenix ignited a run early in the period, helping the Eagles turn a five-point deficit into a lead. The quarter featured four ties and five lead changes, but a late bucket in the paint gave OKWU a 36-31 halftime edge.

Third Quarter – Ottawa 52, OKWU 51
Ottawa answered with one of its strongest stretches of the night. The Braves shot over 52 percent through three quarters and briefly reclaimed momentum behind Kruger's scoring and timely three-point shooting from Hailey Rademan. Alison Daniels drained a three at the buzzer to give Ottawa a 52-51 lead heading into the fourth.

Fourth Quarter – OKWU 75, Ottawa 71
The final period was a back-and-forth battle featuring two ties. Ottawa tied the game at 63-63 with just under four minutes to play, but Oklahoma Wesleyan answered with a 10-4 run fueled by paint touches and free throws. Ottawa trimmed the deficit to three with 20 seconds remaining, but turnovers in the final seconds sealed the outcome. By the Numbers

• Final Score: OKWU 75, Ottawa 71
• Lead Changes: 13
• Ties: 10
• Largest Lead: 6 (both teams)

Team Stats

• Field Goal %:
  • OKWU – 60.4% (32-53)
  • Ottawa – 53.7% (29-54)
• 3-Point %:
  • OKWU – 50.0% (4-8)
  • Ottawa – 50.0% (7-14)
• Free Throws:
  • OKWU – 7-9 (77.8%)
  • Ottawa – 6-9 (66.7%)
• Rebounds: 24-24
• Turnovers:
  • OKWU – 18
  • Ottawa – 20

Points Breakdown

• Points in the Paint: OKWU 46, Ottawa 32
• Points Off Turnovers: OKWU 23, Ottawa 22
• Fast Break Points: Ottawa 9, OKWU 8
• Bench Points: Ottawa 26, OKWU 15
• Second-Chance Points: 11-11

Individual Leaders
Ottawa

• McKinley Kruger: 15 points, 4 assists
• Clare Williams: 10 points, 3 assists
• Hailey Rademan: 9 points
• Miranda Patterson: 9 points (key fourth-quarter scoring)
• Aaliyah Brown: 5 rebounds

Who is Next
Ottawa (15-10, 10-9) returns to the court on Saturday, February 14 at Bethel College in North Newton, Kan. Tip off is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.